Osøyro: Oselvar Boat Tradition, Art and Culture

Osøyro brings together the tradition of the Oselvar boat, visual art and several cultural venues. There is also the centrally located Os Gjestehamn guest harbour, with shops and other services nearby, as well as Os Sauna, a floating sauna. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between these themes: the boatbuilding tradition, a private art collection and venues with different roles each appeal to different interests.

The Oselvar boat and boatbuilding tradition

The Oselvar boat and its tradition were added to UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage in 2016. In Osøyro, Oselvarverkstaden preserves a documented, unbroken 300-year-old boatbuilding tradition. The UNESCO listing and the continuity preserved at the workshop thus represent two sides of the same subject: cultural recognition and long-standing boatbuilding. For travellers interested in traditional crafts, this tradition offers a clear starting point, drawing attention to the Oselvar boat and its cultural background.

Art at Oseana

Oseana kunst- og kultursenter in Osøyro is home to the Griegsamlingen, the private art collection of shipowner Per Grieg senior. It is a “mini national museum” featuring works by artists including Edvard Munch, Christian Krohg, Frits Thaulow, Harald Sohlberg, Nicolai Astrup and Theodor Kittelsen. There are also changing solo exhibitions featuring a variety of themes and art forms. The collection and the changing exhibition programme therefore offer distinct perspectives. If you want to include a particular solo exhibition in your travel plans, check the current programme in advance, as it may change.

Cultural venues and event formats

Oseana in Osøyro covers 5,800 square metres and includes a cultural hall, a restaurant, a gallery, and rooms for courses, conferences, meetings and celebrations. Oseanasalen, the main hall, is intended for cultural events, concerts, theatre and dance, and can be adapted to each event. Vognhallen in Osøyro has served a different event purpose: it has been used several times as a cultural arena and hosted concerts as part of the Os blues- og jazzfestival. The comparison is therefore between an adaptable main hall for a range of stage formats and a hall repeatedly used as a cultural arena for festival concerts.

Getting around

Os Gjestehamn guest harbour is centrally located in Osøyro, with shops and other essential services nearby. Oseana can be reached by bus on route 600. Public transport routes may change, so check the current route before travelling. Os Sauna is a floating sauna in Osøyro. As its operations and facilities may change, check the latest information from the operator if you want to include Os Sauna in your plans.

Searching for hotels by reason for travel

When searching for hotels in Osøyro, your reason for travelling is a useful starting point. Are you most interested in the Oselvar boat tradition, the art collection or a cultural event? Your answer can help you plan your stay around a particular theme. If your trip depends on a specific exhibition or event, check the current programme against your planned dates. This helps you distinguish between a general interest in a theme and a trip tied to specific dates.

Discover more destinations: Lysekloster, Os, Hagavik, Nordstrøno, Halhjem, Lepsøy

Go to the main travel overview: Os.