Norfolk

About Norfolk

Tucked into the hills of Litchfield County at one of Connecticut's highest elevations, Norfolk is a quietly spectacular small town where world-class music drifts through a forest preserve and a perfectly preserved village green anchors a community that takes beauty seriously. It's the kind of place where the air is crisp, the architecture is extraordinary, and a summer evening concert feels like a genuine gift. Rural, refined, and a little magical — Norfolk rewards anyone who makes the trip.

What to Know

• Music in the woods: The Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, hosted by the Yale School of Music, draws world-class performers each summer to the rustic Music Shed on the Ellen Battell Stoeckel Estate — a truly one-of-a-kind cultural experience.
• Live music venue: The landmark Infinity Hall, housed in a gorgeous 1880s Arts-and-Crafts building with an original opera house upstairs, is a beloved regional concert venue right on the village green.
• Architectural treasure: Over thirty buildings in town were designed by architect Alfredo S. G. Taylor in the early 20th century, making Norfolk an open-air showcase of American architectural history.
• High and wild: At 1,230 feet above sea level, Norfolk is one of the highest towns in Connecticut and sits amid forests, streams, and nature preserves perfect for hiking and birding.
• A designed library: The Norfolk Library, a shingle-style gem designed by architect George Keller around 1888, is as lovely as any in New England.

History

Norfolk was incorporated in 1758 and named after Norfolk, England — though locals have never quite agreed on how to pronounce it. The town's Norfolk Historic District preserves its storied village center, which attracted wealthy Gilded Age families who left behind an extraordinary architectural legacy.

Community & Living

Norfolk is a town for people who want to live deliberately — close to nature, surrounded by culture, and part of a tight-knit community that genuinely cares about its surroundings. Residents enjoy a rare combination of deep quiet and world-class arts, all within reach of the broader Litchfield Hills. It's small-town Connecticut at its most inspired.