Southern Norway - Norway - page 215

Storgata 26, N-3256 Larvik. & 33-18-25-26. Fax [phone] units. 750NOK ($107) double without
bathroom, 850NOK ($121) double with bathroom. Rates include continental breakfast. AE, DC, MC, V. Free
parking. Amenities: Bistro; piano bar; dance bar; room service; laundry/dry cleaning. In room: TV.
WHERE TO DINE
Restaurant Hansemann NORWEGIAN/STEAK Seating 60 patrons, the
town's best restaurant is a cozy enclave of red seats, dark wood antiques, old
paintings, and 19th-century tools used for decor. It has long been known for the
quality of its beef, although the chefs also prepare fish dishes. Larvik residents
come here for that special celebration. The food is commendable, and the ingre-
dients are high quality. You might begin with a bowl of the chef 's special fish
soup, which is quite tasty, or else you can opt for a shrimp cocktail. For a main
course, we'd recommend the succulent and tender pepper steak with fresh veg-
etables. You might also order a dish called “Black & White,” which is a combi-
nation of steak and pork cutlet with a béarnaise sauce and a pepper sauce. The
huntsman's favorite is a large steak that is barbecued and served with mush-
rooms, onions, and other vegetables.
Kongegata 33. & 33-14-00-01. Reservations recommended. Main courses 129NOK-279NOK ($18-$40).
AE, DC, MC, V. Mon-Sat noon-11pm; Sun noon-8pm.
2 Kongsberg: Where Silver Was King
84km (52 miles) SW of Oslo; 40km (25 miles) W of Drammen
For more than 2 centuries, Kongsberg was the silver-mining town of Norway.
Back in 1623, two children here spotted a big ox butting a cliff with his horns,
uncovering a silver vein. Their father hoped to profit from the windfall, but the
king heard the news and promptly dispatched his soldiers to force the man to
reveal the location of the mother lode.
Suddenly, Kongsberg was overrun. Between the 1623 discovery and 1957,
some 1.35 million kilograms of pure “wire” silver filled the king's purse. Even
today, though the mines are closed, Kongsberg is still home to the Royal Nor-
wegian Mint, which has been operating in the town since 1686.
Today some 4,000 workers are employed in high-tech companies located
here, and instead of silver you'll find industries such as aerospace and car-part
production.
The falls of the Lågen River divide the town into two parts. The oldest dis-
trict, lying west of the river, is the site of the major attractions. The newer part
in the east encompasses the visitor information center, the traffic hubs, and the
best shops.
ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE From the Central Station in Oslo, trains leave every 2
hours during the day, taking 1 1 ⁄ 2 hours to reach Kongsberg at a cost of 152NOK
($22) for a one-way ticket. For more information, call & 81-50-08-88 or visit
www.nsb.no. There is also bus service from Oslo aboard Nettbuss Telemark
( & 35-02-60-00; www.nettbuss.no/telemark), taking 1 1 ⁄ 2 hours and costing
135NOK ($19) per one-way ticket. Motorists can take the E18 southwest of
Oslo to Drammen. From Drammen, continue southwest along Route 11.
VISITOR INFORMATION The Kongsberg Tourist Office, Karchesgate 3
( & 32-29-90-50; www.visitkongsberg.no), is open as follows: May 1 to June 20
and mid-August to mid-September, Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm, Saturday
10am to 2pm; June 21 to mid-August, Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm and