Horten
Encyclopedia
is a town and municipality
in Vestfold
county
, Norway
—located along the Oslofjord
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Horten. The municipality also includes the villages of Borre, Åsgårdstrand
, Skoppum
, and Nykirke
.
The town of Horten was separated from the municipality of Borre
to become a municipality of its own in 1858. The neighboring municipalities of Borre and Horten were merged back together on 1 January 1988. The name of the new united municipality was first Borre, but after a referendum
it was changed to Horten on 1 June 2002.
The local newspaper
in Horten is named Gjengangeren
, and covers mostly local news. It is also available online (see external links section).
is from relatively modern times. They were granted on 19 November 1907. The arms were granted when Horten received city status
. The arms use the old "English"-style of shield that is divided
diagonally in a "party per bend" style with a mural crown
on top signifying its city status. The lower part of the arms show the importance of the city as a naval port
. The upper part shows a rose
as a symbol for the nature around the city.
, most major transportation arteries go to the west of Horten, and secondary roads connect the city to these routes. A ferry
line (the Bastø Ferry) across the Oslofjord
runs between Horten and Moss
in Østfold
.
The railway line Vestfoldbanen passes through the Horten municipality, but not through the main city center. Skoppum Station
is located southwest of the downtown, although several commuters prefer to use Holmestrand Station
due to better road access.
. The site provides important historical knowledge and can be seen as evidence that there was a center of power here in the Viking Age
. The excavations also uncovered an unusually good selection of craft work, much of which is on display in Oslo
at the Viking Ship Museum
. This style has become known as "Borre style" and is, today, known for its beautiful animal and knot ornaments, which were often used for decorating harnesses. The finds also confirm that there was a Viking ship buried at Borrehaugene.
The Borre mound cemetery
at Borre National Park contains graves
of kings dating back to the Migration Period
. The park covers 45 acres (182,108.7 m²) and has the largest collection of kings' graves in Scandinavia
. These burial mounds may represent North Europe’s most extensive collection of graves of the old Scandinavian Yngling
dynasty. From 1989 to 1991, new excavations were undertaken both in and around the national park
.
, which currently plays in the Norwegian 2nd Division. Another Horten team, Falk, plays 3rd division, while Borre and Holtankammeratene plays further down in the leagues.
with Horten: Hillerød, Region Hovedstaden
, Denmark
Karlskrona
, Blekinge County
, Sweden
Loviisa
, Southern Finland
, Finland
Ólafsfjörður
, Fjallabyggð
, Iceland
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
in Vestfold
Vestfold
is a county in Norway, bordering Buskerud and Telemark. The county administration is in Tønsberg.Vestfold is located west of the Oslofjord, as the name indicates. It includes many smaller, but well-known towns in Norway, such as Larvik, Sandefjord, Tønsberg and Horten. The river Numedalslågen runs...
county
Counties of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties . The counties form the primary first-level subdivisions of Norway and are further divided into 430 municipalities...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
—located along the Oslofjord
Oslofjord
The Oslofjord is a bay in the south-east of Norway, stretching from an imaginary line between the Torbjørnskjær and Færder lighthouses and down to Langesund in the south to Oslo in the north....
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Horten. The municipality also includes the villages of Borre, Åsgårdstrand
Åsgårdstrand
Åsgårdstrand is a city in Vestfold, Norway. It is also the name of a former independent municipality and a center of trade. The town is situated 10 km south of Horten, 10 km north of Tønsberg and 100 km south of Oslo by the west coast of the Oslofjord.From 2007, the town has had the...
, Skoppum
Skoppum
Skoppum is a village in the municipality of Horten, Norway. Its population is 1,633. It has a railway station on Vestfoldbanen. This station is the station nearest Horten....
, and Nykirke
Nykirke
Nykirke is a village in the municipality of Horten, Norway, located near the E18. Its population as of 2005 is 662. It has its own church, which is more than 800 years old.- Famous people :*Jørgen Jalland – footballer...
.
