Prestfoss is the main village of Sigdal, a long, green valley west of Drammen, where the river Simoa flows south between forested mountains. The village sits at a waterfall on the river, and around it the valley opens into farmland, with old wooden farmhouses, red barns and meadows.
Sigdal is closely associated with the painter Theodor Kittelsen, famous for his drawings and paintings of trolls, forest spirits and the dark, mysterious side of Norwegian folklore. He lived for some years in Sigdal, at a house called Lauvlia, near Prestfoss, which he designed and decorated himself. Today it is a museum, with his works, furniture and the atmosphere of the place where he lived and worked. Visiting it, you can almost feel the trolls lurking in the forest outside.
The valley also has the Sigdal Museum, an open-air collection of old farm buildings, and Eggedal, further up the valley, is the home of the painter Christian Skredsvig's farm, Hagan, also a museum. The landscape of Sigdal inspired several Norwegian painters of the nineteenth century.
For riders, Rv287 through Sigdal is a lovely road, with gentle curves along the river and views of the valley and the mountains. Traffic is light, especially outside the summer holidays. Speed limits are low and enforced. Fuel and food are available in Prestfoss. As a start, finish and photo stop, the valley, with its old farms and forested slopes, is classic Norwegian scenery.