by: Horten & Åsgårdstrand

Løvøy Chapel

Stone church from the Middle Ages
Løvøy Chapel is beautifully located on the idyllic Løvøya in Horten, surrounded by lush forest, exciting trails and beautiful views of the Oslo Fjord. The chapel is a cozy and romantic stone church from the 13th century, and the smallest and most distinctive of Horten's three medieval churches. In the summer the pilgrimage goes by this medieval church, and there is a service every other weekend there.

The sacred St. Olav's source
Next to the chapel is the "wishing well":  The sacred St. Olav source which people believed to have had a healing power since the 13th century. The source is one of the 23 famous Olav sources in Norway. The water from the sources is said to be holy and give blessing and strength to those who drink or touch it. Characteristic of St. Olav's sources is that they are sources that do not dry out when other sources go out in dry periods.

Popular chapel to marry
The Løvøyapellet is a perfect place to marry in the summer, and a very popular chapel for this purpose. The church has 100 seats and a simple yet adventurous atmosphere.

History
Pilgrims from all the Nordic countries came here. The Reformation in 1536 put an official stop to the catholic pilgrimages to Løvøya but people continued to come to the well and church for years on. The church was in ruins for many years until preservation and restoration was initiated in 1882, and it was reopened in 1950.

Tufte Farm (for groups)

Team building is a fantastic activity to strengthen the cohesion of the group. Tufte Farm's activity package is very popular, and many people talk about it!

Team building at Tufte Farm offers a shared experience where the group is divided into teams. Here, everyone must cooperate with each other, step outside their comfort zone and compete together.

You can choose between 2 different packages.
x Package 1 focuses on collaboration, communication and smart solutions.
x Package 2 focuses on physical activity and tough exercises.

Feel free to combine the activity package with Tufte Farm's unique premises, tasty food and good drinks.

Tufte Farm

About the farm
Tufte Gård is a 350-year-old farm located outside Horten. The operation has been different throughout all these years. From olden times, one of the operations was to cut blocks of ice from Borrevannet. Today's operation is grain and wood – and not least it now accommodates many kinds of activities and merry teams. There have always been a lot of animals here. Today there is only one dog and one cat on the farm, which is run by Olaf, Aina and the children with the help of family and friends.

The lavvo
The lavvo was completed in November 2013. It is a double lavvo, where two lavvos are joined together with a roof bridge. This can accommodate up to 160 people. If there are fewer people, it can be divided to only use a lavvo.

In the basement there are tables, benches and chairs. In addition, there is also a stage, music system, projector and screen, microphone, bar with all rights and toilet facilities also adapted for wheelchair users.

Storehouse
The storehouse was fully refurbished in 2013. This has also become a small piece of Tufte history. On all the tables there are medals and other things from the Olympics and competitions Olaf has taken part in. On the second floor there is a long table and the possibility of a projector, on the first floor there are 3 booths with a table and a bench in each. The storehouse is charmingly furnished with farm-produced seating mats and felted slippers with slipper fastening. Combine subjects and fun! Suitable for gatherings of up to 15 people.

The sawmill
The original sawmill at Tufte Gård was refurbished in 2005. The building stands as it has been and both charm and furnishings have been retained. The walls at Saga have been covered again, to make it cozier. Here there are benches with reindeer skins to sit on. Perfect for teams of up to 30 people in the summer months.

Outside there is a large patio and barbecue area. A lovely place when the sun is shining!

The barn
Great course and party room for all occasions with a magical view over meadow and forest. If you are planning a corporate event, the barn is a perfect starting point. Tufte Gård tailors plans according to wishes. The barn has meeting rooms, party rooms, training facilities with changing rooms. The meeting room has everything you would expect from technical equipment for a conference. The barn will also be a perfect arena for an anniversary, wedding, confirmation or other special occasion and the barn has its own bar with all rights and serving until 2am. The barn was completely renovated and renovated in late summer 2019.

