Dalen Hotel, Historic Hotels Worldwide in Telemark, Norway

Hotellveien 33 Dalen 3880

The original property opened in 1894. A member of Historic Hotels Worldwide since 2012.

Known as the “hotel from the fairytales,” thanks to its storybook-like Norwegian Dragestil (or "Dragon Style") architecture, the Dalen Hotel was built in 1894. Its distinctive appearance was inspired by traditional stave churches from the Middle Ages and continues to enchant to this day. The Dalen Hotel has retained its authenticity and historical significance, as the present-day hotel is almost identical to the wooden castle that opened at the site those many years ago.

Along with dining at the onsite French-inspired eatery and relaxing in the sauna, visitors to Dalen Hotel cannot miss the central hall, with its stunning stained glass windows that were shipped in from Berlin. Antique furnishings and art also lend a sense of time and place, turning the hotel into a time capsule that allows guests to travel back in time and experience it just like the travelers before them. Outdoors, meanwhile, verdant mountaintops soar high above the hotel to the north, south, and east. The famed Victoria and Henrik Ibsen canal boats sail by along the scenic Telemark Canal during the summer months. No matter where guests look, they are awed by the fairy-tale hotel and its picturesque setting.

Many of Europe’s leading royals stayed at the Dalen Hotel when it first debuted, such as King Oscar II of Norway and Sweden, Emperor Wilhelm of Germany, and King Leopold of Belgium. It still carries on this tradition of excellence to this day, receiving such prestigious honors as the European Heritage Award, Europa Nostra's Silver Medal and the Olavsrosa Award. The Dalen Hotel is open seasonally from mid-April to October.