The Town
Kaupang was founded around the year 800. The location was significant when the town was established as a hub for trade and production. At Kaupang today there is built a Viking house like they think it could have been. You can also see a model of the town and get to know how the town was located.
Research
Many have dug and researched Kaupang from the 1800s until now. Most of the city is still not excavated.
In the exhibition "What Kaupang Earth hid" you get an insight into how archaeologists worked, what they did and what we know about Kaupang history today. A new exhibition on archeology, the town, trade and power opened in June 2021.
Activities in the Summer season
* Kaupang, The viking town: Come and see the exhibition.!
* Fasanatur: Task-track for everyone.
* Family day:, Every Wednesday from July 26 to August 14. Activities for children.
* Puppet theatre: Thursdays July 4 and 11 at 13.00 o’clock. Norvegian language only.
* Walking on Kaupang North: Thursdays July 18 and 25, August 1 and 8. Story telling, funerals and archeaology. Who was buried there and how was the funeral. The walk starts at 13 o’clock and lasts about one hour.
For groups
Activities are organized and adapted to groups as needed.
Sandefjord Bathhouse was opened as a health resort in 1837, and both royalty and well-known figures from the arts world were among the guests at the spa. The resort remained in operation up until the Second World War. The old Spa is today used for culture and banqueting rooms.
Guided tours during the summer season will be announced at Kurbadets facebook site and in the Event calendar What´s on?
Guided tours for groups
If you would like a guided tour of the Kurbadet, please contact the Kurbadet administration.
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.
Olav's Church was built in the late 1100s, and is a copy of the world's most important church; The Holy Sepulcher's Church in Jerusalem. It also has parallels to Olav's tomb in Trondheim. The ruins show an architecture and medieval thinking in Norway with important spiritual and political currents, at a time when both the crusades and pilgrimages characterized Europe. The round church in Tønsberg was the largest in the Nordic region, and must have been an important attraction of great cultural and spiritual significance, especially since there are few similar churches in Sweden, Denmark and elsewhere in Europe.
Olav Church also served as a grave and baptism church. In the Olav church, the viking king Erling Steinvegg was buried in 1207.
The round church belonged to the Olav Abbey in Tønsberg. It is mentioned for the first time in 1206, and was destroyed in fire, probably during the great city fire in 1536.
The roundhouse, which is the main part of the three rounds, was 23 meters in the inner diameter. The ruins of the church can be seen in the excavations made by the Olav Abbey.
The ruins are located downtown across from Tønsberg Library.
Bjerggata is one of Sandefjord's oldest and best preserved residential areas.
Traditional craftsmen and sailors lived here below Preståsen hill, and you can see the remains of small shops.
Today, Bjerggaten and Breili are cozy places that show old residential areas and wooden buildings that escaped the town fire in 1900.
The famous Gokstad Viking longship was excavated in 1880 and gave a reliable picture of what a Viking longship would have looked liked.
When Nicolaysen dug out the mound, he quickly saw that there had been grave robbers there. Weapons were placed in all men's graves from this time. It is as certain as jewelry being placed in women's graves. There were no weapons in the grave.
The skeleton found was of a man who was believed to be between 50 and 70 years old when he was buried. It was also believed that the man had been suffering from arthritis. He was around 1.85 meters tall. In the Viking Age, this was far above the average height of a man.
Next to the skeleton were some remains of fabric, which may be remnants of the dead man's suit. The pieces of wood are believed to be the remains of a bed. He had brought three fishing hooks. A board game with a piece made of horn is reminiscent of the game we today call mill. There were also many pieces of harnesses for horses. One of the pieces depicts a rider with a horse – and has become known as the rider medallion.
In addition to the skeleton, the remains of the feathers of a peacock were found. This find is the first of its kind from the Nordic region. Was the man supposed to bring the bird for food, or was it to show his power that this particular bird was placed in the pile? For eating utensils, the man had also brought six cups and a plate, all of which were made of hardwood. Three small boats and several beds were found in front of the mast. Otherwise, there was also hiking equipment such as a sled, a vessel for drinking water (750 litres), bargeboard for a tent and kitchen equipment – a trough, some cutting boards and a large bronze kettle.
