Larvik & Stavern Archives

Optical telegraph in Stavern

The first tests with the optical telegraph – popularly called the flap telegraph – were done in Stavern in 1808.

Signal Hill, the 75 metre tall top north-west of Stavern city centre, has been used as a site for signalling and military surveillance for a very long time.
The optical telegraph wires replaced the formerly used systems with flag signalling. The wires were organized 1809-10, during the first part of the Napoleonic Wars. The stations were built as observation posts, making it possible to see both of the neighbouring stations from the basis.

In addition the optical telegraphs functioned as a military signalling system and communication system along the coast from Trondheim to Hvaler before the peace agreement in 1814, but the optical telegraph wires were also used for the benefit of civil ship traffic.

The optical telegraph in Stavern was a main site for optical telegraphs in Norway, and visitors may, together with the model, enjoy a magnificent view of Stavern right down below, Viksfjord to the west and the skerries and the ocean southwards.

From Herman Wildenveys gate by the Water Reservoir in the Stavern city centre, you need to walk a 100 metre long path to come to Signal Hill.

Stavern Park

Walking around this square is like travelling through mists of time in culture and in history.

Next door to Stavern town hall, you will find one of the best preserved water pumps in the Nordic countries. The water pump is from 1792. The park is pleasantly surrounded by genuine garrison buildings, and is beautifully situated by the driveway to Stavern city centre.

People used to come here to fetch fresh water, clean clothes and get the latest news and gossip. Today the park is a natural meeting point in Stavern town centre. During summer many couples and bridal parties are being photographed at this idyllic spot.

Mølen

Mølen is Norway's largest beach of pebbles, and it is a part of Vestfoldraet: the terrain left behind after the end of the most recent Ice Age 10.000 years ago.

The cultural landscape of Mølen, with its total of 230 cairns from the Iron Age, is one of the most majestic landscapes in Norway. The area has 16 large cairns, many up to 35 metres in diameter, with almost 200 small cairns in rows parallel to the shoreline. The cairns probably served as "sea markers" along the shipping lanes between different trading centres. This, combined with its striking natural beauty and position on the edge of the sea, makes it a must-see when visiting the area.

You can enjoy a lovely view of the sea at Mølen, and also study the beautiful type of stone called larvikite, a speciality for the Larvik area. There are actually more than 100 different types of rock at Mølen, and a total of 316 different bird species has also been found.
The arrival and departure of the migratory birds is a real treat for visitors. Twice a year the migrants visit wonderful Mølen, heading north in springtime and eventually heading back south when autumn looms.

In the summer of 2008 Mølen was officially made into an UNESCO Geopark Area.

If you want to get to Mølen by walking, the coastal path is easily accessible from either Helgeroa or Nevlunghavn.

Welcome to Mølen!

Krutthuset, Stavern

The need for two gunpowder towers was revealed in report of the year 1756. Part of the reason was said to be the risk of placing a thousand barrels of gunpowder in one place, and secondly that other sites able to host a tower of that size were unsuitable of other reasons.
A proposal showing a gunpowder tower with a vault was sent over, but the board did not approve of this. The condition was that the attic needed to have a wooden floor resting on a tier of joists, making it possible to cover with a thick layer of horsemuck as isolation against bombardment.

The gunpowder tower was also used as prison for a period of time.

Today the building functions as suitable space for galleries and expositions.

Hall of Rememberence

Tourists can visit the Memorial Hall all summer long.

The memomial is pyramid-formed, erected in commemoration of all Norwegian sailors in the fishing fleet and the merchant navy who lost their lives in naval service for Norway during World War I and World War II.

Minnehallen – the name in Norwegian – is meant to resemble a beacon, and is built of blocks of granite from a nearby rock. It was opened by HM King Haakon 7. in 1926 after two years of construction.

About 15.000 people visit the memorial from May to September every year. They find a 32-metre wide frieze inside the main hall that depicts different epoques from the dramatic lives of sailors.
In front of the sarcophagus wrapped in the Norwegian flag you find the famous sculpture "Abyss", and in the crypt 7562 sailors' names are carved on copper plates.

The altar in the main hall is engraved with a commemorative poem to the sailors, written by Norwegian poet Henrik Wildenvey.

