Channel: www.visitnorway.com

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.

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.

The Eidsfoss Ironwork

The owners of Eidsfoss Ironworks converted the business from a producer of raw material to a foundry based on scrap metal. Now new products, spanning everything from small kitchen equipment (such as pots, pans and baking irons) to railway carriages are produced there. The ironworks used to be most well known for its cast-iron oven production, which stopped in the 1960s.

The buildings in Eidsfoss form a unique cultural historical backdrop, which includes Bråtagata, Gata and Hauane, together with the ironworks area comprising the power station and Eidsfos Manor House.

Berger museum

Collection
Jørg Jebsen got hired by Jens J Jebsen & Co in 1953 after he had gotten a degree in textile. When Jørg Jebsen took over as manager in 1970 and looking further to 1980s he felt the need to preserve the story of the Berger and Fossekleven factory. He started by collecting objects and systematically organising it. When technology changed, and machines got modernised, it was especially important for Jebsen to save the old textiles and sketches.     

Archives
Berger museums archives consist of objects from Berger and Foddekleven factory, Berger School, Berger sports team, Berger band, Berger church, Berger farm etc. The Jebsen family’s story is important when looking at the industrialization of Norway. The archives show the development of the textile industry over the span of 122 years. It shows interesting developments in wage, trade unions, technological development and much more.

Objects
The collection consists of pattern sketches bought from Germany and Sweden. Some can be tracked back to before 1910. At Berger factory makes textiles based upon both Norwegian and international design. German companies sold a lot of patterns, companies such as Schlegel &Løwenstein og Albert Diettrich in Chemnitz, Hermann Rossbach in Mylau, and Richard Metzner in Gera.

Haugar Art Museum

Haugar Art museum is worth a visit. Andy Warhols tribute to Munch is some of the museums exhibitions, when it is not abroad. You can contact the museum for more information on this.
The museums also have different exhibitions throughout the year, which means its worth visiting more than ones.

Haugar Art Museum has high quality exhibitions at all times, and is one of the country's best art museums. The art museum is located in an impressive brick building, the former Seamen's School, right in the center of Tønsberg.

Private tour
If you want a private tour, the museum adapts this, contact Haugar for prices.

Events and activities
Haugar has various events and activities throughout the year for young and old. There are always activities for children at the museum, whether it is art hunting, activity rooms or Kunstporten – an app that engages children in an exciting and educational museum experience.

Museum shop
In the museum shop you will find gift items, such as books, jewelry, art glass, ceramics etc. Gift certificates are also sold in the museum shop with an optional amount. The shop follows the museum's opening hours and is open to everyone even without an entrance ticket.

The museum is closed on the following days:
May 17, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Kaupang Viking Town

The Town
Kaupang was founded around the year 800. The location was significant when the town was established as a hub for trade and production. At Kaupang today there is built a Viking house like they think it could have been. You can also see a model of the town and get to know how the town was located.

Research
Many have dug and researched Kaupang from the 1800s until now. Most of the city is still not excavated.
In the exhibition "What Kaupang Earth hid" you get an insight into how archaeologists worked, what they did and what we know about Kaupang history today. A new exhibition on archeology, the town, trade and power opened in June 2021.

Activities in the Summer season
Tuesdays – Archery
Thursdays – Guided walk at Northern Kaupang with storytelling, burials, and archaeology
Fridays – Archaeological excavation activities
Sundays – Storytelling sessions

Activities take place three times a day:
11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM, and last approximately 45 minutes.

Guided tours indoors and outdoors are available throughout the day outside of scheduled activities.

Fasanatur! Cultural Trail with Quiz. 

For groups
Activities are organized and adapted to groups as needed.

Stokke Bygdetun

Stokke village museum

“Stokke bygdetun” is a village museum full of activities, lectures and courses. It is possible to book rooms/facilities or schedule group-tours. The office is open every Wednesday 10:00 – 14:00.

