Jostedalsbreen Nasjonalparksenter
Contact us
Visitor address
Sandvik, 6799 Oppstryn
Reception
+47 480 02 997
Office
+47 916 23 883
Email
mail@visitjostedalsbreen.no
Exhibitions
The Visitor centre Jostedalsbreen National Park has a wide range of knowledge. From different perspective we represent Jostedalsbreen national park and adjacent areas.
We have different fields of subject inside the centre as well as outside by Oppstryn Lake, where alpine mountains are being reflected in the clear and green water. Here you can enjoy the fantastic view as well as getting to know nature.
Indoor exhibitions
In the indoor exhibitions you can learn about how life was in the valleys and close to the glaciers through time. Here you could find out how the first glacier guides worked and what equipment they used.
Find out how glaciers have formed the landscape you see around you through time and what is occurring to the glaciers today.
Experience an avalanche through our spectacular multimedia film combined of live footage from nature and 3D-simulation.
In our biological exhibition you can see and learn about out what kind of wildlife you may encounter in Norwegian nature.
As part of the exhibition we are showing a short version of the film Fedrelandet (“Songs of Earth”), directed by Margreth Olin. Experience Norway’s most enchanting valley, Oldedalen in Nordfjord, and the mighty Jostedalsbreen glacier. The film offers a majestic experience with powerful images of towering mountains and glaciers, and our deep connection to nature.
Fjord- and mountain garden
In our outdoor area you may enjoy the view of Oppstryn Lake, the alpine landscape, glaciers, rivers and adjacent villages. Here you can relax and view the breathtaking nature.
In our fjord- and mountain garden we have about 200 plants, trees and flowers that represent the local flora in and around the national park. This is a rich collection from the mountains and nature, where wildflowers and plants thrive in harmony, in their natural habitat, among peat and other vegetation.
The garden is divided into different zones with plants from bogs, mountains, meadows and forests. In addition, we have a “Great-Granny’s garden”, where you can see beloved and well-known plants that you encounter in the Norwegian gardens. Here you may take a stroll and learn about how the plants adjust to the life in the different zones.
The plants you see in the garden you may find in and around the national park, and after a turn in the garden, you might recognize some of the plant next time you go for a hike?
Geological Park
You can take a stroll in our geological park and learn what the different rocks may reveale about our fantastic geologic history through many millions of years.
In the geological park we have 26 rocks from the regions Nordfjord, Sunnfjord and Sogn. The rocks have explanations for what you see in the rocks, how old they are and how they have been formed. I addition there are educational information signs which shows how the continental crusts have moved and thus formed mountain range. These ranges have subsequently been eroded and broken down and the eroded material are foundation for some of the rocks in our park. Come and learn more about the exciting history the rocks may reveal.
Extreme weather in Oppstryn
In November 2024, the river Fosdøla overflowed its banks. The water made its way toward the National Park Centre, causing significant damage to both the building and the surrounding property.
After the extreme weather event, we preserved some of the destruction caused by the flood. Read more on the information sign and scan the QR code to learn about climate change and extreme weather. You can also see photos and footage from the dramatic night when the forces of nature struck the National Park Centre.
Did you know…?
- The official national rock is larvikite and can only be found in Norway and was formed during volcanic activity 290 million years ago. This rock covers the front of our centre.
- Thulite is known as “the Norwegian gemstone”. The mineral was first described after an observation in Telemark in the beginning of the 19th century and was given the name thulite (ultima thule).
- Eclogite is the densest type of rock on earth, 1 litre weighs 3.3 kg. This mineral is formed deep down in the crust of earth. You will find this rock in different parts of our Exhibitions.
In our gift shop you may purchase beautiful jewellery from thulite, larvikite and eclogite handmade from Fossheim stone centre in Lom.