The town of Horten was separated from the municipality of Borre
Borre, Norway
Borre is a village in the municipality of Horten, Vestfold county, Norway. The village of Borre had provided the name of the former Borre municipality .-History:...
to become a municipality of its own in 1858. The neighboring municipalities of Borre and Horten were merged back together on 1 January 1988. The name of the new united municipality was first Borre, but after a referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
it was changed to Horten on 1 June 2002.
The local newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
in Horten is named Gjengangeren
Gjengangeren
Gjengangeren is a local newspaper published in Horten, Norway. It was established in 1851.It has a circulation of 5867, of whom 5732 are subscribers.-References:*...
, and covers mostly local news. It is also available online (see external links section).
Name
The town is named after the old Horten farm (called "Hortan" in 1552), since it is built on its ground. The name seems to be the finite form of hort m 'bulge' (but here in a weak form, Norse *horti). Several hills and mountains in Norway have the name Horten (or Horta, femininum), and here it could be referring to the hill Brårudåsen lying in the middle of the town.Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is from relatively modern times. They were granted on 19 November 1907. The arms were granted when Horten received city status
Town privileges
Town privileges or city rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium.Judicially, a town was distinguished from the surrounding land by means of a charter from the ruling monarch that defined its privileges and laws. Common privileges were related to trading...
. The arms use the old "English"-style of shield that is divided
Division of the field
In heraldry, the field of a shield can be divided into more than one area of different tinctures, usually following the lines of one of the ordinaries and carrying its name...
diagonally in a "party per bend" style with a mural crown
Mural crown
-Usage in ancient times:In Hellenistic culture, a mural crown identified the goddess Tyche, the embodiment of the fortune of a city, familiar to Romans as Fortuna...
on top signifying its city status. The lower part of the arms show the importance of the city as a naval port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
. The upper part shows a rose
Rose
A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
as a symbol for the nature around the city.
Transportation
Being located out on a peninsulaHeadland
A headland is a point of land, usually high and often with a sheer drop, that extends out into a body of water.Headland can also refer to:*Headlands and bays*headLand, an Australian television series...
, most major transportation arteries go to the west of Horten, and secondary roads connect the city to these routes. A ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
line (the Bastø Ferry) across the Oslofjord
Oslofjord
The Oslofjord is a bay in the south-east of Norway, stretching from an imaginary line between the Torbjørnskjær and Færder lighthouses and down to Langesund in the south to Oslo in the north....
runs between Horten and Moss
Moss, Norway
is a coastal city and a municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Moss. The city of Moss was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
in Østfold
Østfold
is a county in southeastern Norway, bordering Akershus and southwestern Sweden , while Buskerud and Vestfold is on the other side of the bay. The seat of the county administration is Sarpsborg, and Fredrikstad is the largest city.Many manufacturing facilities are situated here. Moss and...
.
The railway line Vestfoldbanen passes through the Horten municipality, but not through the main city center. Skoppum Station
Skoppum Station
Skoppum Station is a railway station on Vestfoldbanen in the village of Skoppum, in Horten, Norway. The station is served with InterCity Express trains operated by Norges Statsbaner. The station was built as part of Vestfoldbanen in 1881. There is a connecting bus service to Horten .-External...
is located southwest of the downtown, although several commuters prefer to use Holmestrand Station
Holmestrand Station
Holmestrand Station is a railway station on Vestfoldbanen located in the town of Holmestrand in Vestfold, Norway.The station was opened in 1881 with the opening of the railway line. It is located 86.09 km from Oslo Central Station...
due to better road access.
Borrehaugene
Borrehaugene (from Borre, the name of a local village and haugene from the old Norse Word haugr meaning mound) was the first national park to be founded in Norway. Borre National Park is situated between Horten and ÅsgårdstrandÅsgårdstrand
Åsgårdstrand is a city in Vestfold, Norway. It is also the name of a former independent municipality and a center of trade. The town is situated 10 km south of Horten, 10 km north of Tønsberg and 100 km south of Oslo by the west coast of the Oslofjord.From 2007, the town has had the...
