Places with a story
Aulestad
Aulestad in Gausdal was the home of Bjørnstjerne and Karoline Bjørnson, combining a working farm with a hospitable literary household. The house, broad veranda and historic garden connect family life with the writer's ideas about rural Norway and national identity.
About the place12
The Bjørnson family bought the farm in 1875 while still living in Italy. Bjørnstjerne wanted both a country home and a model farm, close to friends involved with the folk high school at Follebu. The property therefore links literature with agriculture, education and the social networks of the period.
History and local connections2
The family steadily changed the house and working buildings. Karoline's large veranda was completed during Bjørnson's American journey in 1880–1881, while later farm development reorganised parts of the yard. These changes show that the familiar museum setting grew over time rather than arriving fully formed with the family's purchase.
What to look for23
Explore the relationship between the home, veranda, farm buildings and garden. The museum describes the garden as a historical record that has developed continuously from the family's residence into the museum period. Its setting helps reveal why comfort, hospitality and appearance mattered alongside the practical work of running a farm.
Plan your visit13
Use Aulestad's current museum programme to plan access to the home and garden. A guided interior visit provides domestic context, while a walk around the historic setting helps explain the estate's different functions. Confirm the season and arrangements before travelling for open rooms or a particular activity, and allow time for the garden as well as the house.
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