Larvik kommune | |
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![]() Larvik central square, 2008 | |
Nickname(s): Bakkebyen, The Hilly City | |
![]() Larvik within Vestfold og Telemark | |
Coordinates: 59°4′52″N10°0′59″E / 59.08111°N 10.01639°E Coordinates: 59°4′52″N10°0′59″E / 59.08111°N 10.01639°E | |
Country | Norway |
County | Vestfold og Telemark |
District | Vestfold |
Administrative centre | Larvik |
Government | |
• Mayor (2019) | Erik Bringedal (H) |
Area | |
• Total | 535 km2 (207 sq mi) |
• Land | 501 km2 (193 sq mi) |
• Rank | #199 in Norway |
Population (2017-1-1) | |
• Total | 46,211 |
• Rank | #19 in Norway |
• Density | 82/km2 (210/sq mi) |
• Change (10 years) | ![]() |
Demonym(s) | Larviking Larviker Larvikar [1] |
Official language | |
• Norwegian form | Neutral |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
ISO 3166 code | NO-3805 |
Website | Official website |
Larvik (Urban East Norwegian: [ˈlɑ̂rviːk] ( listen )) [3] is a town and municipality in Vestfold in Vestfold og Telemark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Larvik. The municipality of Larvik has about 46,364 inhabitants. The municipality has a 110 km coastline, only shorter than that of neighbouring Sandefjord. [4]
The city achieved market town status in 1671. [5] Larvik was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). The city of Stavern, and the rural municipalities of Brunlanes, Hedrum, and Tjølling were forcefully merged into the municipality of Larvik on 1 January 1988. [6] On 1 January 2018, neighboring Lardal was merged into Larvik as part of a nationwide municipal reform. [7] After the merge, Larvik is the largest municipality in Vestfold by area, and the second-most populous municipality in the Vestfold district. [8]
Larvik is known as the hometown of Thor Heyerdahl. [9] It is also home to Bøkeskogen , the northernmost beech tree forest in the world. It is also home of Norway's only natural mineral water spring, Farriskilden. [10] [11] Farris Bad has been described as one of the best spas in Europe. [12] It has the largest spa department in Scandinavia. [13] [14]
Larvik has a daily ferry connection to Hirtshals, Denmark. [15]
The Norse form of the name must have been Lagarvík. The first element is the genitive case of lǫgr m 'water; river' (now called Numedalslågen River). The second element is vík f 'cove, wick'. The meaning of the name is "the cove at the mouth of (Numedals)lågen". Prior to 1889, the name was written "Laurvik" or "Laurvig".
The coat of arms is from only 2017. It is blue, with silver drops to represent waterways, harbour and growth for which the municipality is known.
Various remains from the Stone Age have been discovered in Larvik, for instance by Torpevannet by Helgeroa village. Raet goes through all of Vestfold County before peaking out of the ocean in Mølen. Ancient peoples have carried rocks from Raet and constructed vast numbers of burial mounds at Mølen. During the Roman Iron Age, ancient peoples erected a stone monument resembling a ship at Istrehågan, one of Norway's greatest remains ("oldtidsminne") from prehistoric times. [17] Immediately across the Sandefjord border by Istrehågan is Haugen farm, which is the largest petroglyph site in Vestfold County. [18]
Kaupang in Skiringssal is an archaeological site where archaeologists first discovered burial mounds, and later uncovered the remains of an ancient town. It is now known as the oldest known merchant town in Norway. There was international trade from a bay in Viksfjord, a few kilometres east of Larvik, over 1,200 years ago. [19] Skiringssal has remains from the oldest town yet discovered in the Nordic countries, [20] and it was one of Scandinavia's earliest urban sites. [21]
Larvik was a Danish county (grevskap) until 1817; the rest of Norway had come under Swedish rule in 1814; four local businessmen purchased the county (in 1817). [22]
The city of Larvik was a 19th-century spa community, home of Larvik Bath. The spa welcomed several members of government and also Russian oligarchs. The royal family, King Haakon VII and Queen Maud, vacationed at Larvik Bad in 1906. The spa also welcomed Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson in 1909, who wrote some of his lasts poems in Larvik, and Knut Hamsun in 1917. Hamsun wrote his novel Growth of the Soil in Larvik, which later earned him the 1920 Nobel Prize for Literature. [23]
Larvik received market town status in 1671. [24] The city of Larvik (in contemporaneous Danish spelling: Laurvig) was founded in 1671 by Ulrik Fredrik Gyldenløve, who became the first count of Laurvig. The count's residence, "Herregården", can still be visited today. Larvik houses the Treschow estate, Fritzøehus, which is currently owned by the heirs of Mille-Marie Treschow, reportedly "Norway's richest woman". The Treschow estate was created in 1835 when Willum Frederik Treschow bought the county from the Danish crown, who in turn had bought the county from the local consortium "grevlingene", four local entrepreneurs who proved unable to manage the ownership financially (the consortium had bought the county from the Danish crown in 1817 originally, the crown taking over the county when the last of the counts had to sell it because of debt).