. The site provides important historical knowledge and can be seen as evidence that there was a center of power here in the Viking Age
Viking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
. The excavations also uncovered an unusually good selection of craft work, much of which is on display in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
at the Viking Ship Museum
Viking Ship Museum in Oslo
The Viking Ship Museum is located at Bygdøy in Oslo, Norway. It is part of the Museum of Cultural History of the University of Oslo, and houses archaeological finds from Tune, Gokstad , Oseberg and the Borre mound cemetery.-Attractions:The main attractions at the Viking Ship Museum are the ...
. This style has become known as "Borre style" and is, today, known for its beautiful animal and knot ornaments, which were often used for decorating harnesses. The finds also confirm that there was a Viking ship buried at Borrehaugene.
The Borre mound cemetery
Borre mound cemetery
Borre mound cemetery forms part of the in Horten, Vestfold, Norway....
at Borre National Park contains graves
Grave (burial)
A grave is a location where a dead body is buried. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of burial, such as graveyards or cemeteries....
of kings dating back to the Migration Period
Migration Period
The Migration Period, also called the Barbarian Invasions , was a period of intensified human migration in Europe that occurred from c. 400 to 800 CE. This period marked the transition from Late Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages...
. The park covers 45 acres (182,108.7 m²) and has the largest collection of kings' graves in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
. These burial mounds may represent North Europe’s most extensive collection of graves of the old Scandinavian Yngling
Yngling
The Ynglings were the oldest known Scandinavian dynasty. It can refer to the clans of the Scylfings , the semi-legendary royal Swedish clan during the Age of Migrations, with kings such as Eadgils, Onela and Ohthere...
dynasty. From 1989 to 1991, new excavations were undertaken both in and around the national park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
.
Other Attractions
- Marinemuseet, the Royal Norwegian Navy MuseumRoyal Norwegian Navy MuseumThe Royal Norwegian Navy Museum is a museum documenting the history of the Royal Norwegian Navy. It is located at the former main naval base of Karljohansvern in Horten. The museum was founded by C.F. Klinck on 24 August 1853...
, is the oldest existing museum of its kind in the world, founded in 1853. At the Royal Norwegian Navy Museum you can find many ships, including HNoMS Rap, the world's first torpedo boatTorpedo boatA torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
from 1873.
- Preus Fotomuseum, The Norwegian Museum of PhotographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
, is a unique museum located in the same building as the naval museum.
- The Naval Base - Horten has a naval baseMilitary baseA military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. In general, a military base provides accommodations for one or more units, but it may also be used as a...
named KarljohansvernKarljohansvernKarjohansvern in Horten was the main base for the Royal Norwegian Navy from 1819 to 1963.It was first called Hortens verft, and later Marinens Hovedværft until King Oscar I named it Carljohansværn værft in 1854...
. Activity there in the recent years have been decreasing and parts of the area have now been opened to the public, including some nice beachBeachA beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
es. Both the museum of photography and the navy museum are located close to the naval base.
- The Royal Norwegian NavyRoyal Norwegian NavyThe Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support...
Band is a military bandMilitary bandA military band originally was a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...
ranked among the best in EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
has its home base on Karljohansvern in Horten.
- Horten Bilmuseum, the classic carClassic carA classic car is an older car; the exact meaning is variable. The Classic Car Club of America maintains that a car must be between 20 and 40 years old to be a classic, while cars over 45 years fall into the Antique Class.- Classic Car Club of America :...
museum, houses a variety of classic cars ranging from 1900 to the 1970s. One of Norway's largest model railways is also on display in the museum. It is open every day during summer, Sundays only from the middle of August to the middle of June.
- Borre GolfbaneBorre GolfbaneBorre Golfbane was opened with nine holes in 1990 and 18 holes the following year. In 2005 the course opened nine new holes, which were added to the first nine along lake Borrevannet....
is a golf courseGolf courseA golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
has hosted two Challenge TourChallenge TourThe Challenge Tour is the second tier men's professional golf tour in Europe. It is operated by the PGA European Tour and as with on the main European Tour and the European Seniors Tour, some of the events are played outside of Europe...
events (1994 and 1998) and was in 2005 extended to 27 holes of full length (par 72 + par 36). The first Challenge Tour event in 1994 was the first professional golf tournament on Norwegian soil. The 18-hole course runs along the beautiful lake Borrevannet and some of the holes have a spectacular view over the lake.
