Channel: Visit Vestfold Medlemmer

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 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.

Fjordtaxi

Fjordtaxi is based at Arås marina outside Tønsberg town. Public bus service from / to Tønsberg every 20 minute. There is also parking at the marina.

From Arås there are short distances to the archipelago and Færder national park. The boat is a fast Halco 29 'with 310 hp. and bears the name "The Crow".

It is registered for up to 12 people with luggage.

Fjordtaxi has one owner, Rune Hübner. He is an experienced skipper, raised in the archipelago and know all the islets, reefs and attractions that are worth visiting.

In addition, Fjordtaxi offer guided sightseeing tours, fishing tours, lighthouse visit and seal safari.

Stavern and Larvik Event

Take advantage of Stavern og Larvik Event´s wide network of good experiences, activities, courses, conferences and dining in unique and historic surroundings. You only need to take one phone – the rest will be arranged by Stavern og Larvik Event.

Own catering department with possibilities to tailor the menu to your own liking. 

Stavern og Larvik Event collaborates with everyone offering gode experiences in Stavern and Larvik, and can therefore offer a number of different activities and experiences. The offer RIB, Sailing, Film Crew, Amazing Race, Cardboard boat race and much more!

Why should you choose Stavern and Larvik Event?

• Easy for you and your company – just call (+47)938 80 333

• You get a total package at no extra cost. The work of the Event agency is based on commision from subcontractors

• For those who want to succeed with others – you save time and money – and recieve good experiences. 

The Viking Ship Saga Oseberg

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 Viking hall “Gildehallen”

When reconstructing such a hall, the first problem is that you simply do not know what they looked like.

The hall has therefore been reconstructed based on archaeological theories, and mythical sources such as e.g. the legend of Beowulf seriously when deciding on the hall's design. The result is a building that is completely unique in the world – in addition to being a delight both for the eye and for those interested in history.

On the outside, roof shavings have been painstakingly laid, and the roof is adorned with a beautiful ridge crest. The lyra is decorated with beautiful wood carvings, and the main entrance has a beautifully carved portal.

Inside, the hall is equipped with a fireplace, benches and tables with hand-carved table supports, and Odin's ravens Hugin and Munin have found themselves comfortably at home among the beams.

The exquisite wood carvings on the center pillars in the hall each tell their own story, which together form the background for the hall. The stories that are told were already myths in the Viking Age, and it is conceivable that they adorned such halls even then. The wood carvings are done by hand (a machine is used to mill down the depth), and are shaped based on the so-called Vestfold style, mainly based on finds from Oseberg.

Many of the building parts have been processed by hand with axes and planers. It has been approximately 2,800 m2 that has been given an almost contemporary surface, and we applaud the skill and soul put into the work by craftsmen over a long period of time, summer and winter. This is a building to be proud of.

Ceramics and beautiful Viking glasses for serving have mostly arrived, and leather traps from spelsau to sit on. However, we do not want to stop here, and hope to see the walls adorned with tapestries, a high seat the hall must have, and other things we can think of!

History
From archeology we know this type of hall building from the fourth century onwards. They usually consist of a large room, where the hearth served as the central source of light and heat. Artifacts found in these halls indicate that they had an official function. Common finds are exclusive glass, weapons, gold and other objects that stand out from everyday life and work. The hall can be considered a ceremonial space suitable for expressing and maintaining the family and the importance of the family line. The finds in the halls are consistent with this in the form of traces of high seats, remains of meals and drinking rituals. Weddings and funerals were most likely held here, where inheritance and property were passed on to future generations.

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.

The Slottsfjells Museum

Slottsfjellsmuseet offers an exhibition on the Middle Ages, “The history of Tønsberg city” both in the museum and in the Slottfjell Tower on top of the hill, “Svend Foyn and Tønsberg”, the Whale Hall and its whale skeletons and the Viking Hall with Norway’s four preserved Viking ship and the history of the Oseberg find. From the Vestfold courtyard at Tallak you will see old buildings of Vestfold. Slottsfjellsmuseet welcomes you to the museum and Castle Cafe (summer open).

Slottsfjellsmuseet
In the middle of Tønsberg in beautiful surroundings you find Slottsfjellsmuseet. The museum and the area around it, is a cultural heritage site that represent the city’s long history. The castle ruins show the remains of one of Scandinavia’s largest medieval castles.

The Viking hall
In the museums Viking hall, you will find Norway’s fourth Viking ship; this is the only preserved ship which is placed outside of Oslo. Adding to that is the story of the Oseberg findings, the grave with Europe’s biggest Viking discoveries which was found only 3 km north of Tønsberg’s city center.

Medieval exhibitions
The museum has several medieval exhibits, focusing on the life of kings, nobles, clergy and the common people in medieval Norway. Here you can learn about King Haakon Haakonsson, the civil war era in Norway, and much more.

The Whale hall
This exhibition shows a variety of whale skeletons, caught by whalers in the late 19th and early 20th century. The centerpiece of this exhibit is our blue whale; the world largest animal, approx. 27 meters long and weighing around 150 ton. Our specimen is the biggest preserved blue whale skeleton we know of today. Adjacent to the whale hall is an exhibit about Svend Foyn, a whaling pioneer from Tønsberg.

Vestfold farmyard and world war two bunker
At the foot of the hill, there is a collection of farmhouses from around the county, with the oldest dating from the early 15th century. Here you will also find a charming café. The entrance to the world war two bunker is located next to the café. The bunker was built during the German occupation of Norway from 1940 to 1945 and served as a bomb shelter and ammunition storage.

Guided tours of the museum
For guided tours and prices, please contact the museum.