Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Norway / Oslo / Lysebu
Lysebu
Oslo, Norway · Independent · Core Luxury
Attorney Krag asked Magnus Poulsson in 1916 for a country house above Oslo that felt like an Eastern Norway manor. After the war, Denmark's Norgeshjelpen had sent 22 tons of food a day to Norway; 12 million kroner remained, and Norway gave Lysebu to Denmark in thanks. The Fund for Danish-Norwegian Cooperation still owns it, pairing the house with Schæffergården near Copenhagen. In 2026 the fund's 80th anniversary hung works by Queen Sonja, Queen Margrethe, and Henie Onstad Kunstsenter.
- Opened 1946
- Neighborhood: Holmenkollen
- Architect: Magnus Poulsson
About Lysebu
- Magnus Poulsson designed the 1916 country house to recall Eastern Norway's civil-servant manors.
- Norway gave Lysebu to Denmark after Norgeshjelpen's wartime food lift; the Fund for Danish-Norwegian Cooperation still owns it.
- Twin house to Schæffergården near Copenhagen; 2026 marked the fund's 80th year with a royal exhibition.
History
Lysebu began in 1916, when attorney Krag commissioned Magnus Poulsson to design a country house above Oslo that recalled the manor houses of civil servants in Eastern Norway. After the Second World War, Denmark's Norgeshjelpen sent daily shipments of 22 tons of food to Norway; 12 million kroner remained from the Danish collection and became the Fund for Danish-Norwegian Cooperation. Norway gave Lysebu to Denmark in thanks. The fund still owns the house and uses revenues from Lysebu and Schæffergården near Copenhagen for cultural exchange. In 2026 Lysebu marked the fund's 80th anniversary with works from Queen Sonja, Queen Margrethe, and Henie Onstad Kunstsenter.
The setting
3 km from Holmenkollbakken ski-jumping hill. 13 km from downtown Oslo.
Restaurants and bars
- Danish open-faced sandwiches — Restaurant · Danish open-faced sandwiches
- A la carte dinner — Restaurant
Experiences
- Wellness area with pool and sauna — Drop-in access to the swimming pool and sauna, open 7:30 AM to 10:30 PM; fitness room open 24 hours.
- Shared table on Sundays — For guests arriving on Sundays, a shared table with cheese and charcuterie platter and the day's sweet finale; advance booking required.
- Art and History Tour – The Queen's Room — Art and history tour at Lysebu led by director Pernille Christensen.
- Jette Frölich's Christmas Exhibition — Christmas exhibition of Danish design by Jette Frölich, opening 1 November 2026.
- Gourmet dinner — Gourmet dinner evening on Friday 23 October 2026.
- Family Christmas Buffet — Time-honored family Christmas buffet, 29 November to 20 December.
Amenities
- Indoor pool
- Sauna
- Fitness center
- Fine dining
- Pet-friendly
- EV charging
Open Lysebu in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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