Blaafarveværket, Art museum and factory in Modum, Norway.
Blaafarveværket is a former cobalt processing complex at the base of Haugfossen waterfall in Modum. The site features buildings from different periods, mining tunnels, art galleries, and exhibition spaces created within the historic industrial structures.
The works were established in 1776 and quickly became the world's leading source for blue pigments. By the 1800s, it supplied the majority of cobalt used across Europe for porcelain and glass production.
The name refers to the blue pigments once produced here, which shaped the region's identity. Today, galleries display Nordic art while original production spaces remain visible, blending industrial heritage with contemporary creative work.
Visitors can join guided tours through mining tunnels, explore multiple art galleries, and dine at on-site restaurants. Craft items are available in shops throughout the grounds, and the open layout makes self-guided walking straightforward.
The underground tunnels were once work spaces and are now art rooms where the raw material processing remains visible alongside modern installations. This blend of mining history and contemporary creativity in the same spaces is rare among industrial museums.
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