Comfort Hotel Union Brygge

Drammen has a lot more to...

by Norwegianno

Drammen has a lot more to offer than meets the eye.
I can go swimming 5 mins away, I can go hiking 5 minutes away ( where else can you go take a 5 minute walk from the town square - and suddenly you're in the forest !), I can go flying 15 minutes away (paragliding)and the capital is only a 30 minute drive away. Receiving Jesus Crist as my personal savior in the Filadelfia church in Drammen in 4th of mnarch 1988 - what an experience !

Aqua Vitae

by Bjorgvin

Drammen is the original home of aquavit. This alcoholic beverage made of potatoes was first made in Drammen in 1804 in response to a royal decree that forbade the use of corn for this purpose. Every year in Drammen there is a National Aquavit competition in late autumn.

Take a walk to the top

by purpleivan

Instead of taking the spiral road tunnel up to the top of Spirallen, try taking a walk up to the top along the path "Zigzaggen", which winds it's way upto the top giving fine views on the way.

An added attraction of taking this route is ?spaviljongen or "the pitstop", which is located roughly halfway up the hill.

?spaviljongen functions as both a bar to those making their way up to the top but also as a fine restaurant in it's own right.

Growing out of the shadow

by KingArthur_no

Drammen has for ages suffered under its location close to Oslo. Some has even called it the biggest motorway junction in Norway This is clearly about to change!

"Infrastructure"

Only 40 kilometers with motorways, the roadstretch with the most dense traffic in Norway, separates Oslo and Drammen. Here the traffic separates into traffic turning west towards Kongsberg and the Haukeli Mountain Pass, and the traffic turning southwest towards Vestfold, Telemark and Agder. The rivermouth harbour in Drammen is highly industrial, and the majority of all import of new cars and of citrus-fruit is handled here. The Drammen River, which brings water from several of the biggest lakes in Norway, is crossed by 10 bridges in different sizes, from the modern motorway bridge to the tiny bridge between Landfall and Gulskogen.

The joke about Drammen being a big traffic junction is i fact a truth, but you need to dig deeper than a bad reputation to see what advantages the city has. Here is a unique link between sea-, railway- and roadtransport. Deep water piers, 3 major railway lines and the previous mentined motorways. Logging was also done down the river, but this transport is now replaced with giant trucks or railway. The last few years there has been a vast investment in infrastructure to facilitate transportation. These investments includes 2 new tunnels and a new motorway bridge to get all heavy transport out of the city center.

The result of this is that there is a boom in the building industry. Apartments are buildt by hundreds in the city, because the living conditions are heavily improved. There is also established a River Park, where families on picnic have replaced exhaust and rubber tyres.

"History and sights"

Unlike most of the bigger cities in Norway, Drammen is not a medeival Town. The major cities in Norway have a 1000 year history, but Drammen was founded in 1811.

The industrial revolution made it possible to use electricial power from the river to make paper, and several paper-factories grew up along the river. Over the years the river became a large sewer. When the paper-industry era ended, the river was cleaned, and now the water is fresh and healthy for swimming and fishing.

The old factory buildings that used to dominate the riverbank are now removed and replaced with exciting new building projects. Some remains of the old era are kept, and creates a stimulating mix of architecture. The old paper factory Union has become both a hip business area, a cultural center for different impulses (Union Scene) and apartments. See more on www.unionbrygge.no

Marienlyst is the sporting centrum in the city, with a footballstadium for Strømsgodset FK, Handball arena (Drammenshallen), athletics stadium and ice-arena for bandy. There is also a outdoor poolarea where you can bring your family for swimming and playing.

Bragernes Torg is the biggest market square in Scandinavia. Exept from the usual markets and flower wagons, this is the area where the World Cup of cross country skiing comes each year for a sprint competition. Bragernes Torg is linked with Strømsø Torg and the railway station with the Main City Bridge.

Make sure you dont miss Spiralen, which is a corkschrew tunnel leadingh to the top of beautiful Bragernesåasen. From here, you can start several hikes.

Kjøsterudjuvet is a deep gorge, where you can feel your adrenaline pump inside you. The gorge starts close to the alpine skiing center and the river-park at Åssiden.

Aass brewery, dominating the riverbank is the oldest brewery in Norway.
Downtown Drammen are some nice buildings, specially the renovated Drammen Theatre. Bragrenes Church is also a view-taker.

Drammen - a big, small town between the hills!!

by 928bente

"My hometown - with a fantastic nature"

This piq is taken yesterday (28th of march) on the "top" of Drammen. You can se the river who parts the city in two and you can even see one of the two skitracks that's near the city center.

"Dragonboatfestival"

Every year in August there is Dragonboatfestival in Drammen. This is funny, and the city is full of live that weekend. It`s alot of conserts and other activitis for everyone.
If you want to visit Drammen, this weekend you`ll se the best of what the city has to offer. Next after 17th of May ofcourse....

"World Cup Cross contry skiing - sprint"

In march every year Drammen has this sportsevent. I think (and hope) that it put's Norway and Drammen on the map!! It's a wonderfull day, and it's always sunny that day....
Hopefully this will be a tradition that last's for many years ahead.