Larvik, along with neighbouring Sandefjord and Tønsberg, were the three dominant whaling cities of Norway in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. [25]
Larvik's population is primarily centred around the coast. The administrative centre of the municipality, Larvik proper, is one of two cities in the municipality; the other one being Stavern. The city's residential areas are first and foremost in the hills between the fjord and Bøkeskogen. [26]
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The municipality had a total population of 46,899 as of January 1, 2018, [28] while the city of Larvik had a population of 23,927 as of 2016. [29] Immigrants made up 11.2 percent of the population in 2017. [30] The largest immigrant groups (first- and second generation immigrants) were: Polish (1,200), Lithuanians (446), Iraqis (408), Vietnamese (327), and Somalis (318). [31]
Figures from a census held at the beginning of the 19th century indicate that Larvik's population has quadrupled in approximately 200 years. Its population however is spread through the county's largest municipality, and less than 50% reside in the city of Larvik. The majority of the population is found along and around the Larviksfjord, from Stavern in the west to Gon in the east. [32] The population sometimes double during summer weeks due to tourism. [33] Larvik is home to 4,775 vacation homes as of 2018. [34]
Larvik is the most important agricultural municipality in Vestfold. Besides grains, other crops include potatoes and vegetables. It has the county's largest production of cucumbers and tomatoes. Important industries are commerce, hotel and restaurant management. The fishing industry is the second-largest in Vestfold, only smaller than in Færder. Important fishing harbours are Stavern, Helgeroa, and Nevlunghavn. Furthermore, Larvik has the biggest logging industry in the county. Norway Spruce is the most important tree species. [35]
Larvikite is exported from Larvik to countries in Europe and to the United States. [36]
Larvik is first and foremost known as a summer community. Due to its stable climate and one of Norway's highest median temperatures, Larvik experiences significant summer tourism. [37] [38] Larvik's climate is among the mildest in Norway, with one of the nation's highest number of annual sunshine days. It is home to over 4,000 holiday homes. [39]
The coastal town of Stavern and picturesque villages of Helgeroa and Nevlunghavn receive large numbers of tourists during summer months. Stavern is known as a summer community, [40] and its population more than doubles during summers. [41] Tourist attractions in Stavern include Hall of Remembrance, Fredriksvern, and Citadellet. Citadel Island is home of Staverns Fortress which dates to the 1680s. The island is a current refuge for artists. [42] [43]
Kaupang has been described as the "chief attraction" for visitors in Larvik. [44] Kapuang is also known as Norway's most important monument from the Viking Age. [45] Another source describes Mølen Geopark as Larvik's most visited tourist attraction. [46] Other attractions include the Maritime Museum, Fritzøehus, Herregården, the home of Thor Heyerdahl, and Bøkeskogen. Larvik is also home to Farris Bad, the largest spa in the Nordic countries, which has been described as one of Europe's best spa facilities. [47]
Larvik occupies the southwestern corner of Vestfold, between Sandefjord in the east and the Langesundsfjord in the west. The coast stretches from the entrance to the Sandefjordsfjord and to the Langesundsfjord. The coastline consists of various beaches, bays, islets and skerries. The land is relatively flat along the coast and by the many bays, while the interior parts consist of large and hilly woodlands. Larger mountains are found along the border to Telemark County in the west. [51] Berganvarden at 456 metres is the highest peak in Larvik municipality. It lies in northwestern Larvik, on the west side of Lågen River. The peak is situated at the border with Lardal and Siljan. [52]
The municipality is approximately 105 kilometres (65 mi) southwest of Oslo. The municipality covers an area of 530 square kilometres (200 sq mi), and has a population of 41,211 (23,100 of which reside in the town). Larvik is the largest municipality in Vestfold County with an area covering 531 km2. However, by population Larvik is the third-most populous municipality, only smaller than neighbouring Tønsberg and Sandefjord. [53] Larvik has its own fjord which connects to the Lågen River. [54]
Larvik borders to Kongsberg in the north, Sandefjord in the east, and Porsgrunn and Siljan (Telemark County) in the west. The southernmost point in the municipality is Tvistein Lighthouse in the sea south of Hummerbakken in Brunlanes. On the mainland, its southernmost point is found in Oddane, between Mølen and Nevlunghavn. The westernmost point is Geiterøya Island in the Langesundsfjord, and the easternmost point is one of the Rauer islets. The highest point is Vindfjell at 622 m. which lies on the border with Telemark County in the west. [55]
The district also includes the town of Stavern (population: 5,000) and the villages of Nevlunghavn, Helgeroa, Kvelde, Hvarnes, and Tjølling. Notable geographical features include the lake Farris and the river Numedalslågen, locally called Lågen, which terminates in Larvik, east of the town. Other bodies of water include the lakes Farris, Goksjø and Hallevatnet.
