Posts Tagged Halden
Colourful houses along Sølvgata, Halden
Posted by admin in History and architecture, Photos and videos on March 29, 2011
A short history of Halden in 10 key dates
Posted by admin in History and architecture on March 29, 2011
1658: The treaty of Roskilde is signed, Bohuslan is lost to Sweden, and Halden becomes a key outpost on the border between Sweden and Norway (then under Danish rule)
1660-1701: Construction of Fredriksten Fortress.
1665: Halden is granted town status.
1716: Halden residents famously set fire to their beloved town to prevent it falling into the hands of King Karl Xll of Sweden and his men.
1718: King Karl XII again tries to take the town, but is killed by a bullet to the head during the siege.
1813: Halden Cotton Spinning Mill, the first mechanised mill in the country, is established, marking the beginning of the industrial era in Norway.
1840s: Extraction of granite in the Iddefjord begins. The quarries and export of Iddefjord granite will play an important role for the town for a century to come.
1928: The town changes its name from Fredrikshald back to Halden.
1940s: During WW2, many local guides help refugees cross the border with neutral Sweden. The (Old) Svinesund Bridge is opened in 1946.
2005: The new Svinesund Bridge is opened.
The White Lady, Halden
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on October 30, 2010
All self-respecting fortresses have their resident ghost, and Fredriksten is no exception. The White Lady in Halden Fortress has been spotted by several eyewitnesses over the years, many of them soldiers keeping watch at night, back in those days when Fredriksten was still an active garrison. A pale figure dressed in white, whose feet don’t seem to touch the ground, the White Lady is usually seen walking away from the Kommandantbolig (the chief officer’s residence), setting guard dogs barking and disappearing into the night after one last wave of the hand. She has been linked to one of the officers at the fortress, a young lieutenant said to have been murdered in a jealousy drama in the early 19th century, and whose corpse was found under the Clock Tower in 1926. It has also been claimed that she was the officer’s mistress, and committed suicide after he was killed by Swedish forces. But no-one really knows who the White Lady was, and why she is still haunting the grounds of the fortress perched high over Halden.
Where to eat: Erlandsens, Halden
Posted by admin in Food and drink on October 27, 2010
Did you know that Norway’s oldest pâtisserie could be found in Halden? Located on the main pedestrian street, Erlandsens Conditori has been in business since 1865. The dark wood interior is a cosy place to chill out for an hour or two, catching up with friends, watching life go by through the big windows or reading the papers. There is even a piano, which is used for some of the weekly concert evenings that take place here. The original shop was run by Roy Nomell, who for 40 years delighted locals and visitors alike with his unique cakes. Today the shop sells bread and both hot and cold dishes in addition to the famous cakes, as well as offering a good selection of coffees and teas. And they have recently started their own production of home-made chocolates – now this is something I definitely will have to check out. Watch this space for an update very soon.
Storgata 10. Tel: 69 18 15 49; www.erlandsensconditori.no (Norwegian only). Open Mon-Fri 8am-4pm, Sat 9am-3pm. Concerts Sat at 9pm. Closed Sun.
Grete Prytz Kittelsen (1917-2010)
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature on October 4, 2010
The grande dame of Norwegian design, Grete Prytz Kittelsen, died last month in Oslo, aged 93. But her legacy endures.
Educated at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry (where her dad, Jakob Tostrup Prytz, worked as rector) and at the Institute of Design in Chicago, Kittelsen went on to become one of the most talented designers of her generation. Maybe it was in her genes. She was the fifth generation of goldsmith in the J. Tostrup family firm. Famed for her silver and enamel work, particularly her kitchenware, she was one of the best-known Norwegians in the Scandinavian Design movement.
Kittelsen wanted to bring good design to the masses by making jewellery and everyday objects people could afford, and she pioneered the use of large-scale manufacturing methods later used by industrial designers. She was also known to improvise and make her own tools, using for example a dentist bore to draw on silver, and to create works so big she had to use ovens designed to fire bathtubs.
Kittelsen studied in the US, and her work kept taking her back to the States. Unsurprisingly maybe, her designs were often inspired by American art, characterized by clear, plain colours and simple shapes. Her Lotus enamel bowls, produced in Cathrineholm in Halden, Østfold, in the 1960s, sold in their millions. Today they are collectors’ items. From the factory in Halden hundreds of thousands of her pieces were exported to Sweden, Denmark, Germany, England, the US and Canada, but also to countries as far away as New Zealand, Venezuela and South Africa. Such was her reputation.
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