Seterdal culture, nature and traditions.

Setesdal is rich in culture, nature and traditions. Folk music, costumes, silversmithing and food traditions are strong in the valley. Our guests can experience this up close through our events. Throughout the year, we have a folk music pub in the bar at regular intervals where local heroes perform with music and dance. Every Wednesday and Friday in July we have “ Norsk Aften ”. Then there are Norwegian specialties on the menu and folk music performed by Setesdal's best performers.

Folk music – UNESCO

Setesdal is rich in culture, nature and traditions. Folk music, costumes, silversmithing and food traditions are all strong in the valley. The music and dance have long been passed on through performers at a very high level in the valley. The living tradition was recognized in 2019 when the art of jousting, ganga dance and folk music from Setesdal were included on UNESCO 's World Heritage List for Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Setesdal music is dramatic, it is darker and more mysterious than other places in Norway. It has roots back in a time we no longer know, and it speaks of deep human things.

Our guests can experience this up close through our events. Throughout the year, we have folk music pubs in the bar at regular intervals where local heroes perform with music and dance.

Sylvsmia - Rysstadsylv

Setesdal is often called Sylvsmeddalen. That said, there is no doubt that Rysstad is the sylvsmedbygda. Inger's great-uncle, Knut Sigurdsson Helle, was one of those who brought art to the village well over 100 years ago. Trygve is a 3rd generation silversmith. He is a master of filigree, with handmade bunad silver as his specialty. In Sylvsmia, sylv was made for use on all bunads in Telemark, Agder and Setesdal. Most of the bunad silver is today made to order, but in our outlet in Sylvbui, there will always be an offer for you who are in transit.

Sylvsmia has been awarded Olavsrosa for the action drilling continuation of the silversmith tradition in Sylvsmia.

Olavsrosa is a quality label awarded by the Norwegian Cultural Heritage Foundation, for experience offers based on Norwegian cultural heritage.

Read more about Sylvsmia and our history here!

Visit our website Rysstadsylv.

Food traditions

With us, food should be an experience, and should also be able to be tasted with the eyes. We prefer to serve ingredients that are housed in nature's pantry or shipped by local producers. We call it tradition with a new twist, and as you can see we are talking about home-cooked food. Many choose the package we have, where the stay is spiced with local taste experiences and own cultural programs with some of the valley's proud tradition bearers. You can choose between mouth harp, fiddle and quidders.

Setesdal Museum

The Setesdal Museum has a 100-year-old history. The Setesdal culture was well known, but so far our philosophy has been to get the most out of the best the valley had to offer, and show it in the cities. In 1916, on the initiative of sheriff Juel Lund and painter Lars Osa, an old smoke train was bought as the first step on the road to a museum for Setesdal. The founding itself did not take place until June 9, 1938.

Read more about the museum and other local gems here!