Mjonøy - Smorklepp Art Museum - Sorensen and Kihle

About

The walk starts at Mjonøy and runs through a forest alongside the river, with beautiful waterfalls, canyonlike scenery and a pretty bathing site at Klevastøylhylen. Smorklepp Art Museum - Sorensen and Kihle (formerly known as Vinje billedgalleri) is situated beside the path and houses a large collection of works by Henrik Sørensen.

Smorklepp Art Museum - Sorensen and Kihle
This remarkable gallery, lies at the heart of the countryside portrayed by Sørensen in his landscape paintings. He is best known for his atmospheric depictions of the Telemark countryside, but he also painted warm, lyrical pictures of women, religious works and dark war paintings. He was a pupil of Matisse from 1908 to 1910. The work of the artist Harald Kihle is also featured at the gallery. Sørensen and Kihle worked and lived together in Smørklepp for long periods. Harald Kihle’s paintings give us an insight into the people and countryside of the hidden Telemark.

The dry or narrow island
The walk starts from Mjonøy. The old houses that have been put up at Mjonøy all come from farms in the surrounding area. The complex include a main house, a wood-fired stone oven bakery, a cookhouse which houses the reception and where food is served, a clothes press and, finally, Alvstoga, a building that can be hired by groups. Concerts are held each weekend during the summer season.

Starting point
The walk starts at Mjonøy and runs through a forest alongside the river, with beautiful waterfalls, canyonlike scenery and a pretty bathing site at Klevastøylhylen. Here you can see a pot hole in the bedrock, as well as the foundations of Vinje’s first power station from 1917. Smorklepp Art Museum - Sorensen and Kihle is situated beside the path. The walk takes you through the cultural landscape of Smørklepp, where you can admire traditional building techniques and see traces of old farming methods, and then back to Mjonøy.

Read more about the trip here.

Be a sustainable hiker
When exploring nature, it's essential to practice responsible behavior to preserve and respect the natural environment. This includes staying on the marked trails to avoid damaging ecosystems, taking your litter with you, and respecting local rules and restrictions. Make sure to avoid disturbing wildlife and be mindful of any special considerations related to protected areas. By acting responsibly during your outdoor activities, you contribute to maintaining the beauty and sustainability of nature, ensuring future generations to be able to enjoy it as well.