From UNESCO-listed power stations and centuries-old stave churches to remote wilderness and the Skagerrak coastline, Telemark offers filmmakers authentic environments that span history, genres and visual styles.
Why productions choose Telemark
- Monumental industrial heritage
- Authentic medieval architecture
- Vast mountain and wilderness landscapes
- Historic waterways and engineering landmarks
- Distinct seasonal looks
- Strong regional and national production support
- Proven filming destination for both Norwegian and international productions
Nature that shapes the story
Stretching from the Hardangervidda mountain plateau in the northwest to the islands and sheltered coastline of the Skagerrak in the southeast, Telemark offers remarkable geographical diversity.
Hardangervidda is Northern Europe's largest mountain plateau, characterised by wide-open tundra, extensive horizons, lakes and exposed rock formations that create an almost endless sense of scale. The plateau is also home to wild reindeer, making it one of Norway's most significant and delicate wilderness landscapes.
The inland landscape continues through forests, deep valleys and mountain lakes, culminating in Gaustatoppen (1,883 m), one of Norway's most recognisable peaks. On a clear day, the summit offers views across almost one-sixth of mainland Norway.
Gaustabanen is a unique underground funicular railway in Telemark, that transports passengers inside Gaustatoppen. Originally a top-secret NATO Cold War facility built in 1959, it opened to the public in 2010. The 15-minute journey consists of a horizontal tram and a steep funicular at a 39 degree angle that climbs to 1,800 meters above sea level.
Further south, the landscape of Telemark gradually transforms into rolling farmland, picturesque towns and a coastline of islands, harbours and sheltered inlets.
The region offers distinct seasonal looks throughout the year. Higher elevations provide reliable snow-covered landscapes during winter, while the long summer days extend valuable shooting hours.
Dramatic viewpoints such as Ravnejuv (Ravens Gorge), overlooking a 350-metre gorge, add another layer of cinematic scenery.
Elsewhere in the county, natural landmarks such as the giant's kettles (jettegryter) in Nissedal offer yet another distinctive landscape. Formed by glacial water over thousands of years, the smooth rock formations create unusual natural settings unlike anywhere else.
Monumental industrial landscapes
Few places illustrate the relationship between nature and engineering as dramatically as Telemark.
The Rjukan–Notodden Industrial Heritage Site, included on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2015, tells the story of how powerful waterfalls were harnessed to create one of Europe's pioneering hydroelectric industries. Set within dramatic mountain valleys, the UNESCO listing comprises power stations, transmission systems, factories, transport infrastructure and purpose-built company towns that remain remarkably well preserved and, in some cases, still in use.
At the centre stands Vemork Hydroelectric Power Station. When completed in 1911, it was the largest power station in the world. Perched dramatically above a steep gorge, with enormous pipelines descending the mountainside and a suspension bridge connecting the site, Vemork remains one of Norway's most iconic industrial locations.
In 2026, Vemork was recognised by the European Film Academy as one of its Treasures of European Film Culture, acknowledging its lasting significance in European cinema.
I was overwhelmed by this unique place on earth. It was simply just breathtakingly impressive - and this goes for both nature, experiences and history!
The location is inseparable from the story of the heavy water sabotage during the Second World War. In 1948, Operation Swallow: The Battle for Heavy Water recreated the events on location, with several of the surviving resistance fighters portraying themselves. The story later inspired The Heroes of Telemark (1965), the television series The Heavy Water War (Kampen om tungtvannet, 2015), and most recently Number 24 (2024). Today, filmmakers continue to return to Vemork not only for its historical authenticity, but for its striking industrial architecture and spectacular setting, which have featured in productions such as Troll 2.
While Vemork dramatically clings to the mountainside outside of Rjukan, Såheim Power Station dominates the centre of the small town. Completed in 1915, the massive neoclassical building still produces hydroelectric power today. It remains an extraordinary example of how early twentieth-century industrial infrastructure was designed not only for function, but as monumental architecture—creating a location of remarkable visual character. Its imposing façades, generous proportions and exceptional state of preservation make it a striking location in its own right.
Rjukan retains much of its original company housing, industrial buildings and public architecture, while preserved railway infrastructure and streetscapes provide authentic environments spanning more than a century of industrial development.
Nestled deep within a narrow valley, the town receives no direct sunlight during the winter months. In 2013, The Sun Mirror (Solspeilet) was installed high on the mountainside—a computer-controlled mirror that reflects sunlight onto the town square during the darkest months of the year, an unusual public artwork.
Further east, Notodden's Tinfos Cultural Heritage Site combines historic power stations with striking industrial architecture, adding another distinct chapter to Telemark's industrial story. The town recently served as the primary filming location for The Fishing Place (2025), an arthouse feature directed by Rob Tregenza, demonstrating how Telemark's industrial landscapes continue to inspire contemporary filmmakers.
