Kategori: Other attractions

Borre vikinglag

Borre vikinglag

The team is Norway's oldest Viking team, and among its members are all types of people, from archaeologists to farmers with a common interest in Viking times, history, Viking activities and the preservation of old crafts. Most of the team members make their own equipment.

The purpose is to spread knowledge about the history of Borre and Vestfold, especially in the Iron Age/Viking Age, and to expand knowledge about daily life and crafts in this period. Through practical knowledge of how the Vikings lived and active collaboration with archaeologists and professionals, history is continued. Here you can experience more than reading about history, and join in living like a Viking! The Viking team therefore makes clothes, tools, boats and equipment as the Vikings did. Through their work, commitment and enthusiasm, the image of the Viking Age is communicated to the public through activities at events and seminars. Midgard Viking Center is one of the Viking team's partners.

Every other year the market Borrekaupangen takes place at Prestegårdsstranda at Borre in Horten.

 

 

Sjoparken

“Sjøparken in Stavern is an idyllic area with a variety of activities and experiences. Visit the Nerdrum Museum to see iconic works by Odd Nerdrum. At the ‘Havfuglen’ Café, you can enjoy food and drinks under old chestnut trees at Agnes Torg. Kunst i Sjøparken (Art in Sjøparken) features 17 studios and galleries with local artists – painting, photography, ceramics, and more. People of all ages can explore and play on the Tangaroa raft, which was used during the filming of the Kon-Tiki movie in 2012. Additionally, there are plenty of activities in the area – you can try yoga, pilates, martial arts, bouldering, diving, and watersports. You’ll also find Agnes Brygghus and other local offerings. The local community in the summer town of Stavern also offers opportunities for boat trips, restaurants, shops, and many other activities.

Sandefjord Viking Park

Just outside the town center you will find Gokstadhaugen, where the famous Gokstad ship was found in 1879. Of the four Viking ships found in Norway, three have been found in Vestfold.

The Oseberg Viking Heritage Foundation has set itself the goal of making copies of all of these. Previously, Oseberg Viking Heritage has made an archaeological replica of the Oseberg ship «Saga Oseberg» and an interpretation (as there is too little left of the original ship to make a replica) of the Klåstad ship «Saga Farmann». Now it's the biggest of them all, the Gokstad ship, that is up next.

Over the next few years, anyone can follow and / or participate in the construction of an archaeological replica of the Gokstad ship. Centrally located in both Sandefjord and Tønsberg there are construction activities. The Viking park is a part of Badeparken, between Scandic Park Hotel and the ferry terminal in Sandefjord.

Right next to the famous Whaling Monument in Sandefjord, there is a landing site for large oak logs to be split and chopped into ship planks. Various ship parts will be produced here. All work will be done with the same kind of tools and old techniques from the Viking Age. Here you can learn old traditional crafts.

The ship parts will be transported from Sandefjord to Tønsberg by Viking ship. In Tønsberg, where the Viking shipyard itself is located, the parts will be further processed and mounted on the ship. Here you will also have the opportunity to follow and participate in the construction down on "Vikingodden" in the middle of Tønsberg harbor.

Tønsberg Sjømannsforening, Tollboden (Maritime History Center)

Tønsberg Sjømannsforening (Seamen's Association) and Tønsberg Maritime History Center (TSS) are based in Tollboden at Tollbodbryggen. Tønsberg Maritime History Center shows the town's proud maritime and whaling history, and is open from May to August. They offer tours for groups by appointment.

Come and see the film Whaling life at the Pelagos!

Tønsberg Maritime History Center
On Tollboden's 1st floor, we find a maritime exhibition split into one maritime and one whaling section, divided into the shipping town, the maritime town, the harbour town and the whaling town. Here, seafaring and whaling are richly illustrated through beautiful models, pictures, text boards and effects. It is equipped with several monitors that show life at sea and whaling. One of the monitors also shows text and images about the city's shipping companies and their vessels.

This is a historical center well worth visiting!

The former Tønsberg Seamen's Museum had its first premises in the seamen's school at Haugar, where the Haugar Vestfold Culture Museum is located today. Eventually, the seaman's school needed the premises itself, and the collection was handed over to the Vestfold County Museum. Tønsberg Seamen's Association bought the old Tollboden on 1 July 2005, and over the next two years the Tønsberg Maritime History Center (TSS) with its own museum was realised. Extensive work, a lot of it with the help of volunteers, resulted in 4 great meeting and social gathering rooms, a kitchen, boardroom, office and lift. The ceremonial opening of the Tønsberg Historical Center on the 1st floor was conducted by shipowner Morten Wilh. Wilhelmsen on the 22nd of May, 2007.

