Fretheim Hotel

The Fretheim Hotel has long been a destination for tourists looking to explore Norway's natural wonders. In the late 19th century, English lords came to Flam and stayed at the farm of Christen Fretheim while they fished for salmon or hunted for nearby game. The farm soon developed into a hotel, and today it welcomes tourists who flock to Flam for fjord cruises, hiking, and in the winter, cross country skiing.The current hotel incorporates the original historic building, and the rooms in the Historic Wing are designed to look as they might have over a hundred years ago. For true authenticity, they don't even have TVs -- just old-fashioned working radios. In the lobby, historic charm is blended with contemporary mountain style for a rustic-chic feel. The ample pine, leather club chairs, and plaid fabrics feel lodge-like, while the furniture upholstered in rich purples and blues adds a trendy element. The gas fireplace and adjacent stacked wood (which must be purely stylistic) add both literal and figurative warmth. The most notable feature, though, might be the view through the soaring glass windows of the steep surrounding mountains. The windows extend upward to the second-floor restaurant, which projects over the lobby.Many tourists who come to Flam only stay for the few hours after their arrival on the Flam Railway (the train journey here fully deserves its reputation as one of the most scenic in Europe) and before their departure on a fjord cruise. As a result, the hotel restaurant gets a lot of lunch traffic from non-guests. The hotel serves locally sourced food from nearby farms alongside dramatic mountain views.Lodging options in Flam are limited, and the Fretheim Hotel is the largest and most notable property, with a location right across from the harbor where fjord cruises depart. It also offers more property features than other lodging options -- not only a restaurant, but a sauna, outdoor hot tub, a library, coffee bar, lobby bar, wine cellar, hair salon (run by an independent company), and extensive meeting and event spaces. The remote location and lack of competition makes for expensive rates.

The Fretheim Hotel is located in the tiny village of Flam, in a valley surrounded by steep mountains. It's the final destination for the Flam Railway, which visitors take through the mountains to reach the village, often as part of the "Norway in a Nutshell" tours. It is considered one of the most scenic train rides in Europe. Many visitors stay in Flam for a few hours before departing on a two-hour cruise of the Aurlandsfjord and Naerofjord, two arms of the Sognefjord, which is arguably the most beautiful and famous fjord in Norway. The harbor at the end of the Aurlandsfjord where boats depart is right across from the hotel.- 1-hour train ride from Myrdal; Myrdal is a 2-hour train ride from Bergen

• 1-minute walk from the Fram Railway station and Flam Railway Museum
• 2-minute walk to the harbor on the Aurlandsfjord where fjord cruises depart

Most of the rooms at the Fretheim hotel are bland and mid-range, with light wood furniture and chain-like style. They do have flat-screen TVs and coffeemakers; some have impressive views of the harbor and mountains.The Historic Rooms and American Wing Rooms, however, are much higher-end. American Wing Rooms -- designed to please the hotel's increasing number of American guests -- have sophisticated contemporary decor. The one we saw had a rich blue bedspread with a geometric design, leather headboard with silver metal studs, a white wood accent wall, and a chandelier.Historic Rooms are designed to look as they might have over a hundred years ago when the English lords first came to Flam to fish, and are located in the historic section of the hotel. Decor between the Historic Rooms varies, but expect lovely authentic details such as pine wood floors, antique furniture, china tea sets, working old-fashioned radios, and in the bathrooms, clawfoot tubs and pull-flush toilets. For the sake of historical accuracy, there are no TVs.For large groups, the old storehouse (dating to 1928) can be rented out. It has five bedrooms and can accommodate up to six people. It is painted traditional red on the outside, and has a charmingly rustic feel on the inside.

The main restaurant serves a breakfast buffet, a la carte lunch, and dinner with both a la carte and buffet options. The hotel uses mostly locally sourced food, including meats, cheeses, fruits, and vegetables.- Coffee bar serving drinks, pastries, and light meals

• Afternoon tea (inspired by the hotel's history as a lodging place for English lords) with scones, jam, sour cream, and cakes served in the historic part of the hotel or in the library

The hotel can help arrange a number of organized tours for guests. These include:- Trip to the historic farmstead of Otternes Farm

• Visit to Undredal, a tiny village with the smallest stave church in Scandanavia and traditional goat cheese
• Trip to the Furberget Kettle Pots, big holes carved out by glaciers during the last ice age
• Kayaking on the Sognefjord
• Wilderness camp experience with archery, axe throwing, and other competitive activities
• A number of walks and hikes