The southern Norwegian town of Notodden is found at the spot where the River Tinn reaches Heddalsvatnet Lake in the Telemark district, 57 miles southwest of Oslo. The river mouth is a scenic location on the rocky shores next to the lake, in a bowl of green forested hills and mountains. Painted wooden cabins hide in the trees around the long lake shore and visitors who hire a car in Nottodden soon find that the river has dramatic waterfalls, some of which are used to create hydro-electric energy. From here, the E134 leads either up the Tinn valley from Notodden or eastwards into the mountains of Buskerud.
The largest wooden church in Norway, Heddal Stave Church, stands about a mile out of the town. The extraordinary 13th-century construction is a major tourist sight with a café and open-air museum including a child-friendly animal farm. It is easy to reach if you hire a car in Notodden. Other places you may want to drive to include Notodden airport, on the western fringe alongside the mouth of the Tinn. The town's name means 'a good place to fish' so it's clearly a good area for anglers. Notodden also hosts a prestigious blue festival and is a cultural musicians' centre.