The yard and the museum are both open every Sundays in the summer season from 12:00 to 16:00 from May 25th – August 24th in 2025.

The café sells coffee, waffles, porridge, soda and ice cream during opening hours.

Welcome to Stokke village museum for a pleasant visit and social gathering. See the program at www.stokkebygdetun.no

“Bryggerhuset” was built in 1852. And was transferred from Horten to Stokke village museum in 2002-2004. In the basement there’s an oven, a kitchen and a meeting room for the women in the village. In this building it is sold freshly baked bread on a selected number of days.

The ground floor consists of meeting rooms and facilities to book for approx. 30 people. Prices, availability and information about booking can be found on the website.

“Hauganhuset” is the museums main building. It was built in 1740 in Arnadal and was transferred to the village in 1978. The ground floor has a kitchen and dining room. The rooms are decorated as its the 1900 with museum objects and paintings. The basement displays different types of crafts; it has a room for shoemaking, a room with pharmacy equipment, one with whaling, and lastly one about the city of Stokke and its development through pictures and movies.

“Bjerkneshuset” was built in the village as a house to live in, in 1892. Now it’s an old school and a kid’s museum with dolls and old toys. There is also a museum part where it’s possible to buy local history books, cards, toys etc.

The museum barn was also built in the village in 1992 following a 1920 model of a barn. It has a meeting room, kitchen and toilet. It displays approx. 300 pictures of the artist Hans Gerhard Sørensen from Stokke. The kitchen and the meeting room is possible to book and can fit 60 people. The first floor has an office and a library.

“Smia” – blacksmith – the building was built by voluntary workers in 2008 – 2009 and the mayor of Stokke Nils Ingar Aabol opened it the summer of 2010.

“Nordskogen” is a forest that has beautiful paths through Bokemoa and the areas close by. It is interesting and provides information about the animals, the birds, the plants and flowers, geology and settlement in the village. Bokemoa is perfect for a jog or a stroll all year round.

On two wheels on the cycle lanes Vestfold

Between April and the end of September, Vestfold is the perfect setting for cycling holiday. The landscape is easy to cycle in, and you can choose what you want to see. What about cycling along smooth rocks and beaches on the Coastal Route from Horten to Helgeroa? Or taking tranquil trip through the woods along the beautiful Numedal Route? Savour the smell of seaweed and blooming meadows. Let the wind ruffle your hair. Stop at a beach and take a dip. Try your hand at fishing the Numedalslågen River. Experience town life or visit an open farm. Take a break from the hustle and bustle – take your bike and enjoy your adventure.

Vestfold has more than 600 kilometres of signposted cycle paths. Two of the national bicycle routes pass through the region – the Coastal Route (Nordsjøruta) and the Numedal Route (Numedalsruta). 

http://www.cyclingnorway.no/en/national-cycle-routes/

Verdens Ende – “The World’s End”

Verdens Ende (World's End) on the southern tip of Tjøme is probably best known for "Vippefyret" – the lighthouse, made by stones from the local beaches. The lighthouse is a replica built in 1932. The Færder National Park Center opened in June 2015. 

Færder National Park Verdens Ende is located in Færder National Park, which is one of the country's most important areas for coastal outdoor activities. The national park covers 340 square kilometers of mainland, islands, reefs and seabed in Færder municipality. It stretches from Ormøy in the north to Færder lighthouse in the south. The landscape in the national park is distinctive and rich in geological formations. There are several important nesting areas for seabirds in the national park, and the national park has a very diverse flora and fauna. Plants and insects live here that can hardly be found anywhere else. The area in the national park is popularly used for boat trips, paddling, water sports, hiking, fishing and swimming.

Færder National Park is easily accessible by boat, car and public transport. At World's End, you can drive a private car all the way to the border of the national park – this means that Færder National Park can be experienced by everyone.

For more info and how to get here, see https://www.visitvestfold.com/en/tonsberg/articles/Verdens-Ende-The-Worlds-End/