Experience the best slate in the world
ALTA QUARTZITE SLATE
Learn more about the long tradition of slate in Alta
Pæska is home to the important slate industry in Alta. Slate from here is used around the world.
THE SLATE CITY OF ALTA
Available year around
Join us for a guided tour to, and at, Pæskatun slate quarry. Along the way, our local and experienced tour guide will share all the knowledge of Alta and point out interesting sites and buildings. The Alta Quartzite slate in various use will also be pointed out.
Season: Year around
Capacity: 2-8 (minimum 2 adults)
Duration: 2,5 hours
Price: NOK 1200/600 per adult/child (12 year or younger)
NOK 8400 per exclusive private tour (max 8)
Departure: 11:00 Monday – Saturday
Pick-up: At your hotel
Booking before 16:00 two days upfront
The history of Alta’s slate industry dates back to the 1860’s, and has been incredibly important for the social and economic life of Alta. At Pæskatun quarry, high up on the mountain Pæska, an interesting presentation with pictures and movies will tell you about the world-famous quartzite slate of Alta. The presentation gives an insight of how a slate worker can get a roof tile out of a huge rock of slate. The slate history, the market and possibilities for the slate will also be a part of the presentation.
Afterwards, it’s your turn to be a “slate worker-for-a-day” by using one of the traditional slate scissors to make your own real and unique Alta slate souvenir!
Once done with the “hard” work, it’s time to relax, explore our slate quarry or take a look inside the slate cabin museum to see how they lived and worked in “those hard days”. We also have fantastic views from the yard, let your eyes wander around the peaceful and soothing nature of the Alta valley before we unfortunately must tear ourselves away and set course for the city again.
Included:
- Pick-up and transport
- Self-made souvenir
- Hot beverages
- Snacks
More information:
Clothes for the weather and that can withstand a visit in a slate quarry.
We make unique and exclusive quality products and souvenirs of slate that can only be bought at Pæskatun.
VISIT PÆSKATUN
Available from June 19th to August 18th
Come and visit us here at Pæskatun, the only slate museum in Alta that is located in the middle of the slate quarries on the mountainside of the mountain Pæska. We are about 20 minutes drive south of Alta center, and already a few kilometers before you come up to us you will see that you are in the slate mountain, there is slate everywhere.
Season: 19.06 to 18.08 / Monday to Friday / 1100 to 1500
NOK 75: Museum, slate cabins and slate workshop
NOK 250: Guided tour with lots of information and a small demonstration of how the traditional slate scissors were used. (Including the entrance to the museum and cabins)
NOK 95: Make your own unique slate souvenir with slate scissors
The history of the slate industry in Alta dates back to the early 1860s. Here at Pæskatun, the 3rd and 4th generation of slate workers now run the company.
We have several slate cabins in the yard that will give an impression of what it was like to work in the slate mountain in the old days. Take a look into the modern slate workshop and if you are lucky, you will come across one of us in full swing to shape what is considered “the world’s best slate”. And should there not be a slate worker in action just when you visit us, you will still see how to take slate out of the rock and process it into a roof tile – we run pictures and film on one of our screens while you are here.
You are also welcome to wander around the outdoor areas, where large slate blocks, and wholly or partly manufactured slate products are stored. In addition to the traditional slate operation, we also produce other slate products, such as tombstones, gift items, door signs and souvenirs. Some of this will be on display both in the slate workshop and in the gallery cabin.
Do you think it can be exciting to see what you can get out of the slate in Alta, then you are more than welcome to visit us here at Pæskatun! Even the amazing view we have from here is worth a visit!
We encourage our visitors to share vehicles when visiting us.
THE SLATE EXPERIENCE
Available year around
Up in the slate mountains at Pæskatun, a visually and acoustically impressive presentation will teach you about the world-famous Alta slate. Then one of our experienced and enthusiastic slate workers proudly and happily demonstrates a complete, practical workflow – from a large slate block to a finished roof tile. After he shows you how to do it, it’s your turn to try making your own real slate souvenir from Alta Slate!
Season: Year around
Capasity: 10-60
Duration: 1,5 – 2 hours in the slate quarry (depending upon group size)
Departure: As agreed
Price: Contact us
Booking 3 days in advance.
Alta slate. One of the best, if not the best, high quality slate in the world! 7-800 million year old sediments which, after being kilometers below the bedrock, came to the surface here in Alta about 250 million years ago.
Slate extraction has been an important industry in Alta since the 1860s. Generations of hard-working slate workers have supported their families by taking out the slate located in the mountains south of Alta town, and at Pæskatun there are now 3rd and 4th generation slate workers.
Up in the slate mountains at Pæskatun, a visually and acoustically impressive presentation will teach you about the world-famous Alta slate. It shows how the slate is taken out of the rock and how the slate worker makes a roof tile out of the large slate blocks. Today’s slate workers have a modern, warm workshop and various equipment that facilitates the work, but a strong and steady hand is still required. At Pæskatun, one of our experienced and enthusiastic slate workers proudly and happily demonstrates a complete, practical workflow – from a large slate block to a finished roof tile.
A particularly important tool for the slate worker is the slate scissors. And after he has shown how he uses it, it’s your turn to try it out to make your own real slate souvenir of Alta slate!
Once done with the “hard” work, it’s time to relax, explore our slate quarry or take a look inside the slate cabin museum to see how they lived and worked in “those hard days”. We also have a fantastic view from the yard, let your eyes wander around the peaceful and soothing nature of the Alta valley before we unfortunately have to tear ourselves away and set course for the city again.
Included
- Selfmade souvenir
- Hot beverages
- Snacks
More information
Clothes for the weather, and which can withstand a visit in a slate quarry.
We make unique and exclusive quality products and slate souvenirs that can only be bought at Pæskatun.
We encourage our visitors to share vehicles when visiting us.
SLATE EVENING
Available from May 1 to August 31
A slate evening means that we invite you to come and enjoy a delicious meal in unique surroundings at Pæskatun. Inside our heated slate workshop, elegant table setting awaits, and here you will be served a tasty meal based on local ingredients prepared by some of the best chefs we have in Alta.
Note! Groups only.
Season: 01.05 – 31.08
Capasity: 10-100
Duration: 4-5 hours
Departure: As agreed
Price: Contact us with more information about your group
Booking minimum one week upfront.
Come, and experience the Alta slate at Pæskatun – 20 minutes south of Alta.
For more than 25 years, we have happily and proudly presented our important and unique slate industry to guests from far and wide. To show you how the slate industry in Alta has developed since the 1860s, we will illustrate with a film and slide show on the big screen.
At Pæskatun, one of our experienced slate workers proudly demonstrates a complete, practical workflow – from a large slate block to a finished roof tile and uses both old and new work techniques in the implementation. Today, a slate worker has a warm, modern workshop and other equipment to facilitate the work, but a strong and steady hand is still required.
A very important tool for the slate worker is the slate scissors. And after showing how he uses it, it’s your turn to try: Make a proper, homemade souvenir of the world-famous Alta slate!
If something extra should be on the wish list, we can arrange different options for you – take a closer look at “Recommendations”. Let us know how you envision your perfect event.
More information
Clothes for the weather and that can withstand a visit in a slate quarry.
We make unique and exclusive quality products and souvenirs of slate that can only be bought at Pæskatun.
Recommendations
- Combine with a Northern Lights presentation (historical and og scientific background)
- Combine with Alta slate presentation (historical and geologically)
- Combine with Alta slate demonstration (production of a roof tile)
- Combine with Sami storytelling in the lavvu (Sami tent)
- Combine with special arrangement like music groups and artists (contact us)
