Scenic attractions Arkiver

Utsikten

Utsikten in Holmestrand

Enjoy panoramic views of Holmestrandsfjorden and Breiangen, and discover the fjord's landmarks with the help of the information board at Utsikten.

Utsikten is a popular viewpoint on the hilltop above Holmestrand, offering beautiful views of the Oslofjord and the surrounding landscape. From here, you can see parts of three counties: Vestfold, Akershus and Østfold.

At the viewpoint, you will find an information board featuring an aerial photograph of the fjord area, with islands, towns, mountain formations and other landmarks clearly marked. The board makes it easy to identify the places you see and learn more about the surrounding landscape.

The information board was installed on the initiative of Holmestrand Bys Vel, in collaboration with local businesses and Holmestrand Municipality.

Utsikten is located east of the assisted living residences at Rove and can be reached by taking the cliff lift when it is operating. Alternatively, you can walk up the new scenic trail Søndre Sikksakk/Lallahompen or take the Nordre Klev route from the railway station. By car, follow Roveveien to the area by Roveheisen, where parking is available.

A visit to Utsikten can easily be combined with a stroll through nearby Bassengparken.

Gea Norvegica UNESCO Global Geopark

In the season from May to September, there are free guided tours in the Geopark. The geopark is a limited area of 3.000 square kilometer and is in Telemark and Vestfold county, and includes the municipalities of Larvik, Bamble, Kragerø, Nome, Porsgrunn, Siljan and Skien.

At various geo-locations you can discover for yourself, and gain an increased understanding of, the dramatic events that have helped to shape the landscape.

The landscape in Larvik is characterized by the rugged landscape that a bedrock of larvikite often provides. Along the coast, the larvikite has been scoured by the ice that lay over the land during the last ice age. The result is the fine rocky cliffs that dominate the Vestfold coast.

Larvikite can only be found naturally in the Larvik area, and when you see this popular ornamental stone, cut and polished, with its beautiful play of blue colors on everything from wall facades on large buildings to worktops in kitchens and bar counters, you know it comes from Larvik. Larvikite is valued and in demand far beyond Norway's borders.

Lystlunden Park

Lystlunden Park is located in central Horten and is the municipality's largest park and sports complex. Here you can walk among old oak trees, relax beside the duck pond, visit the playground with the children or enjoy a picnic on the grass. The park also has a historic music pavilion, sculptures and several sports facilities. It is a pleasant place to take a break from the town centre, whether you want to be active or simply enjoy the green surroundings.

Discover the old oak trees
One of Lystlunden's most distinctive features is its collection of old oak trees. Several are hollow and provide valuable habitats for wildlife. The mature trees create a varied park landscape with shady areas, open lawns and walking paths beneath their branches. Take a leisurely walk through the park and look closely at the impressive old trunks. Hollow oak trees can provide important habitats for insects and other species, so visitors should avoid disturbing the trees and their cavities.

Playground and activities for children
The playground is located among the old oak trees and is a popular spot for families. Visit Vestfold's original description presents the area as a little fairy-tale world, where elves might be hiding among the trees.
Children can play and explore while adults relax on nearby benches or grassy areas. With both a playground and open lawns, Lystlunden is a convenient place for a family break during a walk through Horten.

Duck pond, music pavilion and sculptures
There are several things to discover as you explore Lystlunden. At the duck pond, you can watch the birdlife, while benches throughout the grounds provide places to sit and relax. The old music pavilion adds a historic touch to the park. You can also find sculptures by Norwegian artists Arne Durban and Ørnulf Bast. Bring something to eat and enjoy a picnic on the grass or beside one of the park's benches. Public barbecue facilities have previously been available, but their current status and any restrictions should be checked before planning to cook outdoors.

Sports and outdoor activities
Lystlunden is also an important sports area in Horten. Its facilities include a football stadium, artificial-turf pitches and other areas for training and recreation. The sports facilities are used for organised activities and matches. Access to individual pitches and sporting events may be subject to separate rules and should not be confused with free access to the public park.