Frøy brewery
The brewery is built primarily so that the customers who come to the farm can taste good local beer, and the brewery helps to give the customers a total experience of Tufte Gård. Frøy is the god of good harvest, agriculture, fertility and prosperity and therefore phallus depictions are often interpreted as depictions of him. The most extensive myth about Frøy is the Eddaquade Skirnismål, which tells of Frøy's love and marriage to the Jotun maiden Gerd. This formed the basis for the name Frøy brewery. The close connection between Frøy and agriculture, which is the backbone of Tufte Gård. The brewery saw its young origins in October 2020, where they started with test brewing on an 80 liter home brewing device. This resulted in good feedback from friends and acquaintances who got to taste the noble drops. In parallel, a brewing machine that brews up to 300 liters at a time was ordered from Schultz in Bamberg, Germany. Together with 11 fermentation tanks, Frøy brewery aims to produce a minimum of 20,000 liters of beer a year. This would not have been possible without the financial support that Innovation Norway provides, as well as good helpers who have guided everything from production to handling of finished beer. With this, the product can hopefully reach as many people as possible who like well-produced beer of various kinds.

Of the types that have been test brewed, 22 different types have been developed. The names represent typical farm names and fairy tales. For example, the farm's light lager is called Budeia and the red ale became Rødhette. Are you wondering about the name of the pale alen? Take a look at the website. Or better than that, take a trip to Frøy Bryggeri at Tufte Gård.

Tufte Gård can offer
Food and drink
Band/Troubad
Lecture
Illusionist
Activity pack
Time for own work, etc.

Get in touch for further information and a tailor-made plan!

Banqueting – Thon Hotel Horten

Thon Hotel Horten ensures that your event is successful and is involved in the planning phase from beginning to end, whether it is a wedding, baptism, confirmation, party, anniversary, Christmas party, birthday party or memorial service.

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.

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

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.

Midgard Viking Centre

Midgard Viking Centre has interesting and exciting exhibitions which shows different aspects of the history. There are playgrounds where both kids and adults can try some Viking games and activities, such as bow and arrow and log games.       

The Borre burial mounds
Midgard Viking Centre is situated near the Borre burial mounds, which form one of Norway’s most important cultural heritage sites. It was in use between the year 600 and 900 after Christ. This historical place played a central role in Europe’s Viking history. Experience Viking history, based on archeological knowledge, through your senses. Visit the great Viking Hall of Borre as well. The areas fresh and nice nature plus the historical factors makes this a popular destination for everyone interested in history. Midgards guides will bring you around the park and tell you all the stories and secrets of the burial mounds.

The Viking hall "Gildehallen"
In 2013 the Viking hall was opened at Midgard. The hall is a magnificent reconstruction of one of the Viking’s major party halls/rooms.

Big parts of the building are built by hand and with time appropriate tools, beautiful woodcarvings to show that the Vikings extraordinary woodcarvings are not forgotten. The guides have insight on all the exciting details of the building and the Vikings.

You have the opportunity to experience the Viking age and see it come alive. Serving time appropriate food with groceries from close by. You get stories about the food and drink, the Viking hall and Borre, and any questions you may have, answered.

Midgard Viking Centre offers activity days where you can experience the Vikings age, there is also possible to arrange activities for groups such as crafts, cooking, bow and arrow etc.

The café has a beautiful view over the Borre burial mounds​​​​​​​ and an auditorium for lectures and conferences.

Edvard Munch´s house in Åsgårdstrand

In 1898 he bought a house built at the end of the 18th century. The house is now a small museum, open to the public where everything has been retained as it was when the artist lived there. The original studio building has been pulled down, but another building has been erected on the same site.

Edvard Munch painted many of his masterpieces in Åsgårdstrand, such as The Bridge, Four girls in Åsgårdstrand and The Dance of Life. These are now on view in major international art galleries.

The town hall in Åsgårdstrand
In the town hall you will find Digital Munch and a museum shop. Here you can experience the history of Edvard Munch and Åsgårdstrand in an innovative digital edition, meet the Åsgårdstrand history team in a newly renovated venerable city council hall and have a look in the museum shop. Read more on the website.

Travel guide on your own
The Munch Museum, together with Munch's house in Åsgårdstrand, has published a travel guide to all of Munch's places. The book provides information on viewpoints and experiences, so you can follow in his footsteps.

Preus Museum

With its extensive collection of both national and international matters, the museum covers all aspects of the history of photography. The museum has two galleries with temporary exhibitions; a basis exhibition and a specialist library of international standard. A national centre for the preservation of photographs, which offers expertise in the treatment and preservation of photographic material.

Preus Museum is located in the idyllic Cultural Park, Karljohansvern in Horten. The museum building, which was previously a grain store for the Royal Norwegian Navy, dates back to the 1860s and was adapted for museum purposes in 2001 by architect Sverre Fehn. 

It is possible to buy a cup of coffee or the from the reception.