The carvings date from the bronze age 1500-500 BC. Bronze age farmers have carved different symbols on an east-facing flat mountain. There is a ship spiral figuration and other bowl shape figures at the site.
To go to Haugen by car from Larvik you need to follow the signs from classified road 303 at Løve towards Istrehagan. This is around 2 km north of Larvik in direction Sandefjord.
Close to 90 graves, wells and hollows are found on this area, totalling more than 120 decares.
Following extensive restoration to re-create vegetation like it once was,
quite many new graves and traces of old agricultural cultivation has been found on the Brunla and Agnes burial area.
Information board at site.
The Beech Tree Forest is used all year round for cultural and recreational activities by locals and tourists alike.
In mid-May you'll find joy in the light green petals from the beech trees while strolling along the 270-meter-long Passion Path, and eventually you'll end up at the square close to the main entrance. If you come here at Constitution Day, May 17th, you will see lots of happy children parading waving their Norwegian flags. In autumn the forest turns to red and yellow, and during winter the trees are snow-covered.
You also find the charming cafe called Bøkekroa where you can enjoy live jazz every single Friday during summer. Bøkekroa is open all year and serves traditionally Norwegian food.
For the historian, there are 80-90 registered burial mounds. You will find the largest Iron Age burial ground in Vestfold and one of the largest in Norway at this site.
The highest point in the Beech Tree Forest is called "The Bellevue". It is situated in the north-western part of the area. This place gives you an excellent view of the Farris lake, and some good rest for your legs.
The Beech Tree Forest stretches inwards along the Farris lake, and as you walk you will find small, cosy cabins and unspoilt places where you can enjoy the views and eat your lunch in the great outdoors.
Experience the Oseberg ship
The Oseberg Viking Inhertiance Foundation has built an exact copy of this ship on a voluntary basis. In the construction process only tools and construction methods identical to what was used during the construction of the original ship in the Viking era was applied.
You can visit the copy of the Oseberg ship at the harbor in Tønsberg.
A copy of the beautiful carved bow can also be seen at The Slottsfjell Museum.
The Klåstadship
The foundation Oseberg Vikingarv has also built a copy of another famous Viking discovery – The Klåstad ship. The original ship is located at The Slottsfjell Museum. A third ship named Saga Farmann was launched at the harbour of Tønsberg in September 2018.
In 2021, the construction of an archaeological replica of the Gokstad ship also started. The construction will take place both at Vikingodden in Tønsberg and by the Whaling Monument in Sandefjord. Here you have the opportunity to join and build ships with the Vikings' tools.
At the building site, called Vikingodden, The Foundation has a little shop where viking souvenirs and gift items are sold.
The original name was Fredriksvern Verft, named after king Frederik V. who reigned at that time.
Fredriksvern has played an important part in the development of Stavern as well as in Norwegian maritime history during the years, and the place has probably been a harbour since ancient times.
During the winter of 1748-49 king Frederik V. of Denmark-Norway ordered construction of a shipyard and a drydock in Norway, and in 1750 the first Norwegian naval base was constructed.
The naval station had strong fortification, moats and many buildings. Outside the moats Norway's first garrrison church was built. This rococo mastepiece was completed in 1756.
The commanding officer's lodge from 1751, the guardroom, two forges, the smith's house, a magazine, two provisional storehouses, the barge shed, the galley sheds and the gunpowder house are all still present at the former naval base, and many tourists travel to Stavern each and every year to experience these historical buildings.
Fredriksvern became the main base for the Royal Norwegian Navy when Norway and Denmark split in 1814, and continued to be an important naval base – it remained active as an air force academy until 2002.
There are several art galleries and small museums here, and the area offers exciting activities all year round.
Sandefjord has so many sculptures that an entire book entitled "Worth Seeing" is dedicated to them. The town – and the book – invite you to enjoy a walking tour of the sculptures. Among the largest and most famous works of art are Knut Steen's "Hvalfangstmonumentet" by the harbour and "Fortuna" in Badeparken, Nils Aas' embellishment of Hjertnes' funds wall towards Badeparken, and Arnold Haukeland's "Havdronningen" outside the Hjertnes cultural centre.
There is a sculpture park at Midtåsen, featuring a selection of the works of Knut Steen in marble and bronze. The sculptures are placed within their own pavilion in the midst of beautiful natural surroundings.
The place where people meet, now – just as before. Vincent Stoltenberg Lerche, the Tønsberg author, claimed that the Quayside had the same place in the daily life of Tønsberg as Forum Romanum in its time.
Theres a good selection of restaurants, and Foynhagen which is Tønsberg very own concerts and nightlife arena. Youll find 3 of Tønsbergs hotels in the area: Quality Hotel Tønsberg, Thon hotel Tønsberg Brygge and Quality Hotel Klubben.
Not far away is Tønsberg quest marina, which gets over 8000 boat-guest during the summer.
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.
A BLUE WHALE HANGING FROM THE CEILING
The museum’s original building from 1917 houses a zoological exhibition with stuffed animals from the polar regions. The main attraction is the large
model of a blue whale hanging from the ceiling.
«WE WERE OUT TO GET WHALES»
This exhibition focuses on themes such as Norwegian discoveries and presence in the Antarctic, cultural meetings in the context of the whaling industry, family life and gender roles. The exhibition is largely based on the museum’s collections, as well as material on loan.
THE MUSEUM SHIP «SOUTHERN ACTOR»
«Southern Actor» was whaling in the Antarctic until 1962. You can go aboard during the summer season. Visit the exhibition about «Southern Actor» at the museum!
Groups
Guided tours for groups can be booked all year.