Horten

Horten municipality has approximately 25.100 inhabitants and covers a area of 70,2 km2 in Vestfold. Horten have a ferry connection to Moss. The town of Horten was created for military purpose, as a command centre. First came the navy, and the town was founded. You will undoubtedly enjoy the streets of Horten. The main street, Storgaten, is the longest shopping street in Norway. Illuminated with old-fashioned style street lamps and landscaped with small and large trees, the street invites visitors to stroll its length, enjoying the sights and sounds of this friendly town.

The street contains a wide variety of shops, cafes and restaurants, and the many sidewalk cafes accentuate its easygoing seaside resort town ambiance. Here, and around Torget, the town square, you will find shops and fruit and vegetable sellers committed to serving their customers well. Our small shops are often run by families who give you the personal, friendly service you deserve. As you wander about our lovely town you will discover many beautiful details in houses and gardens. You will see many well maintained and preserved houses with their original 19th century or even earlier architecture intact. Stop to chat; you may make new friends for life.

In Horten you will also find Norway's only coachman. With his horse and carriage Harry Bjerke carts everything from newly marned couples and small children to small boats, wood and you name it. In Horten, "The Sailor's" by Per Ung occupies a central position in front of Horten Library. In the library you can read newspapers from the country and in many languages. Wherever you look, there are sculptures and satues to see and enjoy. "The girl from Horten" by Arne Durban welcomes you as you arrive from the north.

If you take a trip up to the fort on "Horten's roof", you will quickly see that in Horten itself there are only two tall church spires. One is the Gothic style Garrison church at Karljohansvern naval base. Built in 1855, the Norwegian artist Harald Kihle painted the church interior in 1925. The other is the Methodist church in the middle of town, just above the square. Constructed in 1875, the church has beautiful architecture, and is extremely well maintained.

Many other religious communities and churches are also present here. The independent evangelical denomination Smiths Venner was started in Horten by a naval officer and has around 7,000 members in 25 countries. Another internationally known name from Horten is the missionary Annie Skau Berntsen.

Like other cities on the go Horten prides itself on its progressive business community, which is made up of a large number of small and medium-sized companies. The expression "Electronic Coast" is well known and refers to the large cluster of electronics firms within the city limits. Traditional industries are also well established here, as are maritime-related firms. A national centre for pollution control and maritime safety was recently opened at Fyllingafyret.

MUSEUM TOWN

Horten has become a town noted for its special museums. The town is home to four exciting museums, offering something for all age groups. Three of them came about thanks to visionary individuals who enjoyed collecting things and wanted to share them with the public. THE NAVY MUSEUM was, however, established by Royal Decree in 1853. A common characteristic is that all four facilities are without equal and are known throughout the world. The museums lie along the coastal strip, with Northern Europe's oldest and most beautiful maritime museum - the Navy Museum - located at Horten's historic naval base. The museum shows the development of navy vessels and weapons dating back to the Vikings, and is filled with vessels, models and other items. The Navy Museum is a paradise for the entire family.

Horten is also the site of the NORWEGIAN SOCIETY FOR SEA RESCUE MUSEUM, which shows the history of the rescue service along Norway´s sometimes harsh and dangerous coast. Here we see how the Norwegian Society of Sea Rescue has been the friend and helper of seafarers for many years.

HORTEN AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM presents the colourful history of the automobile through a phenomenal collection of vintage cars, engines, motorcycles and related exhibits. The museum is viewed as the finest in its class in Northern Europe.

THE NORWEGIAN MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY - Preus Photo Museum - has a unique collection of photography equipment and exhibits on the history of photography. Queen Maud and King Haakon´s cameras are included in the collection. The museum also has a valuable collection of old photographs, and regular exhibitions of contemporary photographic art.

NATURE

Nature lovers will find many opportunities for enjoying the grcat outdoors in Horten township. The coastal strip stretching from Horten to Åsgårdstrand offers unique experiences for bird and animal watchers. Don't be surprised to see seals, deer and elk along the way.

Hortensskogen and Sembskogen forests are located close to town, but forests, lakes and hiking trails are found almost everywhere in the municipality. Many flock to Løvøya island to experience nature, but for others there's nothing that compares with Ådalstjern pond, located just behind Vestfold College.

The National Park with its famous Borrehaugene grave-mounds is both a nature and historical experiencc. It is often used as a venue for outdoor community events, family picnics, etc. You don't need to go far outside Horten before Borre reveals its agricultural side, with rolling fields of grain, Hereford cattle, forests and truck farms dotting the landscape.

ÅSGÅRDSTRAND

In picturesque Åsgårdstrand you will find the Åsgårdstrand women's bathing club, which is committed to carrying on the long-held bathing traditions of this small coastal town. Åsgårdstrand is best known as the place where "The Girls on the Bridge", Edvard Munch and Hans Heyerdahl lived. Situated on the southern tip of Horten municipality, this cozy town with its characteristic white clapboard houses contains much else besides, and is still a hospitable and sunny seaside resort with excellent hotels and summers filled with visitors from far and near.

For boaters, the town is a gem, and has an almost Mediterranean atmosphere when the sun is at its warmest. Åsgårdstrand is an idyllic town to wander about in and experience the famous light so appreciated by artists. You will find Oriental rugs in Galleri Roseng, antiques at M.T. Corsmaier Thoen and paintings at Galleri "M", Galleri Åsgårdstrand and Ragnar Almen.

LEFDAL´S RIDING SCHOOL

Lefdal´s Riding School lies in a lovely area about five minutes´ drive from Åsgårdstand. The riding school has around 30 horses including Norwegian Fjord horses, Danish, German and Russian half-blood and thoroughbred horses and 10 ponies. The riding school has indoor and outdoor riding during the winter and riding camps for children, youth and adults in the summer.

The hosts of the riding school are Annemor and Anders Lefdal. Both have long and broad experience with horses and riding, from Norway and abroad. They have also trained horses used in movies such as Kristin Lavransdatter and other Norwegian films. Anders has broad experience with horse-shows and competitions. Tourists are welcome.

EDVARD MUNCH´S HOUSE

Edvard Munch's House, with he himself dubbed "The Happy House", is Åsgårdstrand's biggest attraction. It was here that Edvard Munch lived and found the inspiration for so many of his famous paintings. Galleries with art exhibitions and the Oriental rug gallery are other places you should visit in Åsgårdstrand.

THE WORLD´S NOTHERNMOST VINEYARD

Munch's wine is produced on Hallingstad farm in Horten. This is an artist wine in the truest sense of the word, featuring a special motif on the label of each vintage. All of the motifs are taken from Munch's paintings.

GOLF

Borre Golfclub is an international championship golf course and is considered the best golf facility in Norway. It lies in an extraordinarily beautiful area facing Borrevannet lake, and is home to a wide variety of birds and animals. A nature and cultural history path has been constructed around the course, giving walkers and hikers detailed information about nature and local history and culture on boards set up along the trail.

The golf course belongs to Semb Farm (Hovedgård), an old an prominent large farm. Sam Eyde, founder of Norway´s largest company, Norsk Hydro, lived here and his descendants own and operate the farm and golf course. Many activities, including horseback riding, are available in the vicinity.