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!
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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. 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.
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Favourite spots: |
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Main City Bridge. Railway station in front and Marienlyst Sport Area in back of picture
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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.
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What's really great: |
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.
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Sights: |
If you buy a bike-card, you can rent a city-bike and explorer the city on two wheels. With the card, you will receive a map of all cycling-routes.
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Restaurants: |
There are several choices for eating out, depending on your taste. For a traditional norwegian restaurant, go to Oscar Mat & Vinhus. A la carte, with good wines. For a trendy dinner with excellent view of the river, choose Glass, which is easy to spot along the riverbank on Bragernes side. Or choose the best kebab in Norway, at Snappys!
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Published on Friday February 17th, 2006
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Sat, Feb 18 2006 - 09:13 AM
 by rangutan
It is so hard to write on one's own hometown, every member at GLOBO has a problem with that, I don't know why [NB i'm only temporarly in Munich****, born Johannesburg**, married Harderlav**, second home Lipa**] but this report is quite good. Why cannt we write ***** reports on the places that are so important to us? A mystery! Perhaps not always a tourist attraction but inside tips and details should be very well described, this report is getting close to that..... |
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