Vråliosen: Cultural history by the water

Vråliosen combines a distinctive history of waterways and transport with experiences by boat, bike and on the water. The M/S Fram’s grand lock passage travels through the Småstraum and Storstraum locks to Vråliosen. The locks themselves are therefore notable stops along the way. The Vråvatn/Nisser waterway was once an important route for people and timber in the municipality of Kviteseid.

The history of the M/S Fram also tells of this connection. The boat was originally built as a tug for transporting timber on Nisser. In the municipality it belongs to, the “Fram” was restored in 1987 and put into service as a tourist boat on the Vråvatn/Nisser waterway. Today, it operates as a passenger boat from Straand Brygge in Vrådal. Another historic shipping connection dates back to the 19th century: after the lock at Storestraum was completed, the steamboat “Dølen” was able to travel to Vråliosen from 1868.

Shipping and local history

A five-hour guided Cultural Heritage Cruise on Nisser travels from Vrådal to Vråliosen. Along the way, Captain Reidar Skogheim, “honorary sailor” Olav Tveitane and historian Magne Wraa share stories about the region’s cultural history and Vråliosen. The trip combines a specific route across Nisser with insights into the history of the place; Vråliosen is both the destination and a subject of the stories.

The old Vråliosen Hotel and guesthouse can also be seen on the Vråvatn rundt cycling tour. The hotel was built in 1895 in the Romantic style. It served as overnight accommodation for travellers on the scheduled Tveitsund–Vråliosen boat service on Nisser and Vråvatn, before they continued over Haukeli by horse-drawn carriage. The hotel thus represents a time when a journey by water and the onward trip overland went hand in hand.

Another historic building is VAREHALL/BRYGGE. It is described as a goods storehouse and packing house dating from the fourth quarter of the 19th century. Together with the hotel, it points to the different roles buildings played in travel and goods transport at the time: one provided overnight accommodation for travellers, while the other served as a storehouse and packing house.

Experience Vråliosen by bike or on the water

On the Vråvatn rundt cycling tour, you reach Vråliosen after about half of the circuit. There you can see the old Vråliosen Hotel and guesthouse. The southern and western road section of this cycling tour is part of National Cycle Route 2 along the Telemark Canal. Including the place in a cycling trip connects the circuit around Vråvatn with part of this national cycle route.

For a different kind of trip, a 60-kilometre paddling route is possible from Vråliosen to Treungen. The stated distance makes this a longer undertaking than a short detour to a single place; plan your trip according to whether you want to include a paddling route over the full distance. The guided Cultural Heritage Cruise, in turn, lasts five hours and connects Vrådal with Vråliosen on Nisser.

The historic buildings add insights into Vråliosen’s former role in travel and goods transport to these experiences.

More places to discover: Vrådal, Morgedal.

For the broader travel overview: Kviteseid.