Stolpehuset is a great venue for events, meetings, concerts and private parties! Suitable for about 150 people.
Contact Lardal Service Office for request and prices!
Channel: www.visitnorway.com
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 Horten municipality's largest park and sports facility. The park has a unique combination of enchanting nature and cultural attractions. The park's 150 hollow oak trees make it an exotic area. The many benches in the park to settle on, the park's duck pond were you can feed the ducks and its old pavilion makes the park a wonderful recreational area. Furthermore, you will find sculptures by Arne Durban and Ørnulf Bast here. Horten municipality has put a lot of effort into developing the park. You will also find new grills for general use – so just bring coal, food and blankets – and let the picnic start. In the evening you will be able to experience the park's special lighting.
Playground and adventure world
The park also has an exciting playground with old oak trees where the elves live. If you walk carefully and look around the trees, you may just discover them.
Multiple sports facilities
The sports center in Lystlunden Park has stadiums for football, rugby, archery range, and several training courses for football.
Gift from the Navy
Lystlunden was given as a gift to Horten's population by the Navy in 1852 for recreation and amusement. Most of the inhabitants of Horten were then part of the workers at the Navy's main yard (Karljohansvern).
Today, Lystlunden Park has its own association, which actively works to preserve the park's landscaping and distinctive features for the public's best interest.
Maritime museum
The house, also known as "The Old Customs House", has functioned as a museum since 1962.
The maritime museum has the exhibition proud ships on world’s oceans which shows pictures and models of ships. With these pictures and models of ships you can see the different techniques, the dramatic and glorified illustrations of both sailboats and steamboats. There is a lot of exciting and dramatic stories about the ships and their destiny and the captains and their merits, that you can explore.
On the first floor the exhibition discoverers and adventurers take place. The exhibition displays 8 Larvikings that have challenged the ocean and the forces of nature more than most people. Their expeditions have had different purposes; some to prove a theory or to reach a goal, others for the pure excitement of an adventure. All of them have helped Larvik and Norway to get recognised. In the exhibition you will get to know Oscar Wisting, Thor Heyerdahl and Carl Anton Larsen.
Family-activities: Activity room for the kids during the summer season.
The Maritime Museum is open during the summer. Outside the summer season, it is open for events and by appointment.
Otherwise during the year, you can experience concerts and lectures with a maritime backdrop with a view of Larvik’s oldest public dock, Skottebrygga.
For guided tours off season, call 48 10 66 00.
See also Herregården and Larvik museum.
You can visit all three museums on the same ticket. If you are going to visit Herregården, you must pay the price listed there.
Baltzer Restaurant
Baltzer Restaurant gets its name from Baltzer Rustad, who operated a guest house and ferry service between Horten and Moss at the beginning of the 19th century.
For table reservations or other questions, call tel. 33 08 33 80.
Free parking in the backyard of the hotel.
Peppes Pizza Larvik
At Peppes Pizza you can enjoy delicious pizzas and other food from an exciting and varied menu.
For meetings and private parties, there is also a secluded section with a projector. Free WLAN.
For ordering pizza to your home! Call 22 22 55 55 for delivery or pickup.
Sti for øye – Path for the eye
An art project that, in close collaboration with nature, affects everyone who visits the trail to give the senses free space. The path STI FOR ØYE is almost two kilometers long, available all year round.
The light designer Erik Selmer makes sure that the trail, nature and art are lit in an exciting and adventurous way. The lighting is automatically turned on every night at dusk and turned off at midnight.
The trail is made by the landscape architect Rainer Stange.
The path is covered in red rombeporfyr, "the red carpet", which is hardly anywhere else than in Stokke. The forest on both sides of the trail has Norway's richest incidence of laurel species. Each spring wood anemone cover the forest like a carpet. The area is also rich in birdlife, and each fall the chanterelle shows up in fine yellow bunches on the forest ground.
12 artists from 8 European countries were chosen to create their stories about the nature. The project started in 2001, and officially opened September 30, 2010.
The path is almost two kilometers long and winds its way towards Himmeltrappen (The Sky Stairs). From there, hikers have a clear view of Slottsfjellet in Tønsberg.
GROUP TOURS
Do you want a guided tour? STI FOR ØYE offers guided tours of one to two hours, or lectures followed by guided tours for groups of min. 10 people. Food and drink can also be offered. Get in touch for enquiries.
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.
Midtåsen
It was the home of Anders and Bess Jahre until his death in 1982, and Bess continued to live there until her death in the summer of 2006. The estate, which has a unique sculpturespark and fantastic views over Sandefjord, is open to the general public.
Sculpture park:
A sculpture park of Knut Steen is open all year (free entrance).
Guided tours of the villa:
There are guided tours of the villa one or twice a month (in Norwegian) during the summer season. Guided tours for groups on other days is possible. Contact person for booking and price is Morten Christensen, mobile +47 917 28 243.
Free parking happens on the left before the gate at the top of the villa.
Visitor Center Færder National Park
On the southern tip of Tjøme, World's End is the Visitor Center for Færder National park. The center was opened June 26 2015 by H. M. Queen Sonja. The rotunda provides panoramic views of Færder national park.
DISCOVER LIFE ABOVE AND BELOW THE SEA IN FÆRDER NATIONAL PARK
The Visitor Centre’s mission is to share knowledge about the national park through engaging exhibitions, family-friendly activities, guided experiences, and educational programs.
All activities and exhibitions are free of charge.
For updates on upcoming events, follow Færder National Park Visitor Centre on Facebook.
VENUE RENATAL & CONFERENCES AT VERDENS ENDE
The Visitor Centre’s 360° panoramic room offers breathtaking views of the iconic Vippefyret, Færder Lighthouse, the dramatic archipelago, and the unique national park landscape. This spectacular setting is ideal for conferences, seminars, weddings, anniversaries, and special celebrations.
For more information, contact: heidi@ferdernasjonalparksenter.no +47 970 22 441
ABOUT FÆRDER NATIONAL PARK
Færder National Park was established to protect coastal landscapes, ecosystems, geology, and cultural heritage on both land and sea in the outer Oslofjord. It is one of Norway’s most biologically diverse coastal areas.
The park includes rare habitats such as deciduous forests, coastal pine forests, coastal meadows, and traditional hayfields, as well as kelp forests, eelgrass meadows, soft seabeds, and shell-sand areas beneath the sea. These environments support a rich diversity of plants, animals, and marine life.
The national park also protects historical sites and offers visitors opportunities for peaceful nature experiences and simple outdoor recreation.
Færder National Park covers 340 square kilometres of mainland, islands, skerries, and seabed within Færder municipality. It stretches from Ormøy in the north to Færder Lighthouse in the south, and includes Verdens Ende, Moutmarka, and the islands south of Hvasser.
OPENING HOURS
Please see opening hours above.
Extended opening hours during school holidays.
Closed during Christmas and selected public holidays.
School groups and organised groups are welcomed outside regular opening hours by arrangement.
The Restaurant Spiseriet Verdens Ende, located in the same building, and the kiosk "Handleriet" by the harbour. These have their own opening hours.
Parking in designated places for the disabled.