Brekkeparken in Skien

About

Brekkeparken offers a stunning view over Skien and the Telemark Canal and is inspired by the English landscape garden style. The park features an open-air museum with traditional farmhouses from across Telemark. Brekkeparken is open to the public all year round, while the museum and cafés have their own opening hours. Entry to the park is free.

27,000 Blooming Tulips

The flower displays in Brekkeparken are well-known, and 27,000 tulip bulbs are planted every year! In summer, you can admire beautiful flower beds with seasonal blooms as you stroll along the park’s paths.

Søndre Brekke Manor

Søndre Brekke Manor is located in the heart of the park. Before the museum opened in 1909, it was a farm and a grand residence for several prominent families in Skien. The most famous resident was Minister Niels Aall, known for his role in the creation of the Norwegian Constitution and the Convention of Moss in 1814.
Inside the manor house, you can also hear the story of “The Grey Lady” – a ghost that many claim to have seen over the years. Scholars still debate who she was, but all the stories connect her to Prince Christian Frederik of Denmark-Norway, who visited the estate as viceroy in 1813.

Historic Farmhouses from Telemark

The open-air museum at Brekkeparken showcases the cultural history of Telemark, focusing on traditional housing and architecture. The park also includes a workers’ home from the early 1900s, an old shop from Kleiva, a playhouse, a pavilion, and a duck pond.

The Ibsen Cottage

From 2025 to 2028, the Henrik Ibsen Museum will be located in Brekkeparken! Visit the small Ibsen Cottage by Klosterporten. Guided walking tours through Skien and themed Ibsen walks in the park start from here. You can also enjoy freshly baked waffles, Ibsen’s honey cake, and buy Ibsen-themed souvenirs.
Meanwhile, a brand-new and modern museum is being built at Venstøp in Skien, Ibsen’s childhood home. In 2028, it will open to the public, and the house will be restored to reflect how it looked when Ibsen was a child.

Summer Guided Tours

This summer, the museum offers the following tours:

• 12:00 Noble Brekke – Tour the manor house and learn about the history of 1814
• 13:00 From Skien to the World Stage – A walking tour about Ibsen in Brekkeparken
• 14:00 Telemark Tour – Visit the traditional farmhouses in the park
• 14:00 In Henrik Ibsen’s Footsteps – City walk through Skien
• **15:00 Guided tour of the exhibition "Alt dette er ditt" (All This Is Yours) in VEV

Tours Outside the Summer Season

From September to April, guided tours are available from Thursday to Sunday in the manor house Søndre Brekke, the new VEV museum building, and the Telemark farmhouses. Please note that extreme cold can affect access to the old houses, as they can become very cold during freezing temperatures.

Playground for Children

The park has a lovely playground where children can play in a safe environment.

Café and Concerts

There are two cafés in Brekkeparken: Brekkeparken Café, open during the summer, and the new Aall Inn Café, located in the VEV museum building. Brekkeparken Café offers both indoor and outdoor seating, with the terrace boasting fantastic views of Skien and the reflecting pools. It serves both lunch and dinner.
Aall Inn Café serves delicious cakes and lunch dishes and is connected to the museum's exhibitions and gift shop. It also features a terrace with a beautiful view of the park.
The 100-year-old stage near Brekkeparken Café hosts popular events such as Parkjazz concerts, Beats in the Park, BrekkeQuiz, and more. Check the full program at telemarkmuseum.no

Parking

Free parking is available in the upper parking lot by Øvregate.