Hidden away among the vast selection of holiday destinations in Vestfold, charming Horten maintains its own idiosyncrasies.
Horten is situated on the western shore of the Oslo Fjord, overlooking Jeløya and Moss. From the eastern shore you can also travel to Horten using the Bastø Ferry. Bask in the salt air, watch the seagulls as they follow the boat and know that you are crossing the fjord in a historical yet convenient way. This allows you to easily turn the visit into a holiday in Horten and Moss with additional experiences and cultural influences from neighbouring towns across the water.
A weekend trip to Horten can be rich in both culture and nature. Horten has a long history as a seafaring town and the Norwegian Navy's former main shipyard, Karljohansvern juts out across the water. You will find a number of museums and collections of historical marine items at the former navy base. The Marine Museum is the armed forces' national museum for marine history and follows the Norwegian Navy through the Danish union and more modern history.
At Karljohansvern you will also find the Preus Museum, which is the national photography museum. The historical collection is enormous and the curators manage to draw parallels between the past and the present by way of interesting exhibitions. You will also find the Local History Centre at Karljohansvern, telling contemporary stories using tableaux, photographs and documents.
Horten's proximity to the sea can also be experienced in other ways, such as taking a walk along the Coastal Path stretching from Svelvik to Helgeroa. Walking from Horten to Åsgårdstrand is a journey that takes approximately two hours, but that you can very well take all day over.
Halfway between the towns, you will find Midgard Historical Centre and Borre mound cemetery. Here you will find nine burial mounds from the period 600-900 AD, more than anywhere else in the world.
It is obvious that power and culture have been drawn to Horten since time immemorial. Throughout the year, Horten offers several music festivals and is particularly good at representing alternative music scenes, such as reggae and metal. Everyone is welcome.