The Kjærra Waterfalls Park

The Kjærra Waterfalls Park is situated in one of the most spectacular sceneries of Lågendalen you find the Kjærra Waterfalls Park. The Park, covering both sides of the river Lågen, derives its name from the famous Kjærra Waterfalls. Here, the river splits into two separate courses: The Eastern Falls and The Western Falls. The waterfall park is famous for its salmon and the historical fishing methods used are well documented.

In the waterpark you have the opportunity to go for a nice hike, admire the birds singing, go fishing or just find peace in the beauty of Kjærra Waterfalls Park. The park offers benches to sit and eat your lunch, as well as bonfires around the area.

The industry of fishing at Kjærra waterfalls park can be documented all the way back to the 1300, and lasted towards the end of 1958. After a while the plant was restored and opened for tourism in 1992. This brought tourists from all over the country to experience the Kjærra waterfalls, salmon fishing and summer concerts. It is also quite popular to visit Kjærra with kayaks.

The salmon trap is opened every Thursday during the season. There's usually a lot of fish and if you're lucky you get to buy a wild salmon on the spot. The fishing season for salmon is 10.06 – 26.08. Fishing license is bought online.

The Kjærra-bridge extend over Lågen with its 132 meters. The bridge is an architectural masterpiece surrounded by the outstanding natural beauty of the forest, waterfalls and leaping salmon. This project started in the fall of 2000 and was opened by county governor Mona Røkke July 5th, 2001.

The exhibitions around the park makes it interesting and creates a unique experience when walking around. In the park you will find 5 different spots that displays 5 photographs of Kjærra waterfalls park during winter time. The placement of the pictures is aligned so that the photographs shows the same landscape as behind the photographs. The photographer is Kjell Harangen. When walking around the park you’ll also find sculptures within the nature, by the artist Trond Fredriksen.

The Anagama kiln is both an art piece and a ceramic oven. The oven is inspired originally from Japan and it can hold up to 500 figures. This project is a cooperation between Stiftelsen Kjærra Fossepark, sculptor Trond Frederiksen, ceramist Ole Krongaard and the college of Telemark.

Toilets and drinking water are available on site for the visitors. If your looking for more excitement, speed and climbing its perfect to combine it with Høyt og Lavt Climbing Park.

The burial area of Istrehågan

The cultural monument Istrehågan consists of five stone settings and two ship settings. The biggest one is 25 metres long and consists of 18 single erect stones.

The Istrehågan burial ground is clearly visible up on a ridge. It is strategically located along the ancient road that runs through Tjølling from Sandar over Istre and on towards Tjodalyng (Tjølling church). Along the ridge there are several burial monuments from the Iron Age. Traces of the road are still found, among other things in the form of the path east of the burial field and several so-called hollow ways, which appear as ditches in the terrain south of the stone deposits.

Archeological excavations were undertaken in the early 1960s, and the restored burial ground is considered one of the best preserved cultural monuments of its kind.

Discoveries nearby indicate that there were settlements in this area as early as the Stone Age and the Bronze Age.

Practical information
Its forbidden to have bonfires in the burial area
Camping is not allowed
Horse riding only on the path
Clean up after your self – don’t leave food or garbage
Show respect, this is a burial area and our heritage.

Thank you for showing respect!

Bronze age carvings at Haugen

The carvings date from the bronze age 1500-500 BC. Bronze age farmers have carved different symbols on an east-facing flat mountain. There is a ship spiral figuration and other bowl shape figures at the site.

To go to Haugen by car from Larvik you need to follow the signs from classified road 303 at Løve towards Istrehagan. This is around 2 km north of Larvik in direction Sandefjord.

The Farris Lake

The Farris lake stretches from Kilen in Larvik in the south to Siljan in the north, and has an area of 21 km². Especially in summer, there is a lot of activity in Farris.

Many islands and coves offer unique opportunities for excursions, both by boat and canoe. It is also very nice to walk along Farris, and there are marked paths for this purpose. Both berries, mushrooms, birds and wildlife are found in abundance in these areas.

The Farris lake also consists of the Farris river, which flows into the sea at Larvik and is about 1,100 metres. The river's waterfall has been an important source of the city's industry since the 16th century.

Farriskilen in the south-east was in its time a hub for winter sports in Larvik, among other things for ice-skating and cross-country skiing.

Brunla Burial Area

Close to 90 graves, wells and hollows are found on this area, totalling more than 120 decares.

Following extensive restoration to re-create vegetation like it once was,
quite many new graves and traces of old agricultural cultivation has been found on the Brunla and Agnes burial area.

Information board at site.