Vest-Telemark

Vest-Telemark (lit. 'West-Telemark') is a traditional district in Norway. The 7699 km2 area comprises the western areas of the larger region known as Upper Telemark (Øvre Telemark) in Vestfold og Telemark county. The region consists of six municipalities: Fyresdal, Tokke, Vinje, Nissedal, Kviteseid, and Seljord. In 2020, there were 13,903 residents in the region. The area of Vest-Telemark was historically called Øvre Telemark vestfjelske.

The region is known for its folk traditions within music, clothing, handcrafts, food, and architecture. The region is also distinctly marked by its dialects of Norwegian. This form of Norwegian is among those containing the most traces of the Old Norse language and grammar. This area uses the Nynorsk written form of Norwegian.

Vest-Telemark is also the home of slalom (slalåm) skiing, Telemark skiing, and ski jumping (with its characteristic Telemark landing). "The Cradle of Modern Skiing" is found in Morgedal.

Notable people from Vest-Telemark

 * Aslaug Vaa, author from Rauland in Vinje
 * Vidkun Quisling, politician from Fyresdal
 * Aasmund Olavsson Vinje, author from Vinje
 * Tarjei Vesaas, author from Vinje
 * Odd Nordstoga, musician from Vinje
 * Sondre Norheim, father of modern skiing who was from Morgedal
 * Ivar Peterson Tveiten, politician from Fyresdal
 * Anne Grimdalen, sculptor from Skafså in Tokke
 * Eivind Groven, composer from Lårdal in Tokke
 * Eivind Hovden, guitarist from Dalen in Tokke
 * Dyre Vaa, sculptor from Rauland in Vinje
 * Halldis Moren Vesaas, author from Vinje
 * Terje Haakonsen, master snowboarder Vinje
 * Sven Erik Kristiansen, internationally acclaimed musician Rauland in Vinje