Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
2 Moss & the Isle of Jeløy
55km (34 miles) S of Oslo
Moss was a port for the Vikings as they set out on their raids. Today it is a major
transportation hub for the eastern Oslofjord area, receiving ferry traffic heading
north from Denmark. Except for dining or staying at its major historic hotel,
there is little reason for a prolonged stopover at this bustling commercial port
and industrial area. But if you're exploring the east bank of Oslofjord, chances
are you'll pass through the town.
Moss is the provincial capital of Østfjord, a land of forests, pastoral farmland,
and industrial towns. Industry in Moss ranges from glass blowing to shipbuild-
ing. Its craftspeople have been known since the Middle Ages. In 1814 a treaty
was signed here uniting Sweden with Norway.
The town spills over onto the Jeløy Peninsula, which has a beach frequented
in summer by many Oslovians.
From Moss, ferries cross the Oslofjord to the town of
Horten
(p. 171). Since
attractions in this part of the fjord around Horten on the west bank are
extremely limited—mainly a few museums—you may want to skip this trip
unless you have an afternoon to spend leisurely.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE
Moss is serviced by eight trains per day from Oslo (trip
time: 50 min.). Call
&
81-50-08-88
in Oslo for rail information.
Nor-Way
Buss Ekspress
(
&
81-54-44-44;
www.nor-way.no) runs buses from Oslo to
Moss. Buses depart from Jernbanetorget in Oslo. From Oslo, motorists can head
south following the signs to E6.
Ferries leave from Frederikshavn in the north of Jutland, Denmark, at the rate
of one per day, the trip by sea to Moss taking 11 hours. If you're in Moss and
want to see some of the attractions on Oslofjord's west bank, you can take a ferry
over to Horten. Ferries leave on the hour daily from 6am to 1pm, the trip across
the fjord taking half an hour. Contact the tourist office (below) for details.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The
Moss Turistkontor,
Fleischersgate 17
(
&
69-24-15-20
), is open mid-June to mid-August Monday to Friday 9am to
7pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm, and Sunday noon to 5pm. The rest of the year, it's
open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm.
SEEING THE SIGHTS
On the island of Jeløy, a 5km (3-mile) drive north of the center of Moss, stands
Galleri F15,
Alby Gård (
&
69-27-10-33
), which is an art and handicrafts cen-
ter installed on an old homestead. Today it is used for displaying regional handi-
crafts and exhibitions of photography. It's a minor sight, to be sure, but of some
interest if you're in the area. It's open Tuesday to Sunday 11am to 7pm from
June to August, and Tuesday to Sunday 11am to 5pm from September to May.
Admission is 40NOK ($5.70) for adults and free for children 15 and under.
If you're driving around the area, consider a summer visit to the little town of
Son,
lying 10km (6 miles) to the north. It's an old fishing and boating village
that once lured many painters and authors who turned it into an artists' colony.
Today Son has gained some fame among Oslovians as a summer resort, and it's
particularly busy in July when locals flock here for sailing and swimming. Archi-
tecturally the town has a certain quaintness and is an idyllic escape from the
grim, gritty port area of Moss. If it's lunchtime, you can pick up some smoked
