Archive for September, 2010
Spending the night in Halden?
Posted by admin in Photos and videos, Travel and practical stuff on September 18, 2010
Where to stay in Halden: Thon Hotel
Posted by admin in Travel and practical stuff on September 18, 2010
This purpose-built hotel, which opened in March 2009, enjoys a great location right by the harbour. The 88 rooms, including two junior suites, all have a comfy feel to them, and are tastefully decorated in bright, modern colours. All rooms have flat screen TVs, mini bars and en-suite bathrooms, and many boast stunning views of the harbour and Fredriksten fortress. The common rooms are bright and welcoming, and in summer the restaurant, which can sit up to 250, spills out onto the pavement for alfresco dining. There are conference facilities for up to 100 delegates, and the hotel has direct access to the local art centre next door (and a stage that can be rented out should you plan a big event here).
Room prices start from around 1,000Kr at the weekend, and 1,400Kr during the week. Breakfast and free Wi-Fi are included. No-smoking throughout the hotel.
Langbrygga 1. Tel: 69 21 33 00, www.thonhotels.no/halden
One of the exhibits inside Tøihuset
Posted by admin in History and architecture, Photos and videos on September 15, 2010
Fredrikstad Museum in Gamlebyen
Posted by admin in History and architecture on September 15, 2010
Taken a stroll in the Old Town? Why not follow this up with a visit to the local museum, housed in what was once Norway’s largest arsenal? Small, but interesting, the museum retells the history of the Old Town through a variety of exhibits ranging from an outdoor toilet (with not one, but two seats) to archeological finds, as well as reconstructed interiors and scenes depicting daily life among soldiers and civilians. There are also archive photos of the old and new towns throughout the years, a 3D model of Gamlebyen when it was still a guarrison town, and an exhibition focusing on military costumes and Norway’s various factions during WW2.
Most of the signs are in Norwegian, but info sheets in English are available. Alternatively you can book a guided tour in English. Allow about one hour.
Tøihusgaten 41. Tel: 69 95 85 00. Entry 40Kr.
Østfold in Pictures: Sølvstufoss
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors, Photos and videos on September 12, 2010
Top 5: Walks in the Sarpsborg area
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors on September 12, 2010
- Sølvstufoss: You can reach the waterfall from the south or from the north (more scenic). The view from the wooden bridge over the Ågårdselva is quite impressive, with the river caught in between steep canyon-like rock walls. In season you can watch the salmon making their way upriver and going through the salmon stairs by the fall. The area attracts many anglers, as the Ågårdselva is one of only a few salmon rivers in Østfold.
- Sarpsborgmarka: A popular recreational area within easy reach of Sarpsborg town centre, offering a number of paths to choose from. The marked trail to Holen, which goes via the prettily named Appelsintoppen, is a good option, and the loop will take you through varied terrain. Follow the blue marks from the car park.
- Krysstjern: One of my favourite walks in this area, departing from a little car park along Rokkeveien, about 6km from the crossing with Skjebergveien. It’s not marked, and there is a little bit of climbing and bog crossing on the way up to the lake, but it’s well worth the effort, as the area is beautiful. A small path goes round the lake.
- Harehjellhytta: A 15 minute-drive from Sarpsborg centre, this area is better known for its ski slope (one of only two in the county) and its cross-country skiing tracks. But outside wintertime, it’s also popular with families going for a walk at weekends, as there are a few tracks to choose from, and they are well marked.
- Børtevann: Børtevann is a popular area for kayaking and canoeing, but you can also go around the lake on foot. Follow the dirt road behind the little cafeteria. The first half of the walk takes you through agricultural landscape with a good view of the lake, while the second part goes through the forest.
The Lossen, Hvaler
Posted by admin in History and architecture on September 10, 2010
Did you know that some 50 shipwrecks lie on the seabed in the Hvaler area? The most famous of them is the Danish frigate The Lossen, which sank off the island of Vesterøy on Christmas Eve 1717, after a particularly violent storm. More than half of the crew perished that day (55 of the 90 men on board) and stories about ghosts haunting the area were doing the rounds for a while afterwards. The wreck was discovered in 1962. The excavations that followed have uncovered an extensive amount of artefacts that give an excellent picture of how a frigate was equipped at that time, thus making The Lossen an important cultural heritage site.
The Lossen was built on Isegran in Fredrikstad in 1684. She was 28.7m long and 7.5m wide, with a gross tonnage of about 676 tons. She took part in several well-known battles during the Great Northern War of 1700-1721, and was under the command of renowned Norwegian/Danish officer Peter Wessel Tordenskjold when it sank.
Østfold in Pictures: Lauva, Vestfjella
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors, Photos and videos on September 8, 2010
Vestfjella, Aremark
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors on September 8, 2010
This is a fantastic place for anyone wanting a taste of the great Norwegian wilderness, whether you’re into walking, fishing or wildlife spotting. There are plenty of lakes in the area (68 in total, of which some 40 have trout), so take your fishing rod with you. A fishing permit for the day costs 100Kr, but it will be worth your while – the area is teaming with fish, you can even hear them breaking the water to catch small flies and other insects on the lakes’ surface. If you fancy a walk the possibilities again are many. You could for example go around Holmtjern and Lauva (about 3km, allow just over an hour). There is no marked path, and you will in places have to cross bog, so make sure you are wearing rubber boots, as it’s wet here even at the height of summer. But the scenery is superb, particularly this time of year, with mosses in all colours, water lilies everywhere, and beautiful reflections on the mirror-like lake surface. Well worth the effort. On a recent visit we saw three black grouse, several wild ducks and a lot of moose poo… although the moose themselves remained elusive 
But be on the lookout, as it is not unusual to spot them in the area.
How to get there: From Strømsfoss in Aremark, take Rv865 towards Skotsberg until you see a sign for Vestfjella. Follow this road until you get to the toll (it’s a honesty box, pay the 30Kr fee and fill in the form with your name and car registration number). From here follow the dirt road into the forest for a few kilometres until it forks, keeping to the left and continuing until you reach a red cabin on the right, and a little car park on the left. Holmtjern is to your right, and Lauva behind it.