A mountain hotel in Vestland county that overlooks the Måbødalen valley and Vøringsfossen waterfall, and holds the Zimmermann piano on which Edvard Grieg composed his Norwegian Folk Songs in 1896.
At a glance
Fossli Hotel perches atop a mountain in the Eidfjord region, positioned just off Norwegian National Road 7. The building commands sweeping views across one of Norway’s most dramatic landscapes, where waterfall and valley meet steep alpine terrain.
History
The hotel welcomed its first guests in 1887 and was finally completed in 1891, establishing itself as a destination for travelers navigating the mountain passes of western Norway. A decade after opening, the hotel became associated with one of Scandinavia’s greatest composers. Edvard Grieg composed his Norwegian Folk Songs, Opus 66, on a Zimmermann piano that remains in the hotel’s collection—a tangible link to a pivotal creative moment in Norwegian music.
What you see
The hotel’s principal asset is its setting: a mountaintop location that frames the Måbødalen valley and the powerful cascade of Vøringsfossen waterfall. The building itself serves as a vantage point for one of Norway’s most celebrated natural spectacles.
Cultural significance
Fossli Hotel embodies the intersection of Norwegian hospitality and musical heritage. The presence of Grieg’s Zimmermann piano elevates the hotel beyond a simple way-station into a site of artistic memory—a place where a master composer found inspiration amid mountain grandeur.
Key facts
- Country: Norway
- Municipality: Eidfjord, Vestland county
- Built: 1887–1891
- Coordinates: 60.4275, 7.2547
- Notable feature: Zimmermann piano used by Edvard Grieg for Norwegian Folk Songs, Opus 66 (1896)
- Landscape: Overlooks Måbødalen valley and Vøringsfossen waterfall
Practical information & getting there
The hotel is located approximately 10 kilometres east of the village of Øvre Eidfjord, accessible via Norwegian National Road 7. For current opening hours, rates, and access details, consult the hotel directly or local tourism resources for Eidfjord Municipality.
Sources & resources
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