A gift from the Navy to the people of Horten
Lystlunden was given to the people of Horten by the Norwegian Navy in 1852 as a place for recreation and leisure. At the time, naval activities played a major role in the development of the town, and many residents worked at the naval dockyard. This history connects the park with Karljohansvern, the former main base of the Royal Norwegian Navy. Today, Karljohansvern is a heritage area with museums, historic military buildings and coastal walking routes. To combine a visit to Lystlunden with more maritime history and nature, explore the Karljohansvern circular walk, which leads through the former naval grounds and Hortenskogen forest.

Plan your visit
Lystlunden Park is located near Lystlundveien in Horten, close to the town centre and local sports facilities. The park is a public green space that can be visited throughout the year, free of charge. No admission ticket or advance booking is required. There are walking paths throughout the park, although surface conditions, gradients and accessibility across the entire area have not been fully verified.

Check local parking arrangements, toilet facilities and any seasonal restrictions before visiting. Visit Horten Municipality's information about parks and outdoor recreation for current information about public green spaces in Horten.

Færder National Park

Færder National Park comprises 340 square kilometres of mainland, islands, reefs and seabed in Færder municipality. It stretches from Ormøy in the north to Færder lighthouse in the south. The islands south of Hvasser, Verdens Ende and Moutmarka are part of the national park. In the middle of the Oslo Fjord, Færder National Park borders Ytre Hvaler National Park.

Færder National Park is an important area for coastal outdoor life, and large areas are secured as publicly owned outdoor areas. Boating, kayaking, hiking and swimming are popular activities here, in addition to being an important local area for permanent residents and cottage owners. The proximity to Tønsberg city and the densely populated Oslo area means that Færder National Park is much used.

Færder National Park is a distinctive archipelago landscape that is the result of the work carried out by the enormous ice masses from the Ice Age.

The sea areas in the national park are very varied, from groundwater areas in the skerries to the deep sea areas further from land. In the shallow areas, there are large kelp forests and lush eelgrass beds that are important breeding areas for fish. At the depths, we find exciting seabed landscapes with large mountain gorges and flat soft bottom areas, and this variation provides a basis for a diverse animal and plant life on the seabed.

Several important nesting areas for seabirds are included in the national park. It is also home to a diverse black plant flora and insect fauna. Particularly important areas are Sandø, Bolærne, Østre Bustein and Moutmarka.

VISIT THE NATIONAL PARK

Færder National Park is easily accessible by boat, car and public transport. At the End of the World, you can drive a private car all the way to the border of the national park.

Dinner with a view – Verdens Ende Spiseriet is a restaurant at the End of the World, and open all year.

YOU CAN…

Tents are allowed for up to two days minimum 150 meters from houses and cottages. Tents are not allowed in the seabird areas, Ruseodden on Østre Bolæren, Sandø, Østre Bustein and Moutmarka. See map of tenting areas.

Barbecue is prohibited directly on the surface.

Bonfires are not allowed from 15th of October to 15th of April. Bonfires are not allowed directly on the mountains and rocks all year round.

Bathing is of course allowed. The same applies to the clearing of landed seaweed and kelp at widely used bathing sites.

Fishing of cod is forbidden. Fishing of other fish is perfectly fine, as long as you stay within the rules set by the fishing authorities.

Berries and edible mushrooms can be picked for your own use.

Flowers and ordinary plants can also be picked for own use, except in the former plant protection area in Kjøkkenbukta on Østre Bolæren.

BUT REMEMBER THAT …

The speed limit at sea is 5 knots within 100 meters of land, and otherwise 30 knots within the outermost islands. The speed must always be adapted to the conditions, so that there are no accidents or injuries.

Film and photo with drone is not allowed.

Water scooter is prohibited. The same applies to unnecessary noise when using motorized model aircraft and the like.

Motor traffic on land is not allowed, with some exceptions for agriculture and some other purposes.

Pollution and littering of all types is of course not allowed.

There is a leash requirement for dogs in the entire national park in the period 1 April to 15 October. In the seabird areas (zone B), the restraining order applies throughout the year. The bird life in the seabird areas must not be disturbed. In these areas, traffic on land and up to 50 meters from land is not permitted during the breeding period 15.04 – 15.07. Hi, nests, nesting, breeding and spawning grounds are protected against damage and unnecessary disturbance.

