Places with a story
Astruptunet
Astruptunet beside Jølstravatnet preserves the home and garden of artists Nikolai and Engel Astrup. The museum in Sunnfjord connects paintings and printed textiles with the buildings, terraces and vegetation that formed both a family environment and an artistic source.
The place2
Nikolai Astrup's paintings and woodcuts repeatedly draw on the western Norwegian landscape. The museum presents his art and woodblocks alongside Engel Astrup's textile printing. At this place, objects and surroundings illuminate one another: the garden was a place for food production and family life as well as a source of colours, shapes and motifs.
History and local connections12
Nikolai Astrup lived from 1880 to 1928, while Engel lived from 1892 to 1966. A major restoration of Astruptunet was completed in 2024, when Queen Sonja reopened the museum. Work included the buildings and historic garden; letters, notebooks, photographs and paintings helped guide reconstruction of terraces and planting rather than an invented modern garden design.
What to look for2
Look at how stone and turf terraces organise the sloping ground and connect the houses with the lake landscape. Guided access to the historic rooms adds domestic context to the artwork. The gallery is in a building reconstructed from the original barn and displays both artists' work, so Engel's contribution should not disappear behind the more famous name of her husband.
Planning a visit2
Check the official museum website for the current visiting season, guided visits and appointments outside the main opening period. Paths, historic buildings and fragile garden terraces require care. Viewing the artwork, touring the historic rooms and exploring the garden offer different experiences; confirm what is available on the day you plan to come.
Sources
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