Larvik is also noted for its natural springs of mineral water, Farriskildene, which have been commercially exploited under the brand name Farris. At Kaupang in Tjølling lies the remains of the medieval Skiringssal trading outpost. Larvik is also home to the world's northernmost natural occurrence of Fagus sylvatica forests (European Beech tree), known as Bøkeskogen ("The Beech Tree Forest").
The municipality is home to one city and seven villages: [57]
Himberg is an exclave which is part of Sandefjord, although bordering Larvik in all directions. [58] [59] [60] Attempts at annexing Himberg into Larvik have largely been met with protests from Himberg residents. A 1995 attempt at annexing Himberg was cancelled due to protests from local residents. [61] There are only four such enclaves in Norway, and Himberg is the most populous enclave in Norway, with a population of approximately 40 people. Himberg is 1.4 km2 (0.54 sq. mi.). [62]
Larvik Museum Society founded in 1916. The museum is now associated with Vestfold Museum (Vestfoldmuseene). Larvik Museum was established with the purpose of preserving, and restoring the city's collection of historic buildings. [63] [64] [65]
Treschow-Fritzøe Museum (Verkensgården) houses exhibitions from the former Treschow-Fritzøe ironworks. Verkensgarorden displays tools, equipment, drawings, and models illustrating the iron-production era in Larvik, which dated from 1670 to 1870. The exhibition shows various aspects; from the geological process of creation to production, and use of the stone larvikite, the area's main export product. The Iron Works was closed during 1868. [67]
Manor House (Herregården) was built by Ulrik Fredrik Gyldenløve for his third wedding in 1677. It is a large wooden structure with well-preserved baroque interiors from the 1730s. Herregården manor house is a large Baroque wooden building with classic elements. The interior design is mainly Baroque and Regency style. The house is filled with 17th- and 18th-century antiques. [72] Herregården from 1677 is considered one of Norway's finest secular Baroque structures. [73] It is one of few baroque architectural monuments representing nobility in Norway. [74] [75] Furthermore, it is one of Norway's largest wooden buildings from 17th century. [76]
Larvik Maritime Museum (Larvik Sjøfartsmuseum) is housed in Larvik's oldest brick building, dating from 1730. Larvik Maritime Museum is located in the old customs house, and is the residence of the local building inspector. This museum displays models of ships, paintings of sailing vessels, and other nautical artifacts to bring the port's maritime history alive. One section of the museum is devoted to the expeditions of Larvik-born Thor Heyerdahl. [77] [78]
Fritzøehus is a private estate located in Larvik. The estate has traditionally been associated with various members of the Treschow family and is presently owned by Mille-Marie Treschow.
It is Norway's largest privately owned estate. [79] [80] [81]
Recreation areas include the beach Lydhusstranda at Naverfjorden. [82]
Numedalslågen, which is considered one of Norway's best salmon fishing rivers, is located in Larvik. [83] [84] [85] [86] Freshwater fishing is also common at Goksjø Lake, which lies on the Sandefjord-Larvik border. Fish species in this lake include Northern pike, European perch, Ide, Common dace, European eel, Salmon, and Brown trout. [87] The lake is also used for ice-skating, canoeing, swimming, boating, and other recreational activities.