Release of animals on land and in water is prohibited.

Cultural monuments must be treated with respect and protected from damage and destruction. Loose cultural monuments must not be moved or removed.

Mølen

Mølen is Norway's largest beach of pebbles, and it is a part of Vestfoldraet: the terrain left behind after the end of the most recent Ice Age 10.000 years ago.

The cultural landscape of Mølen, with its total of 230 cairns from the Iron Age, is one of the most majestic landscapes in Norway. The area has 16 large cairns, many up to 35 metres in diameter, with almost 200 small cairns in rows parallel to the shoreline. The cairns probably served as "sea markers" along the shipping lanes between different trading centres. This, combined with its striking natural beauty and position on the edge of the sea, makes it a must-see when visiting the area.

You can enjoy a lovely view of the sea at Mølen, and also study the beautiful type of stone called larvikite, a speciality for the Larvik area. There are actually more than 100 different types of rock at Mølen, and a total of 316 different bird species has also been found.
The arrival and departure of the migratory birds is a real treat for visitors. Twice a year the migrants visit wonderful Mølen, heading north in springtime and eventually heading back south when autumn looms.

In the summer of 2008 Mølen was officially made into an UNESCO Geopark Area.

If you want to get to Mølen by walking, the coastal path is easily accessible from either Helgeroa or Nevlunghavn.

Welcome to Mølen!

The Kjærra Waterfalls Park

The Kjærra Waterfalls Park is situated in one of the most spectacular sceneries of Lågendalen you find the Kjærra Waterfalls Park. The Park, covering both sides of the river Lågen, derives its name from the famous Kjærra Waterfalls. Here, the river splits into two separate courses: The Eastern Falls and The Western Falls. The waterfall park is famous for its salmon and the historical fishing methods used are well documented.

In the waterpark you have the opportunity to go for a nice hike, admire the birds singing, go fishing or just find peace in the beauty of Kjærra Waterfalls Park. The park offers benches to sit and eat your lunch, as well as bonfires around the area.

The industry of fishing at Kjærra waterfalls park can be documented all the way back to the 1300, and lasted towards the end of 1958. After a while the plant was restored and opened for tourism in 1992. This brought tourists from all over the country to experience the Kjærra waterfalls, salmon fishing and summer concerts. It is also quite popular to visit Kjærra with kayaks.

The salmon trap is opened every Thursday during the season. There's usually a lot of fish and if you're lucky you get to buy a wild salmon on the spot. The fishing season for salmon is 10.06 – 26.08. Fishing license is bought online.

The Kjærra-bridge extend over Lågen with its 132 meters. The bridge is an architectural masterpiece surrounded by the outstanding natural beauty of the forest, waterfalls and leaping salmon. This project started in the fall of 2000 and was opened by county governor Mona Røkke July 5th, 2001.

The exhibitions around the park makes it interesting and creates a unique experience when walking around. In the park you will find 5 different spots that displays 5 photographs of Kjærra waterfalls park during winter time. The placement of the pictures is aligned so that the photographs shows the same landscape as behind the photographs. The photographer is Kjell Harangen. When walking around the park you’ll also find sculptures within the nature, by the artist Trond Fredriksen.

The Anagama kiln is both an art piece and a ceramic oven. The oven is inspired originally from Japan and it can hold up to 500 figures. This project is a cooperation between Stiftelsen Kjærra Fossepark, sculptor Trond Frederiksen, ceramist Ole Krongaard and the college of Telemark.

Toilets and drinking water are available on site for the visitors. If your looking for more excitement, speed and climbing its perfect to combine it with Høyt og Lavt Climbing Park.

The burial area of Istrehågan

The cultural monument Istrehågan consists of five stone settings and two ship settings. The biggest one is 25 metres long and consists of 18 single erect stones.

The Istrehågan burial ground is clearly visible up on a ridge. It is strategically located along the ancient road that runs through Tjølling from Sandar over Istre and on towards Tjodalyng (Tjølling church). Along the ridge there are several burial monuments from the Iron Age. Traces of the road are still found, among other things in the form of the path east of the burial field and several so-called hollow ways, which appear as ditches in the terrain south of the stone deposits.

