Discover 10 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Horten (Norway). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Royal Norwegian Navy Museum, Tordenskiold Oak, and Preus museum. Also, be sure to include Karljohansvern in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Horten (Vestfold).
Table of Contents
Royal Norwegian Navy Museum
Also known as: Marinemuseet
Museum in Horten, Norway. The Royal Norwegian Navy Museum is a museum documenting the history of the Royal Norwegian Navy. It is located at the former main naval base of Karljohansvern in Horten. The museum was founded by C.F. Klinck on 24 August 1853. The museum is sometimes regarded as the world's first naval museum, as it was the first collection of naval memorabilia open to the public.[1]
Address: Kommandørkaptein Klincks vei 9, 3183 Horten
Tordenskiold Oak
The Tordenskiold Oak in Kjølhalskogen in Horten, Norway is one of the oldest trees in Norway. The tree trunk is very hollow, so the tree is almost split in two. The oak was protected by a royal decree on December 9, 1921. It is not possible to say how old the tree is, but it goes for at least 800, maybe close to 1,000 years. The tree has been supported and bolted to hold the trunk together, and a fence has been set up around the tree as a hedge on the day it falls.
The biggest threat to the tree was in 1993, when it was discussed both to lift the conservation and to have the heavily enclosed tree removed. Local environmental protection authorities were concerned about the safety, but lacked the financial means to take adequate security. However, these plans led to great local involvement in the city, and much publicity in the local newspaper Gjengangeren, where a fundraising event was discussed. At that time, former Mayor Jon Brekke pointed out that oak represents an important part of the city's identity, and is a very important cultural heritage worth preserving.[2]
Preus museum
Museum in Horten, Norway. Preus Museum is the national museum for photography located in Horten, Norway.
Preus Museum was founded in 1976 by Leif Preus and the members of the Preus family as a private museum. The collection was acquired by the Norwegian government in 1995. The museum's collection consists of photos and various other forms of images, together with cameras and related equipment which illustrate the history of photography. In 2001, the museum moved to the former naval facility at Karljohansvern in Vestfold og Telemark county. The facilities have been adapted for museum use based on the work of architect Sverre Fehn.[3]
Address: Kommandørkaptein Klincks vei 7, 3183 Horten
Karljohansvern
Tourist attraction in Horten, Norway. Karjohansvern at Horten was the main base for the Royal Norwegian Navy from 1850 to 1963.[4]
KNM Utstein
HMS Venturer was a Second World War British submarine of the V class that sank two German U-boats and five merchant ships during the war. Following the war, the boat was sold to Norway and was renamed HNoMS Utstein. She was discarded in 1964.
She is the only submarine in history to have sunk another while both were submerged.[5]
Midgard historisk senter
Historical place, Museum, Specialty museum, History museum
Address: Birkelyveien 9, 3184 Borre
KNM Blink
Also known as: Storm-klassen
The Storm-class patrol boat was a series of fast patrol boats consisting of 20 vessels built for the Royal Norwegian Navy.
In Norwegian these boats were called missilkanonbåter (MKB) meaning boats with missiles and guns. They were operated by the Coastal Combat Flotilla together with the MTBs, or missile torpedo boats. None of the boats are currently in service with the Royal Norwegian Navy. The design was Norwegian and all of the boats were built by Norwegian ship yards from 1965 to 1967. In the 1990s, Norway donated vessels of the class to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.[6]
Horten Bibliotek
Library
Address: Apotekergata 10, Horten
Citadellet
Citadellet was a 19th-century Norwegian fortress. The last day of military activity was in 1970. The fort was demolished in 1971.
Citadellet was intended to protect the Royal Norwegian Navy's Karljohansvern naval station in Horten. Karjohansvern was the main base for the Royal Norwegian Navy from 1819 to 1963. The fortress was built between 1848 and 1851. Its architect was Christian Heinrich Grosch (1801-1865). The fort were established in conjunction with Norske Løve Fortress which was built between 1852 and 1859. Specific plans for the design of both fortifications were first completed in the mid-1830s, based upon designs largely begun in the 1820s. The forts were expected to assume a key role as defender of the fleet and defense against attacks from the sea.[7]
Hortenshallen
Address: Strandpromenaden 29, Horten