Southern Norway - Norway - page 181

THE COAST
You probably didn't come to Norway for the beaches, but if you did, expect to be accom-
panied by masses of local tourists drawn by the lure of a paddle and picturesque islands.
The towns along the coast are gorgeous, but way overpriced in peak season.
Tønsberg
Pop 41,485
Tønsberg is the oldest town in Norway, although so distant are its origins that few interest-
ing remnants remain. There are nonetheless a few Viking-era ruins and a decrepit castle
that make the town worth a brief detour as you head along the coast.
Sights
Tønsberg Castle FORTRESS
(Castrum Tunsbergis; tower noon-5pm mid-Jun-mid-Aug, shorter hours rest of year)
Tønsberg Castle, spread across the hill behind the town, was the largest fortress in Norway
in the 13th century. In 1503 the Swedes destroyed what they could, but nonetheless, the
modern (1888), 17m-high Slottsfjellstårnet tower provides a good viewpoint over the ru-
ins. 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 ; Farmannsveien 30; adult/child Nkr60/40, Tue free;
11am-4pm mid-May-mid-Sep, shorter hours rest of year)
At the foot of Slottsfjellet (Castle Rock) at the northern end of town, a five-minute walk
northwest of the train station, this museum's highlights include displays on the excavation
of the impressive Oseberg Viking ship (now shown in Oslo's Viking Ship Museum ) , a col-
lection of historic period-furnished farm buildings, and a section on Tønsberg's whaling
history.