Kongsberg was built on silver. The town was founded in 1624 after ore was found in the surrounding hills, and for a time it was one of the most important places in Norway. That mining past still gives Kongsberg its shape: a compact town centre, a monumental church, and mine tunnels running deep into the mountain west of town.
The best reason to come is the Kongsberg Silver Mines. Guided visits take you by train into the old workings, where the scale of the industry is much easier to grasp than it is from a museum case. In town, the Norwegian Mining Museum adds the story of coins, minerals, technology, and the people who worked here.
Kongsberg Church is the surprise. Its plain exterior hides a rich rococo interior with a dramatic altar, pulpit, organ, chandeliers, and royal seating, all tied to the town's eighteenth-century wealth. Kongsberg also has a ski hill close to the centre, so it works as a winter day out from Oslo or Drammen as well as a history stop.