Telemark is often described as Norway in miniature. It’s one of those clichés that turns out to be true: from mountains to fjords, forests to the sea, and rural communities to towns. Having grown up here, I know many of Telemark’s hidden corners and the variety of locations the region has to offer.
A thousand years of authentic history
Beyond its industrial heritage, Telemark contains a rich collection of historic buildings.
The county has more surviving medieval buildings than any other region in Norway, offering filmmakers authentic architecture from across nearly a millennium.
Heddal Stave Church, Norway's largest stave church, dates from the 13th century and is one of the country's best-preserved medieval wooden structures. Other significant historic locations include Eidsborg Stave Church, the medieval stone churches of Gjerpen, Kviteseid and Bø, and the distinctive pink wooden church in Vinje.
Dalen Hotel, opened in 1894, represents the pinnacle of Norway's Dragon Style architecture. One of the country's largest wooden buildings, it remains remarkably intact and continues to operate as a hotel, offering richly detailed interiors and exteriors that evoke the golden age of early tourism.
Across Upper Telemark, traditional farms, timber buildings and raised wooden storehouses line the long, fjord-like lakes, providing ready-made settings for historical dramas, folklore-inspired productions or fantasy worlds.
Contemporary architecture in the landscape
While Telemark preserves centuries of architectural history, it also embraces contemporary design.
Across the region, modern saunas and cabins have become striking landmarks in their own right. Buildings such as Spegle and Soria Moria combine bold Scandinavian architecture with dramatic natural settings, creating intimate locations where timber, glass and landscape merge. Sites like these offer contemporary Nordic environments that feel both minimal and deeply connected to nature.
Waterways built for storytelling
Water has shaped both the landscape and the history of Telemark.
Rivers, lakes and waterfalls carve through forests and mountain valleys, while the historic Telemark Canal remains one of Norway's greatest engineering achievements. Opened in 1892, the 105-kilometre waterway stretches from Skien to Dalen, climbing 72 metres through a series of 18 locks that continue to operate today.
Another remarkable piece of transport heritage is the Tinnsjø railway ferry system, which once formed a crucial link in Norsk Hydro's industrial transport network. Today, the beautifully preserved M/F Storegut and D/F Ammonia survive as museum vessels, offering rare period transport locations with remarkable authenticity.
A proven filming destination
For more than seventy-five years, filmmakers have returned to Telemark to tell stories rooted in both history and imagination.
The region's authentic industrial heritage, dramatic landscapes and historic architecture have appeared in productions including Operation Swallow: The Battle for Heavy Water (1948), The Heroes of Telemark (1965), The Snowman (2017), The Heavy Water War (2015), Number 24 (2024) and Troll 2 (2025).
Whether recreating pivotal moments in European history or serving as the backdrop for contemporary thrillers and fantasy adventures, Telemark continues to demonstrate its versatility on screen.
Production support
International productions filming in Telemark benefit from both regional and national support.
South Norwegian Film Centre supports the development and production of short films and documentaries across Southern Norway, strengthening regional talent through funding, professional development and industry initiatives.
Zefyr is the regional film fund for Western and Southern Norway, investing in feature films, drama series and documentaries with international ambitions. Through a combination of public funding and private investment, Zefyr works to attract productions while building long-term industry capacity in the region.
The Norwegian Film Commission assists international productions with locations, production partners, financing opportunities and practical guidance throughout Norway.
Eligible international feature films, drama series, documentaries, animation and VFX projects can also apply for the Norwegian Film Production Incentive, offering a 25% cash rebate on qualifying local expenditure.
Located within driving distance of Oslo, productions in Telemark can combine the region's unique locations with access to the capital’s large concentration of crew, production services and equipment suppliers. The region offers experienced production partners, a well-developed road network and accommodation options. Municipalities are accustomed to working with film productions, while the Norwegian Film Commission and regional partners can assist with location scouting, local suppliers, permits and production logistics.
Accessibility
Telemark is easily reached from Eastern Norway and several international gateways.
Torp Airport in Sandefjord offers direct connections to a range of European destinations, including London, and serves as the closest international airport to much of the county. The region is also accessible by train, with connections through key towns including Skien, Porsgrunn, Bø and Notodden.
A developed road network connects Telemark to major Norwegian cities including Oslo and Bergen, while the wider region offers access to ferry routes between Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Drammen, an important logistics gateway in Eastern Norway, is also within driving distance, adding further flexibility for productions moving crew, equipment and vehicles in and out of the region. Smaller airports at Notodden and Fyresdal accommodate private aviation.
Telemark is more than a collection of beautiful locations. It is a region where landscape, engineering and history have shaped one another for centuries, creating authentic environments with remarkable visual character. From monumental industrial heritage to mountain wilderness and medieval architecture, Telemark offers filmmakers locations that feel both cinematic and deeply rooted in place.