The 12-metre Trollfoss is the largest and tallest waterfall in Vestfold County. [88] [89] [90] [91]
Hiking trails can be found throughout the municipality, including in the city forest Bøkeskogen , Norway's largest beech tree forest. [92] [93] This forest is home to various trails, from 2.6 km (1.6 mi.) to the longest which is 10 km (6.2 mi.) in length. [94] Hiking trails can also be found at Mølen, which is an UNESCO GeoPark and home of Norway's largest stone beach. [95] [96] The Coastal Path (Kyststien) is a 35 km from Brunlanes to Stavern. Additional hiking trails can be found by Goksjø- and Farris Lakes. [97] Farris Lake is the largest lake in Vestfold County. [98]
Due to the municipality's many rural areas, Larvik is known for its game hunting, and large forests are open for hunting. There are great stocks of moose; Larvik has among Norway's highest number of moose. [99] Between 7-800 moose are annually slaughtered in the county. [100] Other important species of game are Roe deer, Red deer, Mountain hare, European beaver, and Common wood pigeon. [101]
List of publicly owned beaches in Larvik: [102]
Larvik is served by Sandefjord Airport Torp, its nearest international airport. [103] European route E18 traverses the municipality and is one of Norway's most important main highways. [104] Larvik Station is the city's main railway station, while daily ferries to Hirtshals, Denmark depart from the city harbour and are operated by Color Line. [105] The neighbouring city of Sandefjord has several ferry links with daily departures to Strömstad, Sweden and, further south, the city of Langesund links to Hirtshals, Denmark through a ferry which is operated by Fjord Line.
Notable points of interest include: [108]
Vestfold[ˈvɛ̂stfɔɫ](listen) is a traditional region, a former county and a current electoral district in Eastern Norway. In 2020 the county became part of the much larger county of Vestfold og Telemark. Located on the western shore of the Oslofjord, it bordered the previous Buskerud and Telemark counties. The county administration was located in Tønsberg, Norway's oldest city, and the largest city is Sandefjord. With the exception of the city-county of Oslo, Vestfold was the smallest county in Norway by area. Vestfold was the only county in which all municipalities had declared Bokmål to be their sole official written form of the Norwegian language.
Tønsberg[ˈtœ̂nsbær(ɡ)](listen), historically Tunsberg, is a city and municipality in Vestfold og Telemark county, eastern Norway, located around 102 kilometres south-southwest of Oslo on the western coast of the Oslofjord near its mouth onto the Skagerrak. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tønsberg. The city is the most populous metropolis in the district of Vestfold with a population of 52,419 in 2019. The municipality has a population of 56,293 and covers an area of 329 square kilometres in 2020. Tønsberg also serves as the seat for the County Governor of Vestfold og Telemark.
Sandefjord is a city and the most populous municipality in Vestfold og Telemark county, Norway. The municipality of Sandefjord was established on 1 January 1838. The municipality of Sandar was merged into Sandefjord on 1 January 1969. On 1 January 2017, rural municipalities of Andebu and Stokke were merged into Sandefjord as part of a nationwide municipal reform. This merger was the first one to take place during the reform.
Andebu is a village in Sandefjord municipality, Vestfold County, and a former municipality. The administrative centre of the municipality was the village of Andebu. The village is surrounded by forests, mountains, and hills. Its nearest cities are Sandefjord and Tønsberg. The parish of Andebo was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. On 1 January 2017, the municipality became a part of Sandefjord municipality, along with Stokke. The former municipality now makes up the northernmost part of Sandefjord municipality.
Stokke is a town in Sandefjord municipality in Vestfold County, Norway. It lies in-between Sandefjord and Tønsberg, two of Vestfold's largest cities. It was a municipality from 1838 to 2016. The administrative centre of the municipality was the village of Stokke, while minor villages were Vear, Melsomvik, Storevar, and Valberg.
Kaupang was a Norse term for market-place. Today, it is generally used as a name of the first town-like market-place in Norway, the Kaupang in Skiringssal, which is located in Tjølling near Larvik in Vestfold. Kaupang was an important merchant and craft center during the Viking period and as yet the first known Norwegian trading outpost.
Stavern is a small water-side town in Larvik municipality in Vestfold County, Norway. It is south of the city of Larvik. Currently there are around 3,000 inhabitants in Stavern. It is a small town where tourism is one of the most important sources of income. During summer, the population increases to around 30,000-40,000 people, due to camping sites and cottages around the town centre as well as boats visiting the harbour.
