Karljohansvern is a national fortification in Horten, on the western shore of the Oslofjord, a good hour's drive from the capital Oslo. The fortress is beautifully situated on a peninsula between the fjord and the inner harbour, and consists of both big storage buildings from the mid 19th century and ordinary houses from the 20th century. The oldest house that remains at Karljohansvern were a part of Horten farm built in the 16th century. There are also nice recreational areas along the fjord.
Parts of the area are preserved in order to protect birds and plants.
Karljohansvern developed from a ferry place to a naval base, and subsequently to a civil society. The architecture is peculiar and follows the different style periods. Many of the buildings were erected shortly after the Navy established its main base here in 1818. The construction of the buildings has followed the technological development and is typical of its time. Karljohansvern may be defined as a living museum, where you can watch the growth of a modern town. Here the past and the present are brought together. Before parts of the area were unavailable to the public, whereas today you can walk freely around in most parts of the military historical area of Karljohansvern.
Karljohansvern also offers cultural experiences, for example The Naval Museum with exciting collections connected to the naval history through war and peace, and the Preus Museum with exhibits within photography and visual art.
The peninsula of Karljohansvern has three bridge connections across the beautiful Horten Canal separating the Naval base and town. Along the canal you can walk in peace and quiet, only occasionally disturbed by the soft humming of a typical Norwegian small boat called “snekke” – using this shortcut between the inner harbour and the Oslofjord.
Throughout the year various cultural events take place at Karljohansvern, such as concerts, music festivals and other features.
Start at the Marine Museum, and follow the path south along the canal to Fyllinga. Here the trail continues on the east side of Karljohansverk and through Hortensskogen. Continue to Møringa bathing area, cross over and follow the beach edge south where it is possible to return to the Marine Museum.
You pass, among other things, the Løvøy Chapel from the 13th century and Jesusbukta. You will then reach the swimming area and campsite.
The hiking trail around the island is sometimes rough and difficult to traverse. The trip is approx. 4 km long.
There are good parking options below Løvøykapellet and at the beach right nearby.
From Falkensten, follow the cycle and footpath along the Falkenstens road for a few hundred metres. Here the main road is crossed, and we follow Gamleveien to Kjølhaleskogen. If you cross the parking lot, you can take a walk outside the nice forest that also leads to the Reverumpa swimming pool. Out of the forest again, you have to walk between the blocks and follow the Kjølhalstien to Tordenskjoldbukta. From there you walk all the way to the water's edge to Selviken boat harbour.
The coastal path continues along the jetty, past the old Keisermarkens Brygge and Badehus from 1853 and Bromsjordet Næringsområde to Karljohansvern. If you wish, you can also take the trip out to Møringa and around Karjohansvern (approx. 4 km). Here we cross the canal and follow the canal to the footbridge in the south at Fyllinga marina. (When we walked this bridge was closed. Alternative path on the other side of the canal).
From here we walk along the harbour past Horten guest harbour, Bastøferjekaia and Strandparken to Steinsnes boat harbour. From Rørestrand, the coastal path runs along the sea and partly at the edge of the forest past RS Noatun and Borre National Park with the Borrehaugene and the Midgard Viking Centre. At Borre family camping, we follow the gravel road further south and through a beautiful forest to Åsgårdstrand. Here we enter Edvard Munch's gate, past Edvard Munch's house. Here we walk through the garden and continue along the guest harbor to the Bathing Park below the Grand Hotel Åsgårdstrand.
Link to the Horten and Surroundings Tourist Association's map of the Coastal Path in Horten.
TO/FROM FOKSERØD (TORP HOTEL) and HORTEN
Paulsen Bus runs an Airport Bus Service between Torp Sandefjord Airport and Horten ferry terminal, stopping at Fokserød /Torp Hotel.
Timetable at www.paulsenbuss.no/horten-torp-horten/ or vkt.no.
Pre-booking on Paulsen Bus's website.
TO/FROM SANDEFJORD TOWN CENTRE
If you are travelling to or from Sandefjord town centre, VY offer a shuttle bus service from Torp Sandefjord Airport to Torp train station in 4 minutes. The shuttle bus is included in the train ticket. Tickets and timetable at vy.no
For a bus to Sandefjord town center you can also take the airport bus to Fokserød and change to VKT Route 01. Schedules at vkt.no
TO/FROM TELEMARK and OSLO-KRISTIANSAND-STAVANGER
Other bus connections to / from Torp Sandefjord Airport can be found here:
https://www.torp.no/til-og-fra/buss/
SHUTTLEBUS BETWEEN FOKSERØD AND TORP
From 2 October, VKT will run the section Fokserød – TORP twice an hour.
x Weekdays run between Fokserød and Torp every 30 min. between 06:00 – 23:30.
x On Saturdays every hour between 8:30 – at 10:30 p.m.
x On Sundays, there will be hourly departures between 13:30 – at 9:30 p.m.
Read more on Torp's website (norwegian article).
The hotel has several great conference rooms for 2 to 200 people. All meeting rooms have good daylight, equipped with modern AV equipment and the rooms have co2 meters to ensure good air. Various packages are offered for one or more day conferences. The hotel's staff are highly qualified in the field of planning and conducting meetings and conferences and they are happy to help you tailor the package that is perfect for you.
Horten Storstue is perfect for all types of companies. If you want a small company with your business associates, a large gala dinner, wedding or other private events, the hotel is ready to welcome you and your guests. They have capacity for up to 144 people for dinner in the King's Hall, as well as several rooms for smaller parties.
In the basement you will find a beer brewery, where 14 different types of beer are brewed.
With ingredients of the season delivered by local suppliers and producers, the chef composes delicious meals inspired by the Norwegian, French and Italian kitchen.
All food we serve is produced in their own kitchen.
Welcome to a unique dining experience!
At Dal guest house you comfortably live in fully furnished apartment.
Reception-free apartment hotel. Each unit has its own patio with fantastic sun conditions throughout the day.
The restaurant has a Nordic and modern profile and offers local food from Vestfold.
The restaurant is open for lunch Monday to Friday all year and on weekends during the summer season.
Njord can offer banqueting rooms for up to 150 people.
Reservations tel. +47 416 10 643 or by email to njord@rs-noaturn.no.
360 degree view and sun from morning to evening.
Here you can find classic summer dishes.
Open weekends and public holidays in May.
Open every day throughout the summer.
