The collections of Nes municipality includes several sites, among them Stein school, called "the fairytale school", Funnefoss Industrial workers museum and the ruins of the old Nes church.
STEIN SCHOOL
The school dates back to 1912, and it was an ordinary public school. A man named Erling Elverhøi got a job as a teacher here in 1930. He said to his childhood friend, the famous author Ingeborg Refling Hagen, "I can't work here, we need to decorate the school to make it pleasant for the students."
Ingeborg knew many artists. Together, they painted the classrooms and stairway in beautiful colors and managed to get recognized artists like Dagfinn Werenskjold, Reidar Aulie, Ørnulf Bast, Gunnar Janson, Karl and Per Teigen, and Birgit Abrahamsen to decorate the school. Stein School became a work of art.
They believed that when students were surrounded by a beautiful environment and rich quotations, it would inspire them to enjoy their time at school and continue their education.
The idea of public enlightenment was also a fundamental concept in the project. The way out of poverty was through knowledge, and stimulating surroundings encouraged learning. This was an unusual way of thinking at the time! They wanted to create a fairy tale school. And it has been called a fairy tale school, not necessarily because it has been a fairy tale to attend here, the teachers were strict at this school too. But the decoration was unique.
Where to find us:
Stein skole: Kongsvingervegen 1682, 2160 Vormsund
Funnefoss industrial workers museum: Sandvegen 125, 2166 Oppaker
Opening hours at the Stein school museum 2025:
May 31 to August 24: We are open Thursday to Monday from 12-16.
Guided tours, art exhibitions, cafe and museum shop.
Adults NOK 100,- and Children NOK 50,-
Stein skole opens for the season on 31.may, and stays open until August 24. Our opening hours are 12:00 to 16:00.
Stein skole also contains an art gallery with rotating exhibitions.
Opening hours Funnefoss Industrial workers museum 2025:
Guided tours for groups by prior arrangement only. Contact by email: nes.samlinger@mia.no
