Modum

The municipality of Modum covers 516 square kilometres and includes farmland, forests, mountains and lakes. More than half of the 12,200 inhabitants live in Vikersund, Geithus and Åmot, the three centers of population. Modum is a developing municipality and currently owns about 1,000 decares of vacant lots for, among other things, companies and industries.

The rock carvings at Geithus are about 6,000 years old and indicate an early settlement in the area. Agriculture and silviculture were the main occupations until industry arrived in Modum in the 16th century. It was then that the king's saw-mills were commissioned at Kongsfossen. However, Modum was really put onto the industrial map of the country with the arrival of Blaafarveværket. The works produced cobalt dye from 1781 to 1898, and in the 1830s was Norway's largest mining operation with 2,000 employees. Drammenselvens Papirfabrikker, the first mill in the country to produce paper using exclusively wood pulp as a raw material, is situated at Geithus. The mill has produced paper since 1878 and is still one of the largest companies in Modum. Nowadays, manufacturing industry is the principal employer in Modum, but the big power stations, silviculture and agriculture are also major employers.

Modum is also an ideal starting point for excursions. Vikersund lies in a distance of 28 km from Hønefoss, 43 km from Drammen and 48 km from Kongsberg. The Randfjord railway line runs through Modum, and there are direct bus connections to Oslo, Drammen, Sigdal, Krødsherad, Hønefoss and Hallingdal.

Vikersund is the "capital" of Modum and has a population of about 2,000. The civil center and the local center of commerce are situated here. As well as a wide range of shops, there is a post-office, bank and pharmacy.

By the court house you can find the statue called "Seljefløyten" (the Wooden Whistle) in memory of the painter Christian Skredsvig. There is also a bust of Christopher Hornsrud, the son of Modum who became the first prime minister from the Norwegian Labour Party.

Vikersund is the starting point for the longest museum in the country, the Krøder railway line. Vikerusnd is also the home of the only skiflying arena in Northern Europe, the Vikersund Slope. Modum Bads Nervesanatorium, a psyciatric hospital and family therapy-center, is found here, too. Most of the jobs in Vikersund are within the municipal sector, in commerce, at health institutes, in industry and in agriculture and silviculture.

Modum Bad began as a hydro-sanatorium in 1857. Treatment consisted of drinking water from the wells, taking various kinds of baths and outdoors activities. Several states and afflictions were treated. A small country village of about 50 buildings gradually grew up around St. Olaf's Bath. The finest and most distinguished visit to the baths was during the summer of 1890, when Prince Carl, King Harald V's grandfather, was a guest here for the sake of his health. Prince Carl was accompanied by his mother, Queen Sofie, who was married to Oscar II.

Today the grounds covers 140 hectares, and several of the old buildings have been restored. Among the buildings which have been restored, are nine small forest villas from the last century. They function as family wards today. The most impressive of the old buildings is the banqueting hall, where concerts and other cultural events are held. Modum Bad is like a small country village with 200-300 inhabitants. The beautiful park is an additional attraction. In recent years the Institute for Spiritual Care has found a home on the pine heath nerby.

A lot of historic railway material has been gathered along the Krøder line. The station environments are preserved as they were in the old days, and the terminus station, Krøderen, is protected as a listed building. The Krøder line has also featured in several films, e.g. the Norwegian children's film "Svampe". In addition to scheduled departures in July and August, several special events are held under the headings: "Navy days", "Accordion music" and "Train hold-up". The train hold-up is arranged in collaboration with the Rebel Western club, which also puts on a Western show at Kløftefoss.

The standard ski-jump with a critical point of 90 metres is also constantly in use. Several national competitions are arranged here every year and the jump made its debut as the venue for the Scandinavian Championships in 1989.

The Vikersund Jump Center consists of seven ski-jumps. A 120-metre jump is also being planned. Children have splendid conditions to start their ski -jumping careers here. The jumps have critical points from 10 meters and upwards. In the cutting on the way up towards the top there are fossils of trilobites - animals that lived millions of years ago. Vikerusnd Sports Association runs its own information and souvenir kiosk at the Jump Centre, as well as selling the usual range of kiosk goods. The kiosk is open throughout the summer from midsummer onwards and in the winter in connections with training and competitions.

The hunting scenes carved into the rocks, was known to the local population in the 19th century. Most of the carvings (24 of them) were discovered 1975-77. As well as the carvings at Jatsundholm and Kløftefoss, and axe has been found which might be form the same period as the rock carvings. In addition, several axes and other artifacts have been found around Geithus.

Union-Geithus is a part of the large Union group, which has its headoffice in Skien. Union maintains a close collaboration with Norske Skog. Union itself owns two power stations and has shares in Embretsfoss power station in Modum.

Of the three centres of population in Modum, Åmot, with 3,000 residents, has the largest population. The Blaafarveværket is visited annually by around 250,000 people, which makes it one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country. Severin glass, where everyday articles and objects of glass are sold, is also a very popular attraction. Åmot's once largest company, the paper manufacturer Embretsfoss, was shut down in 1971, but industry still keeps a firm hold on the area. There are various wood-product manufactureres here, as well as a metal foundry, a sponge factory, and production of electrical gods. Several of the public institutions in Modum are situated in Åmot such as the senio high school, health centre, nursing home and sports hall. You will also find a post-office, bank, ppharmacy and bustling commercial activity.