If you're cycling the route On the Way to St. Olav, you’ll soon pass through the town of Fetsund. You’ve only covered about 30 kilometres, and you’re still cycling in Norway. Here you cycle on a beautiful cycle path along the Glomma River, the longest river in Norway.
In the past, the easiest way to transport timber from the forests to the factories was by floating it down the rivers. In Fetsund, this was done on the Glomma River.
The timber had to be guided into the correct position to avoid blocking the rest of the logs. This was a dangerous job. On the riverbank stands a sawmill, the only one of its kind in the world that remains fully intact. The factory opened in 1861 and was in operation until 1985. Five years later, it was transformed into a museum.
Fetsund Lenser stretches along a long section of the Glomma's riverbank. The sawmill and the Lensepubben (yes, a pub in Norway!) are located onshore. The small outbuildings float on the river and are connected by more than a kilometre of floating walkways. The red sheds were once used to sort and bundle the logs. Today, they offer exhibits and videos that tell the story of the workers’ tough and dangerous lives. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday in June, July, and August, and on weekends in May and early September.
