Folkestadbyen, commonly referred to as "the town" by locals, defines the center of Fyresdal and is a charming small village with local shops, guesthouses, cafes, a bank, and a meeting house. In 2002, Fyresdal municipality won the "Urban Area Award" for its efforts in developing Folkestadbyen into a pleasant and well-defined town center.
The History of Folkestadbyen
Historically, the main road to Fyresdal ran along Fyresvatn, passing through various farmyards, including Folkestad Farm, which was situated where the road crossed the Sitjeåi river, 500 meters from the river's outlet to Fyresvatn. In the 1870s, a commercial and trade center began to emerge here. Craftsmen from farms and hamlets in Fyresdal brought their houses and settled along the roads that formed a triangle around Folkestad Farm. As houses were built closer together, the roads were renamed streets, now known as Skippergata, Lensmannsgata, and Gamleveg. Today, Folkestadbyen is a well-preserved architectural gem with many beautiful houses built in the Swiss style, making it worth visiting for a "town walk." All the old houses have signs providing a unique insight into when the house was built, its origin, who lived there, and their occupations.
Shopping in Folkestadbyen
There are several shopping opportunities in Folkestadbyen, where you can find many unique stores unlike any other. Oleas Hus is a must-visit if you're in Fyresdal. This exciting clothing and interior design store is full of treasures, offering beautiful women's textiles, toys, interior products, and a rich selection of organic goods. The staff is always ready to give you friendly tips and good advice. Nearby, you'll find Fyresdal Manufaktur & Leiker, a charming store selling clothes for women, men, and children, as well as handicraft products like yarn, sewing and knitting accessories, bedding, and toys. This store has been a staple in Folkestadbyen for generations.
If you want to discover beautiful art, make sure to visit the small gallery Merleyn. The gallery and gift shop are run by artist Judith van Driel. Here you can see and purchase beautiful art and crafts. Merleyn is open throughout the summer season and can be visited by appointment outside the season. Sporten Fyresdal offers the perfect outdoor clothing and quality equipment for your next adventure. The sports shop is located in the same building as Hvelvet Café. See here for dining options in Fyresdal. If you want to buy cool merchandise with the Hamaren logo as a souvenir from your visit to Norway's first treetop walkway, you can purchase this at the tourist information in the Fyresdal business park.
Explore the Heritage Trail in Fyresdal
Near Folkestadbyen lies Fyresdal Local History Museum, one of Norway's oldest rural museums. Here you can wander among 14 old buildings and artifacts dating from the Middle Ages (1050-1550) onwards. The museum is located in the beautiful Øyskogen, marked as a pagan cemetery. You can find four burial mounds, man-made earth mounds that contain graves of one or more persons. Typically, only one person per farm per generation was honored with a "mound burial." The connection with the deceased and the burial mound was maintained as long as the family remembered them. Burial fields like this are usually dated to the early Iron Age (500 BC – 600 AD), but in Øyskogen, a sword and an axe from the Viking Age have also been found, indicating that the tradition continued into the later Iron Age. From Bygdetunet Øyskogen, a heritage trail leads to Hamaren Activity Park, forming a loop of about 3 km.
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