Vikingodden

On a voluntary basis, Oseberg Viking Heritage has built an archaeological replica of this ship only using tools and construction methods identical to what was used in the Viking Age. The construction took place on Vikingodden on the pier in Tønsberg, and here you can also see the copy of the Oseberg ship, Saga Oseberg, and the copy of another famous find: the Klåstad ship, which has been given the name, Saga Farmann. The original Klåstad ship is now the only Viking ship you can see at a museum in Norway and it is at the Slottsfjell Museum.

Saga Oseberg and Saga Farmann can be seen on Vikingodden all year round, except when they are on a cruise.

In 2021, the construction of an archaeological replica of the Gokstad ship also began. The construction will take place both at Vikingodden in Tønsberg and at the Whaling Monument in Sandefjord. Here you have the opportunity to join and build ships with the Vikings' tools.

At Vikingodden, there are skilled guides in place on the weekends who can tell you about Vestfold's rich Viking history.

Kiosk with souvenirs and gift items.

Oseberg Viking Heritage offers Viking activities and trips with the Viking ship Saga Oseberg for groups from 10-300 people!

Read more about Oseberg Viking Heritage on the website osebergvikingarv  and sagaoseberg.com​​​​​​

Ormen Våge

Våge means “to dare”
The Dragon, however, was not chosen purely as protection for the children. In old Norse literature dragons are portrayed as much as obstacles to fight and overcome, as well as symbols of strength.
It is this duality that Stig Skjelvik found intriguing, and it is the same duality that makes it a valid symbol for any child about to dare a few steps out of the comfort zone. Whether the challenge at hand is overcoming personal obstacles or to prove, or expose, something to the outside world, the dragon is there to remind them that they can succeed. The name of the dragon, Våge, is the Norwegian verb that means to dare.  

Medieval inspiration
The shape of Våge is as modern as a dragon can possibly get – but the texture of the beast is deeply rooted in norse tradition, inspired by the stave churches. The bulk of the stave churches of Norway was built between 1100 and 1350. The few that still remain leave spectators in awe of the mythological ornaments and their artful shapes – yet Stig Skjelvik found the roofs of the stave churches to be the most magnificent work of art, as they were a integrated part of the dragon head decorations. The entire body of Våge is therefore built in the exact same manner as the roof of a stave church.

The roof shingles of the stave churches are all shaped as, and overlap each other like, reptilian scales. To endure they were made of ore-pine.

Contemporary magic
Every dragon holds a bit of magic – and magic is what Stig Skjelvik has created underneath the dragons tactile, handcrafted armour.  All hand painted with pine tar oil. At night the play in light reveals new patterns in the body and creates the illusion that the already dynamic figure, is in motion.

Torås Fort

Historical guided tours for groups
Guided tours with knowledgeable guides are held in connection with events and when the museum is open during the summer. The tour takes about 2 hours. Suitable for groups of minimum10 and up to 50 people. This history lesson costs NOK 200, – per person. Children below 12 years for free.

Tours for groups can also be booked on request.

Torås Fort! World history in Færder municipality. Vestfold's largest intact war memories from World War II!

It has been military operations in the area from the Viking Age until 1999.

The fort as it appears today was begun by the Norwegian authorities in 1938 and completed by the Germans in November 1941. 

After the war, the fort entered the coastal artillery again. During the Cold War exciting and secret things happened on the fort when a group partly funded by the CIA moved in. The name of this group was "Stay behind" and used Torås as the educational center for secret agents. In 1999, the fort was closed down and the tunnels were sealed by bricks.

In 2008, there was established a interest-group for Toras fort, with the purpose of preserving the fort. In recent years, the group has opened 5 of the 12 tunnels that were bricked again and in one of the tunnels, a military-historical exhibition opened in this tunnel. The museum is open every Sunday in June and July.

In 2018, the group bought the bow of the historic ship "Pol 3" and will establish a national memorial on Torås with the bow as the centerpiece. Artistic responsible for the project is Vebjørn Sand.

During 2019, the group got access to more buildings in the lower camp, and in the next few years filled these with historically interested groups, including Historical military vehicles. In this way, the interest group created a national cultural-historical center at Torås, where the public can experience living history all year round.

Throughout the year there are several events at Torås fort. 

Portraits of honorary citizens

The artworks are comossoned by ByLab, Culture Sports and leisure, and Area plan in Larvik municipality. In addition to Sparebankstiftelsen DNB, the business community in Larvik has contributed to the project.

Ingvar Ambjørnsen – Parking lot by Oskars gate by the town square. 

