Karljohansvern is a national fortification in Horten, on the western shore of the Oslofjord, a good hour's drive from the capital Oslo. The fortress is beautifully situated on a peninsula between the fjord and the inner harbour, and consists of both big storage buildings from the mid 19th century and ordinary houses from the 20th century. The oldest house that remains at Karljohansvern were a part of Horten farm built in the 16th century. There are also nice recreational areas along the fjord.
Parts of the area are preserved in order to protect birds and plants.
Karljohansvern developed from a ferry place to a naval base, and subsequently to a civil society. The architecture is peculiar and follows the different style periods. Many of the buildings were erected shortly after the Navy established its main base here in 1818. The construction of the buildings has followed the technological development and is typical of its time. Karljohansvern may be defined as a living museum, where you can watch the growth of a modern town. Here the past and the present are brought together. Before parts of the area were unavailable to the public, whereas today you can walk freely around in most parts of the military historical area of Karljohansvern.
Karljohansvern also offers cultural experiences, for example The Naval Museum with exciting collections connected to the naval history through war and peace, and the Preus Museum with exhibits within photography and visual art.
The peninsula of Karljohansvern has three bridge connections across the beautiful Horten Canal separating the Naval base and town. Along the canal you can walk in peace and quiet, only occasionally disturbed by the soft humming of a typical Norwegian small boat called “snekke” – using this shortcut between the inner harbour and the Oslofjord.
Throughout the year various cultural events take place at Karljohansvern, such as concerts, music festivals and other features.
The need for two gunpowder towers was revealed in report of the year 1756. Part of the reason was said to be the risk of placing a thousand barrels of gunpowder in one place, and secondly that other sites able to host a tower of that size were unsuitable of other reasons.
A proposal showing a gunpowder tower with a vault was sent over, but the board did not approve of this. The condition was that the attic needed to have a wooden floor resting on a tier of joists, making it possible to cover with a thick layer of horsemuck as isolation against bombardment.
The gunpowder tower was also used as prison for a period of time.
Today the building functions as suitable space for galleries and expositions.
All together the three islands, Western Bolæren, Middle Bolæren and Eastern Bolæren cover over 2 square kilometers. In addition to this there are over 40 smaller islands, islets and skerries around the main islands. Due to the rich and varied flora and fauna that exists in the area, much of the archipelago is part of the Færder national park.
Transport
The only way to reach Bolærne is by boat. People will prefer to travel out in their own boat if they have one, but there is also a ferry which leaves daily from the town of Tønsberg in the summer. For more information on the ferry go to the official website Flybåten.no
There is also possible to go by taxiboat; Fjordtaxi.
Middle Bolæren
Considered by many the most beautiful island, Middle Bolæren is prized for its rich flora and scenic landscapes. There is a nice costal trail which connects the different sights on the island. Among other things there are various remnants from a POW camp built to house Russians during WWII,
several burial mounds from the viking age and a grand decidous forest. The Earls lodge is also a popular attraction. The most common way to access the island is from Kongshavnsundet.
Western Bolæren
Not as visited as the two other islands in summer, Western Bolæren nonetheless boasts many nice sights and swimming spots. Accessed mostly by the main quay at Jenserud, it is ideal for a quiet day out enjoying nature. There is a café, several cabins that can be rented and a big area where one can pitch tents for free. It has a coastal path, burial mounds, a viking camp and several fine beaches.
Eastern Bolæren
The most popular island of the three, Eastern Bolæren shows the strongest signs of human influence. Most of the buildings are situated around the guest port on the west side. These include a small hotel for overnight stay, a resturant and a kiosk. Bolærne fort organises guided trips of the islands defensive fortifications, but one may also walk among the bunkers and trenches at leisure. Like the two others, Eastern Bolæren has several bathing spots and paths crisscrossing the forests and rocks. There is also a designated area for pitching tents.
