Rygnestadtunet

Rygnestadtunet is an open-air farm museum in Valle Municipality, Agder county, southern Norway. Set in the Setesdal valley, the farmstead looks just as it did in 1919, when its last residents left. It is a rare chance to see a traditional Norwegian farm without reconstruction or modern additions.

Where is Rygnestadtunet and how do you get there?

The museum stands at the Nordigard farm in the northern part of the village of Rygnestad. It lies close to the junction of Norwegian National Road 9 and County Road 45, about 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) north of the village of Valle. Both roads are main routes through Setesdal, so arriving by car is easy. It makes a natural stop on a trip through southern Norway, between the coast and the mountains.

What is the history of the farm?

Excavations in the area show that people have lived on this site since at least 900 AD. The farm itself carried on into the early twentieth century and was deserted in 1919. Its appearance has not been altered since. It received legal protection in 1923, the Setesdal Museum (Setesdalsmuseet) bought it in 1938, and it opened to visitors in 1940, so it has operated as a museum for more than eight decades.

What can you see at the museum?

The farmyard holds a full set of buildings typical of an old Norwegian farm:

• the farmhouse,
• a three-storey storehouse (loft),
• a barn and stable,
• a sheephouse and a second barn,
• a storehouse raised on pillars,
• a brook mill,
• a blacksmith's workshop,
• a sauna.

The best-known building is the Rygnestadloftet, a three-storey storehouse built around 1590. Its construction is unusual: only five buildings of this kind existed in Valle municipality. Inside, visitors can see rare painted textiles, some dating from the fifteenth century. The farm is also linked to Åsmund Torlievson Rygnestad, nicknamed "Vonde Åsmund" ("Evil Åsmund"), whose buildings and belongings form part of the collection.

Who is it for?

Rygnestadtunet suits anyone interested in rural history, timber architecture and traditional crafts. It also works well for families, because the layout shows daily life clearly: where grain was ground, where iron was forged and where food was stored for the winter. Most visitors need one to two hours.

Frequently asked questions

Who runs the museum? The Setesdal Museum, which bought the farm in 1938.

Has the farm been reconstructed? No. It looks as it did when the farm was abandoned in 1919.

When did it open to the public? In 1940.

How far is it from Valle? About 9 kilometres to the north of Valle. Check the current opening hours on the Setesdal Museum website before you go, as they can vary by season.

How old is the site? Settlement in the area goes back to at least 900 AD, and the famous storehouse dates from around 1590.