World Heritage Center

About

Just over a century ago, Notodden and Rjukan became the stage for one of the most groundbreaking chapters in Norwegian and international history. A visit to the World Heritage Center for Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage offers a captivating insight into the historic events that earned the region a proud place on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Housed in a beautifully preserved, protected industrial park at historic Tinfos in Notodden, the center showcases how Norwegian innovation helped solve a global food crisis.

What You Can Experience

The Invention That Changed the World

The World Heritage Center tells the extraordinary story of Norway’s most important invention: the electric arc furnace. By harnessing immense amounts of hydroelectric power, inventors Kristian Birkeland and Sam Eyde successfully extracted nitrogen from the air to produce mineral fertilizer.

This breakthrough was vital in overcoming severe worldwide food shortages while transforming Norway from a modest agrarian society into a modern welfare state.

Two Experiences on One Ticket (Telemark Art Museum)

The World Heritage Center shares its venue with the Telemark Art Museum (Telemark Kunstmuseum). A single joint admission ticket grants access to both a deep dive into regional and national industrial history and high-quality art exhibitions housed inside the historic factory buildings at Tinfos.