Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE COAST
You probably didn't come to Norway for the beaches, but if you did, expect to be accom-
paniedbymassesoflocaltouristsdrawnbyreasonablebeachesandpicturesqueislands.The
towns along the coast are pretty, if way overpriced in summer.
Tønsberg
POP 37,500
TønsbergistheoldesttowninNorway,althoughsodistantareitsoriginsthatfewinteresting
remnantsremaininwhatisnowalargelymoderntown.TherearenonethelessafewViking-
era ruins and a decrepit castle that together make Tønsberg worth a brief detour as you head
along the coast.
Sights
Tønsberg Castle
FORTRESS
(Castrum Tunsbergis; admission free; tower noon-5pm mid-Jun-mid-Aug, shorter
hr rest of yr)
Tønsberg Castle, spread across the hill behind the town, was the largest fort-
ress in Norway in the 13th century. In 1503 the Swedes destroyed the fortress and little
remains of the castle itself. Nonetheless, the modern (1888), 17m-high
Slottsfjellstårnet
tower
provides a good viewpoint over the ruins. Parts of the 600m-long outer wall remain
intact, while the extant medieval stone foundations include
King Magnus Lagabøte's keep
, the 1191
Church of St Michael
, the
hall of King Håkon Håkonsson
and various
guard
towers
. The park is always open.
Vestfold County Museum
MUSEUM
(Vestfold Fylkesmuseum;
www.vfm.no
,
in Norwegian; Farmannsveien 30; adult/child
Nkr60/10; 10am-4pm Mon-Fri, noon-5pm Sat & Sun mid-May-mid-Sep, shorter hr
rest of yr)
At the foot of Slottsfjellet (Castle Rock) at the northern end of town is Vestfold
County Museum, a five-minute walk northwest of the train station. Highlights include dis-
playsontheexcavationoftheimpressive
Oseberg
Vikingship(nowshowninOslo'sViking
