KONGSBERG
Founded in 1624 r. Kongsberg owes its existence to the discovery of a silver deposit in the Numedal valley, one of the cleanest in the world. Thanks to the "silver rush” the settlement quickly became the second largest city in Norway (she counted 8000 residents, including 4000 miners and 2000 peasants). Nowadays, many miner's remains and traces above can be found in the surrounding hills 300 shafts. The main shaft of the largest mine – Kongsgruvene (the royal silver mine) – goes back to 1070 m into the hill, to the depth 550 m below sea level.
History
The beginning and end of Kongsberg's history is related to silver. The deposit of this metal was discovered in 1623 r. by two shepherds of oxen. Their father tried to sell the news of the discovery, but when the king's soldiers found out about it, the whole family was arrested and forced to disclose the place of the finding. (It is almost certain, that silver was discovered earlier, but the explorers were wiser and did not reveal the secret, by protecting peaceful inhabitants and their lands from government intervention, looting, precepts and plunder). In years 1623-1957 flowed into the royal treasury from here 1350 tons of pure silver (in the form of a thread-thin wire). The last mine was closed in a year 1957 (resources have run out), but Kongsberg still houses the national mint.
Orientation
The waterfalls of the Numedalslågen river divide the Konsberg into new and old parts. New, the eastern part of the city is the main commercial district, with a tourist information office as well as a bus and train station. In the older one, on the west side there is a museum, historic church and youth hostel.
Information
The local tourist information office (32735000, fax 32735001, office@kongsberg-turistservice.no, www. kongsberg.net), conveniently located opposite the train station on Storgata 35, is open from 26 VI to 16 VIII, from 9.00 do 17.00 on weekdays and from 10.00 do 17.00 on weekends. In other months – on weekdays in hours 9.00 – 16.30 and on Saturdays from 10.00 do 14.00.
Laundry services can be used at Vask & Clean, Nymoens Torg 20, i w Kongsberg Dry Cleaning, Schwabesgate 1. Both laundries are located near the train station.