The history of Brekkeparken

About

Brekkeparken in Skien municipality is part of the Telemark Museum. The park is large, covering 36 acres, and is located on a hill just above the center of Skien.

In the park, you'll find the main building, Søndre Brekke manison, which serves as the starting point for the museum and Brekkeparken. In 1810, Niels Aall purchased the manison, leading to the development of the complex with the large main building, wings, and the park featuring a gazebo, pavilion, and a duck pond. The landscaped park was established in 1815-16 under the supervision of the gardener H.C. Pries.

In 1909, the property was sold to a newly formed joint-stock company and transferred to the museum, founded in the same year. In 1915, significant works in the garden were completed, including the creation of a swan pond west of the main building. An artificial stream flowed from the swan pond, and a new bridge was built over the stream.

Also in 1915, a new music pavilion was constructed in the park, designed by architect Heinrich Karsten. The architect drew inspiration from the banquet hall in the north wing of the main house at Søndre Brekke farm, using the columns that adorn the banquet hall as a model for the music pavilion's supporting columns.

The old garden pavilion from Kjellestad farm near Brevik was erected on the "Lysthushaugen" in the park in 1927. The pavilion was a gift to the museum from Norges Bank. In the southwest corner of the park, an open-air theater was built in stages and completed in 1924. Referred to as the "summer theater" in its early decades, it hosted numerous significant theater, revue, and concert performances in the interwar period. The theater stage was also designed by architect Heinrich Karsten.

Along the pathway leading to the theater stage from the park, there stands the bronze sculpture "Huldren og gutten" (The Hulder and the Boy), created by sculptor Sveinung Aanonsen, and it came into the museum's possession in 1921 after consul Carl Stousland bought it at an auction with the intention of gifting it to Brekkeparken.

Today, the park is an open-air museum featuring many farm buildings from various districts in Telemark. Since the museum opened in 1909, Brekkeparken has been the city's public park, open to the public throughout the summer season.

The floral splendor in Brekkeparken is widely known, with 27,000 tulip bulbs expected to bloom in May. For guided tours and walks, visit www.brekkeparken.no.

Opening hours for Brekkeparken

Prices for 2024:
Adults: 100 NOK
Children: 40 NOK

Annual pass:
Adults: 300 NOK
Children: 150 NOK