Posts Tagged Things to see
Top 5: Vantage points in Østfold
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors on May 31, 2010
What’s the best vantage point in Østfold? Tough one, as there are so many spots affording great views all over the county, but these are my personal favourites:
- Linnekleppen, Indre-Østfold: Acres and acres of forest spreading as far as the eye can see is the stunning vista rewarding anyone climbing to the top of Linnekleppen, the last watchtower in Europe to still be manned in the summer months.
- Fredriksten Festning, Halden: Take in the sweeping panorama over Halden town and beyond from the top of the fortress, with the Iddefjord to the left. Impressive stuff!
- Blåsopp, Fredrikstad: Fantastic views over Mærrapanna and Gjetøya (and the vast expense of the Oslofjord beyond) from the top of this rocky cliff, a short walk from Oksrødkilen or Slevik just outside Fredrikstad.
- Hjelmkollen, Halden: This easily accessible vantage point 117m above sea level offers great views of Ringdalsfjorden, and the two Svinesund bridges (the old one in the foreground, the new one, with its distinctive arch, a few kilometers behind it in the distance).
- Ravneberget, Skjeberg: Great views over the fertile agricultural lands stretching between Borge and Rolvsøy in the distance from the top of this cliff, only a short walk from the Hunn field along Oldtidsveien. One can also make out Ullerøy, Torsnes and Tosekilen in the distance.
The view towards Svinesund
Posted by admin in History and architecture, Photos and videos on May 25, 2010
Sponvika, Halden
Posted by admin in History and architecture on May 25, 2010
The little village of Sponvika in Halden Municipality guards the entrance to the Ringdalsfjord/Iddefjord, the arm of the Oslofjord stretching towards Halden, and marking the border with Sweden to the east. A picturesque little village with white wooden houses and well-kept gardens, Sponvika has around 400 permanent inhabitants, although this population grows significantly in summer when people with hytter in the area join locals for the holidays.
Back in the 1600s Sponvika was a buzzing fishing port, dealing mainly in herring, and it’s still a good spot to cast a line. From the little harbour where anglers like to try their luck, one can see the arch of the new Svinesund Bridge, which links Norway and Sweden, in the distance.
There is a couple of beaches on Kjeøya, the peninsula just west of Sponvika, the best one of which is at Pina, to the northwest. The area is a good place for a walk. Because of its strategic location guarding the entrance to Ringdalsfjorden, Sponvika has been a much coveted spot over the centuries. In 1716 the Swedes tried to build a floating bridge over Svinesund, but incessant bombardments from the canons at Sponvika fort (skanse) meant they eventually gave up. During WWII the Germans had an outpost on the same spot – the remnants of the fort are still visible today.
Celebrations in Fredrikstad
Posted by admin in History and architecture, Photos and videos on May 17, 2010
17 May – Norway’s National Day
Posted by admin in History and architecture on May 17, 2010
Norway’s Constitution was signed in Eidsvoll on 17 May 1814. It’s a very significant date in Norwegian history – on that day Norway became an independent nation, after over 400 years under Danish rule. Today 17 May (syttende mai in Norwegian) is Norway’s national day, and is marked every year with celebrations up and down the country. These centre around children, with school bands leading processions (known as tog, literally train), although other clubs and groups also join in. Everybody comes out to watch the parade, and many Norwegians, women in particular, like to wear the traditional costume or bunad for the occasion. The red, white and blue Norwegian flag can be seen everywhere, and 17 May is arguably the most popular day of the year – even bigger than Christmas!
Top 10 reasons to visit Østfold this summer
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on May 12, 2010
Thinking of coming to Østfold this summer? There are tons of reasons why you should, but I’ve tried to narrow it down to 10 here (and no, of course it wasn’t easy!!!):
- Sail the stunning Hvaler Archipelago, a summer paradise in the Oslofjord, and home to Norway’s first, and only, marine national park.
- Join the locals and enjoy lunch alfresco by the river in one of Fredrikstad’s many waterfront restaurants.
- Take the hike to Linnekleppen, Northern Europe’s last manned fire-watch tower – from the top you’ll see the huge forests of Indre-Østfold reach as far as the Swedish border.
- Wander the quaint cobbled-stoned streets of Gamlebyen, Scandinavia’s best-preserved fortress town in Fredrikstad.
- Take in the awesome views from the top of the Fredriksten Fortress in Halden, then learn about the town’s fascinating history at the onsite museum.
- Go back in time along Oldtidsveien, where ancient stone circles, rock carvings and burial mounts dating back to the Stone Ages abound.
- Indulge in a soak and/or a massage at Zen Resort, Norway’s first holistic spa in Rømskog. Or just chill out and enjoy the beautiful scenery by Lake Vortungen.
- Go bird-watching: Østfold boasts two of Norway’s best wetland areas, Øra and Kurefjorden nature reserves. Just don’t forget the binoculars!
- Kayak your way along the Halden Canal, passing the Brekke Locks on the way – they are the highest in Scandinavia, and a highlight of the trip.
- Splash out, for free: The coast up and down the county boasts many beaches, and there are hundreds of lakes to choose from inland if you prefer to swim in fresh water.
The Hvaler International Sculpture Project
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature, Nature and the great outdoors, Photos and videos on May 2, 2010
Walking in Øsfold: Rødshue, Hvaler
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature, Nature and the great outdoors on May 2, 2010
This is another lovely walk on Hvaler. There is a sculpture park with several works by artists from both Norway and further afield (Italy, Japan and Sweden to be precise) interspersed along the coastline here. The most striking is probably Fortidens Vitner (Witnesses of the Past) by Alessandro Stenico, two grey stone columns (they look like metal from a distance) overlooking the ocean (see photo above). It was the first sculpture to be erected on the site in 2005. A new sculpture is due to be unveiled every summer, giving locals and visitors alike reasons to come back year after year.
Stone industry experienced a boom in Hvaler, as well as in several other parts of Østfold, during the latter part of the 19th century, and the area around Rødshue is a testimony to this, with discarded stone blocks of various sizes still dotting the landscape, and the remnants of quarry activity still visible in many parts. This makes for an interesting landscape to explore. Depending on how much time you’ve got on your hands, and/or how energetic you feel, you can continue on to Grønnebakke to the north, or Ørekroken to the east, both of which offer good swimming opportunities. Just north of the sculptures there is also a big stone cross erected in 1995 to mark 1,000 years of Christianity in Norway.
More info about the Stenkunst Hvaler project (the Hvaler International Sculpture Project) at www.stenkunsthvaler.no/english.html
How to get there: Coming from Fredrikstad on Rv 108, take the first road to your right once you get to Kirkeøy (after the Hvaler Tunnel). This is a small road that goes past many hytter (summer houses). Keep going straight for about 800m until you get to a small car park. There is no P sign but you can’t drive further on anyway, so you’ll know you’ve reached your destination. A path leads from the car park to the coast.