Vest-Telemark () is a traditional district in Norway. The area comprises the western areas of the larger region known as Upper Telemark () in 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 .
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.
Municipalities Name Population(in 2020) Language form Website Fyresdal Municipality Nynorsk Fyresdal.kommune.no Kviteseid Municipality Nynorsk Kviteseid.kommune.no Nissedal Municipality Nynorsk Nissedal.kommune.no Seljord Municipality Nynorsk Seljord.kommune.no Tokke Municipality Nynorsk Tokke.kommune.no Vinje Municipality Nynorsk Vinje.kommune.no
Notable people from Vest-Telemark Aslaug Vaa, author from Rauland in Vinje Municipality Vidkun Quisling, politician from Fyresdal Municipality Aasmund Olavsson Vinje, author from Vinje Municipality Tarjei Vesaas, author from Vinje Municipality Odd Nordstoga, musician from Vinje Municipality Sondre Norheim, skier from Morgedal in Kviteseid Municipality Ivar Peterson Tveiten, politician from Fyresdal Municipality Anne Grimdalen, sculptor from Skafså in Tokke Municipality Eivind Groven, composer from Lårdal in Tokke Municipality Dyre Vaa, sculptor from Rauland in Vinje Municipality Halldis Moren Vesaas, author from Vinje Municipality Terje Haakonsen, snowboarder from Vinje Municipality Sven Erik Kristiansen, musician from Rauland in Vinje Municipality
References