FRETHEIM HOTEL'S HISTORY The year is 1870. The first foreigners that visited Flåm were fishermen fishing for salmon. The fishermen stayed on the farm of the wealthiest man in the village - Christen Fretheim. He took over the farm in 1879, he opened a post office in 1890 and a steamship-service in 1895. The lodgers at Fretheim enjoyed staying on the farm, and the need for a hotel became evident. This was the beginning of Fretheim Hotel... In 1909 Christen's cousin Marthe Fretheim arrived at Flåm to help out with the hotel. She was marvellous and within a short period of time she practically took over the running of the hotel. Every litle detail that Christen had overlooked, she made the most of... Marthe was a kind lady, who among other things loved gardening. People soon talked about the wonders she had made for the garden surrounding the hotel. The guests also felt Marthe's care. When the caravans headed for the mountains in the winter, she made sure that everybody stayed warm by wrapping them in newspapers, knitted shawles and fllece. Marthe Fretheim provided for every guest, and in the evenings "the caring lady with the candle-light" walked each of them to their rooms. Christen Fretheim died in 1916, but Marthe stayed at the hotel for the rest of her life. Some even argue that she's still there. Stories from residents and employees indicate that Marthe still does her rounds to check that everything is in order at Fretheim Hotel...