As talented as he was, Edvard Munch was a pretty troubled dude. The Norwegian painter of ‘The Scream’ (and plenty of other iconic works of art) frequently suffered from periods of alcoholism and poor mental health, which often forced him to retreat into the rural serenity of Oslo’s surrounding countryside.
Munch’s fave sanctuary was a place around 40 minutes’ drive outside Oslo called Ramme and, excitingly, it’s now open to the public. A luxury Munch-themed hotel called the Ramme Fjordhotell has recently opened on the site – and it’s perfect for those obsessed with the Norwegian artist’s life and work.
The hotel is on an old farm, where guests can take a walk down to the waterfront house once inhabited by Munch. But that isn’t the hotel’s only Munch-related feature. Its 42 rooms are loaded with replicas of Munch paintings, as well as local art inspired by the same surroundings. There’s even an on-site exhibition space (called the Ramme Gallery) that contains several Munch originals.
All this has come from the mind of billionaire art collector Petter Olsen, who funded the hotel by selling one of the four surviving originals of Munch’s iconic ‘The Scream’. And even Munch stuff aside, the Fjordhotell is pretty luxurious place, featuring plenty of swanky period furnishings and surrounded by luscious gardens. Here are a few pictures of the place.
There’s also never been a better time to plan a Munch-themed Oslo trip. The Norwegian capital’s Munch Museum opened last October, while the city’s spectacular new National Museum (containing, obvs, plenty of Munch masterpieces) opened last month.
You can find out more about the Ramme Fjordhotell and book a stay on the official website here.
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