Carl Nesjar – At the bottom of Kongegata behind the Farris factory 

Arne Nordheim – Parking lot by Nedre Torggate. 

Thor Heyerdahl –  Was demolished in connection to building the new Grandkvartalet. The new artwork can be found at Quality Hotel Grand Larvik.

Antonio Bibalo – Parking lot at the top of Bøkestredet, Øvre Bøkeligate. (The mural was painted over in the summer of 2024 due to poor condition , and construction plans. The artists hope to have the opportunity to paint Bibalo elsewhere in the town).

Poetry Park

The project is an idea from Louis Jacoby in 2006. Larvik business community and Larvik municipality collaborated the project in 2006, with the vision of giving residents and visitors to Larvik greater vitality through Poesipark's dissemination.

Read more about the installations and where to find them here: Poesiparken.

Art for All in the World

The project was developed in times that saw significant changes in the political landscape and Europe was facing an immense migrant crisis. The project wanted to shine light on these issues and as a consequence convey a message that all kinds of people are welcome to our city. Sandefjord has some strong players working with social entrepreneurship and Café Vintage was heavily involved in the project. The café offers training programs mainly for women and their families joined in as volunteers. Naper’n, a youth club at the city centre came along too as volunteers. It all played out very nicely as people from all over the world be it artists or refugees together painted ten murals in a two week period in July 2017. The project kicked off on July 3rd with the Norwegian prime minister, Erna Solberg, opening the event. It all become a massive joint collaboration between businesses and volunteers and the following deserves a big thank you!   

Sparebankstiftelsen DNB, Tenkt Stort, Tenk Sandefjord, Torp Lufthavn Sandefjord, Ramirent, Jotun, Scandic Park Sandefjord, Sandefjord Brann og Redning, Gleditsch fargehandel  

You can find the murals at the following locations:  

“Peace between nations” by Eduardo Kobra, Brazil – Parking lot behind Peter Grøns gate 2B 

“Trekkfugl” by Aleksei Bordusov (AEC), Ukraine – Parking lot behind Peter Grøns gate 2B 

“Nature for everyone” by Bart Smates Smeets, Belgium – Parking lot behind Peter Grøns gate 2B 

“Stay with me” by Artez Street Art, Serbia – Parking lot behind Peter Grøns gate 2B 

“We are all refugees” by Matias Sabotajealmontaje, Tenerife – Restaurant Smak, Thor Dahlsgt. 9 

“Våre refleksjoner” by Eric Okdeh, US – Parking lot at Storgata 7  

“Vårt Sandefjord” by Eric Okdeh, US Storgata 6  

“Birds don’t have borders” by Peacetu, Brazil/Norway, – By Café Vintage, between Kongensgate 1 and 3  

“The fruits of love” by Luis Lopez Alberto, Peru/Chile – Chr. Hvidts Plass 1 

“Never give up” by Artez Street Art, Serbia – At Coop Prix,  Kongensgt. 1B  

“There is more that what you see” by Victor Ash, France/Denmark – Stockfeldsgate 6-8 

Art for All in the World was founded by Sharon and Peter Claesson. Art for All is a non-profit organisation working with communities across the globe to harness the power of art as a force for positive change.  In 1995, Peter and Sharon's passion for their work led them to Quito, Ecuador for an education and awareness project for 6,000 street children living in the city. They led adventure tours to national parks outside the city. One day during the project, Peter and Sharon learned that there were children living in the prisons of Quito. They decided to visit the prisons and asked permission for these children to join their adventure trips as well. The prisons agreed, and after witnessing the joy of the children during the trips, Peter and Sharon recognized the need to create a more positive environment for these kids, one that would instill a sense of possibility and hope.  

The project then evolved further with the creation of a series of murals on the prison walls and throughout Quito in areas in need of regeneration. This proved to be a transformative experience, not only for Sharon and Peter, but also for those involved with the project. Many of the prisoners went on to exhibit and sell work and secure jobs following their release. This defining moment in Quito was the launch pad for Sharon and Peter who realized the need for public art and the joy that comes from creating with a community. They have gone on to run projects across the globe under the banner of Art for All ever since. Their largest project to date is a project where they did 70 murals in 70 countries simultaneously. The project in Sandefjord is the first in Northern Europe. 

An amazing artist Victor Ash from the Art for All family was unfortunately not able to come in 2017. However, in June 2018 he came and painted a mural where he interpreted the challenges we are facing with climate change. You can find the mural at Stockfeldsgate 6-8. In August 2018 a local artist Linn Horntvedt will do a piece in Stockfeldsgate too.