Mølen in Brunlanes, Larvik is a geopark and Norway's largest beach of rolling stones. It is a part of Vestfoldraet, the terrain left behind after the end of the most recent ice age around 10,000 years ago. Mølen is one of Larvik's most popular tourist attractions. It is home to over a hundred species of rock, including Norway's national stone, Larvikite, which is named from the area.
Brunlanes is a parish and former municipality within Larvik municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. It was annexed by Larvik on January 1, 1988.
Ula is a small seaside village in the Tjølling district in Larvik municipality, Vestfold County, Norway. It had the status of tettsted until 2003, when the population dropped below 200. The village and harbour become busier during summer months, due to an influx of people occupying Ula's many vacation homes and campgrounds. A number of protected and preserved 18th century wooden homes are located along the main beach.
Tjølling is a former municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. Tjølling was established as a municipality January 1, 1838. Together with Brunlanes, Stavern and Hedrum, it was merged into Larvik on January 1, 1988.
Raet is the largest terminal moraine in Scandinavia. It was formed during the end of the last glacial period, 12,800–11,500 years ago, in one of the latest advances of the glaciers.
Nevlunghavn is a village in Larvik municipality, Norway. Before the municipal merge in 1988 it was a part of Brunlanes municipality. Nevlunghavn has grown together with the adjacent village Helgeroa. The two villages have a combined population of 1,573.
Helgeroa is a village in Larvik municipality, Norway. It is a popular tourist destination during summers. It is home to a marina, guest harbor, and a harbor for ferries operating in the Langesundsfjord. At the tip of the pier is the 8-meter tall Nesjar Monument.
Fokserød is a residential- and statistical area (grunnkrets) in Sandefjord municipality, Norway. Fokserød was originally the name of three former farms located near the current Coop Obs! megastore, relatively near Sandefjord Airport Torp. Former written forms were Foxarôyru (1346), Faxerrudt (1575), Fuxáeröd (1625), and Foxeröed (1664). It is home of Fokserød Nature Preserve, a preserved birch tree forest located by the main entry road from E18 to Torp Airport. In the 1960s, it was one of the first places in Norway where nesting Hawfinch were recorded. The nature preserve was established on June 13, 1980, and it occupies 38 decares. The nature preserve is divided in two by the road Torpveien that leads to Torp Airport and Kullerød.
Sandefjord Station is a railway station on the Vestfold Line in Sandefjord, Norway. The station is served with regional trains operated by Vy. The station opened as part of the Vestfold Line in 1881. Norsk Spisevognselskap took over operations of the restaurant on 1 January 1940. The first train came to Sandefjord in 1881, on its way to neighboring Larvik. In the 1950s, the steam locomotive was replaced by the less noisy electric run train.
Bøkeskogen stretches inwards along Farris Lake in Larvik. It is an archeological area which is home to between 83, 90, and 100 burial mounds. It contains Vestfold County's largest burial grounds from the Pre-Roman Iron Age. Besides being Vestfold's largest grave site, Bøkeskogen is considered one of Norway's most accessible remains from the Viking Age. It is the world's northernmost beech tree forest.
Scandic Park Hotel is a large hotel in Sandefjord, Norway. The Park Hotel was completed in 1960 and was the largest and most luxurious hotel in Vestfold County when established. Park Hotel was built on a site that previously belonged to Sandefjord Spa. It is located next to the harbor and near the city center. It caters for conferences, business functions, and courses. Most rooms overlook the Sandefjordsfjord. The hotel houses three restaurants: Parkstuen, Kosmos, and Vinstuen. It has spa facilities, gyms, solariums, saltwater swimming pools, saunas, conference halls, and a banquet hall.
Istrehågan is an ancient monument at Jåberg on the Sandefjord-Larvik border in Vestfold og Telemark, Norway. It is home to some of the largest stone settings in the Nordic countries. Nearby Haugen farm in Sandefjord is home to Vestfold County's largest petroglyph site. The rock carvings at Haugen farm are Vestfold County's oldest ancient monument. It is an ancient burial ground which dates to the time of the Roman Iron Age around 1500-500 BCE. It is located two kilometers northwest of Hemskilen Nature Preserve in a forest known as Marumskogen.
Vestfold og Telemark is a county in Norway. The county is the southernmost part of Eastern Norway and it consists of two distinct and separate traditional regions: the former counties of Telemark and Vestfold. The capital is located at the town of Skien, which is also the county's largest city. While Skien is the seat of the county municipality, the seat of the County Governor is Tønsberg. It borders the counties of Viken, Vestland, Rogaland and Agder.
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