Archeological excavations were undertaken in the early 1960s, and the restored burial ground is considered one of the best preserved cultural monuments of its kind.

Discoveries nearby indicate that there were settlements in this area as early as the Stone Age and the Bronze Age.

Practical information
Its forbidden to have bonfires in the burial area
Camping is not allowed
Horse riding only on the path
Clean up after your self – don’t leave food or garbage
Show respect, this is a burial area and our heritage.

Thank you for showing respect!

The Farris Lake

The Farris lake stretches from Kilen in Larvik in the south to Siljan in the north, and has an area of 21 km². Especially in summer, there is a lot of activity in Farris.

Many islands and coves offer unique opportunities for excursions, both by boat and canoe. It is also very nice to walk along Farris, and there are marked paths for this purpose. Both berries, mushrooms, birds and wildlife are found in abundance in these areas.

The Farris lake also consists of the Farris river, which flows into the sea at Larvik and is about 1,100 metres. The river's waterfall has been an important source of the city's industry since the 16th century.

Farriskilen in the south-east was in its time a hub for winter sports in Larvik, among other things for ice-skating and cross-country skiing.

The Beech Forest – Bøkeskogen

The Beech Tree Forest – Bøkeskogen

The Beech Tree Forest is used all year round for cultural and recreational activities by locals and tourists alike.

In mid-May, you can enjoy the fresh, light green leaves of the beech trees while strolling along the 270-metre-long Passion Path, which leads to the square near the main entrance. If you visit on Norway's Constitution Day, May 17th, you will see lots of happy children parading and waving their Norwegian flags. In autumn, the forest turns shades of red and yellow, while in winter, the trees are covered in snow.

You also find the charming cafe called Bøkekroa, where you can enjoy live jazz every Friday during summer. Bøkekroa is open all year round and serves traditional Norwegian food.

Burial Mounds from the Viking Age
Bøkeskogen is also home to a fascinating part of Vestfold's Viking history. The forest contains one of the county's largest collections of burial mounds from the Iron Age. Around 85 graves have been recorded, of which 66 are still visible today. The burial mounds are divided between two burial sites in the forest.

Most of the burial mounds date back to the Viking Age, around AD 800–950, although some may be older. Several of the mounds were looted or damaged during the 19th century. Preserved burial finds include weapons, tools, jewellery and traces of a small boat, offering insight into life during the Viking Age.

The burial mounds make Bøkeskogen an interesting destination for both nature experiences and historical discoveries.

Explore the Forest
The highest point in the Beech Tree Forest is called "The Bellevue". It is situated in the north-western part of the area and offers excellent views of Lake Farris, making it a perfect place to take a break and enjoy the scenery.

The Beech Tree Forest stretches along Lake Farris, and as you walk, you will discover small, cosy cabins and peaceful, unspoilt spots where you can enjoy the views and have lunch in the great outdoors.

Borrehaugene

In the period from 600 to 900 AD, nine great mounds were constructed at Borre.

On site there are three huge piles of stone amongst the mounds, which contribute towards the monumental character of the place. Nowhere else in Northern Europe are there more large mounds in one single location. The great mounds are evidence of political power, expressed through monumental symbols. Borre was probably the ultimate place for leaders to manifest their honour, even after life. Previously it was thought that it was members of a particular family, The Ynglinge clan, who were buried here – but recent research based on DNA analysis indicates that such large burial sites tend to contain people from several families. It was likely the spot itself – as well as its connection to previous leaders – what made this place an attractive location to be buried at.

Large parts of the eastern slopes of the ridge between Åsgårdstand and Horten were agricultural areas at the time when the burial site was established. The mounds consist of lots of old cultivated soil – this as a result of the area being used to grow crops before the mounds were erected. The site is strategically located, by the entrance to the Oslo fjord. The location indicates that the purpose of building these mounds here was for them to be visible from the water.

Only one of the major mounds on the Borre site has been completely excavated, and this happened in 1852. From this excavation hail the marvellous Borre finds. Unfortunately, due to the inexpert excavation of the Ship mound in Borre, a lot of knowledge was lost in the process. The find is nevertheless considered to be in line with the ship graves from Tune and Gokstad.