12 horses and six dogs were also found outside the ship.
The Gokstad mound was reopened in 2007 and new investigations were carried out on the grave. The grave was previously believed to be that of Olav Geirstad-Alv, half-brother of Halvdan Svarte. However, recent discoveries have increased the uncertainty surrounding this version of history. It is therefore still uncertain who was buried in the Gokstad mound. The area has been equipped with informative notice boards and can be found on the RV 303, about 2 kilometres from the centre towards Tønsberg.
The Library in Tønsberg
Six viking tombs were found at archaeological excavations 1987-91 in Storgaten 16. Two boat graves are marked in the lower floor of the library.
Slagen Church
Several viking graves can be seen in the cemetary at Slagen Church. Bus no. 113 to Klokkeråsen.
In 1904 archaeological excavations were carried out here, and the ship that hid a massive artifact discovery from the Viking era was revealed. The 21.5 meters long Oseberg ship turned out to be the grave of an eminent woman, perhaps a queen, dating back to 834 AD. The ship was filled with gifts for the journey to the kingdom of death. The Oseberg carriage, five beautifully carved animal headstones, four sleds, beds, chests and looms.
A maid servant was chosen to follow the womans journey to the afterlife and was found buried with the elderly gueen.
It was long assumed that this was the grave of Queen Åsa, grandmother of Harald Hårfagre. Hence the name Oseberg. Newer technology however allowed historians in 1992 to date the burial to around 834 and implies that it was in fact Queen Alvhild, first wife of King Gudrød, who was buried there.
The Oseberg Hill was opened again in autumn 2007 and the women's skeletons secured. The oldest was have been closer to 80 years old. The other woman is somewhat younger. Both belonged to the "upper class", but none of them seems have been Queen Åsa herself, as previously predicted.
The burial mound, 40 meters in diameter, was restored in 1947.
There is a cultural trail along Vellebekken to the grave.
A copy of the Oseberg ship's beautifully carved bow can be seen at The Slottsfjell Museum. The original ship with its contents is exhibited at the Viking Museum in Oslo. Another complete copy of the ship can be seen at the harbour of Tønsberg.
Søndre Hella is a popular swimming and hiking area, and also offers one of the largest burial grounds in the Vestfold area.
There are clear signs that several of the graves have been looted over the years, and even if archaeological investigations have not taken place, it can still be safely said that the resting places contain people of high status.
Søndre Hella faces west with a view of Vestfjorden.
On Søndre Hella and by Øra, Nøtterøy can boast the "Devil's table", a stone formation consisting of a large boulder on top of several smaller boulders. Whether this is natural or man-made is not known. The formation is thought to be connected to the burial ground.
The present tower was built as a 1000-year anniversary and was completed in 1888. The tower is 17 meters high, with a stunning view of the town. The original cross from the Maria Church and the engraved signatures of three Norwegian kings can be seen in the tower – 1906 – King Hakon VII during the coronation process, 1958 – King Olav V during the signing process and 1992 – King Harald V during the opening of Tønsberg and Nøtterøy Library
Slottsfjellet – The Castle Hill area is the most popular outdoor recreation area in the center of Tønsberg, and has a long and exciting history. The Castle Hill has the largest ruin park in Scandinavia with ruins from Castrum Tunsbergis, which was Norways largest castle in the 14th century. The castle was destroyed in 1503.
The ruins once consisted of 700 metres of outer-wall with watchtowers and castles, the King´s Hall, built by King Håkon Håkonsson, “Teglkastellet” built by King Magnus Lagabøte, and St. Mikael Church which may have been completed in 1191. The original main tower was probably even bigger and more beautiful than today's tower.
The powerful crag was the ultimate spot for a castle complex in the insecure times when old Tunsberg – Norway's most important naval port in the east – started growing, and the power struggles between Norway's many kings ravaged the country. Much exciting Norwegian history was written on Slottsfjellet, or Mikkelsberg, as it was once called. Famous Norwegian medieval kings and princesses have married here, and power struggles between the Baglers and the Birkebeiners have played out.
The tower is closed from October – April, but the ruins can be visited year-round.