- Lake Borrevannet is home to a national bird sanctuary where 255 different bird species have been observed (2003 numbers). 110 species have been confirmed using the lake as their nesting place.
- L'Esprit d'Edvard MunchEdvard MunchEdvard Munch was a Norwegian Symbolist painter, printmaker and an important forerunner of expressionist art. His best-known composition, The Scream, is part of a series The Frieze of Life, in which Munch explored the themes of love, fear, death, melancholia, and anxiety.- Childhood :Edvard Munch...
is the northernmostThe world's most northernThis is a list of various northernmost things on earth.- Cities and settlements :See also: Northernmost settlements, Northernmost cities and towns-Geography:-Animals:-General:-Shrubs:-Trees:-Culture and music:-Sport :- Religion :...
vineyardVineyardA vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
of the world, operating in Horten.
- ÅsgårdstrandÅsgårdstrandÅsgårdstrand is a city in Vestfold, Norway. It is also the name of a former independent municipality and a center of trade. The town is situated 10 km south of Horten, 10 km north of Tønsberg and 100 km south of Oslo by the west coast of the Oslofjord.From 2007, the town has had the...
, in the southern part of the municipality, is a sight of its own. It's a small, white-painted ocean town that is best known for its great painters (like the afore mentioned Edvard MunchEdvard MunchEdvard Munch was a Norwegian Symbolist painter, printmaker and an important forerunner of expressionist art. His best-known composition, The Scream, is part of a series The Frieze of Life, in which Munch explored the themes of love, fear, death, melancholia, and anxiety.- Childhood :Edvard Munch...
) and its beaches.
Sports
Horten has several football clubs. The most successful and well known is FK Ørn-HortenFK Ørn-Horten
Ørn-Horten, formerly Ørn fotballklubb, abbreviated Ørn FK, popularly known as De brune or Ørnane, was founded on 4 May 1904, and Horten's largest football club. It played in the main series in 1950 - and 60-century...
, which currently plays in the Norwegian 2nd Division. Another Horten team, Falk, plays 3rd division, while Borre and Holtankammeratene plays further down in the leagues.
Twin towns — Sister cities
The following cities are twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with Horten: Hillerød, Region Hovedstaden
Region Hovedstaden
The Capital Region of Denmark is an administrative region of Denmark established on January 1, 2007 as part of the 2007 Danish Municipal Reform, which replaced the traditional counties with five larger regions. At the same time, smaller municipalities were merged into larger units, cutting the...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
Karlskrona
Karlskrona Municipality
Karlskrona Municipality is a municipality in Blekinge County, southern Sweden. It borders to Emmaboda Municipality, Torsås Municipality and Ronneby Municipality...
, Blekinge County
Blekinge County
Blekinge County is a county or län in the south of Sweden. It borders the Counties of Skåne, Kronoberg, Kalmar and the Baltic Sea. The capital is Karlskrona...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Loviisa
Loviisa
Loviisa is a municipality and town of inhabitants on the southern coast of Finland. About 43 per cent of the population is Swedish-speaking.The municipality covers an area of of which is water...
, Southern Finland
Southern Finland
Southern Finland was a province of Finland from 1997 to 2010. It bordered the provinces of Western Finland and Eastern Finland. It also bordered the Gulf of Finland and Russia.- History :...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
Ólafsfjörður
Ólafsfjörður
Ólafsfjörður is a town in the northeast of Iceland located at the mouth of the fjord Eyjafjörður.The town is connected to Eyjafjordur via a 3.5 km one-lane tunnel...
, Fjallabyggð
Fjallabyggð
Fjallabyggð is a municipality located in northern Iceland.As of 1 January 2011, it had a total population of 2,030. The total area is 364 km², making it one of the rather smaller municipalities in area in the country....
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
External links
- Municipal fact sheet from Statistics NorwayStatistics NorwayStatistics Norway is the Norwegian statistics bureau. It was established in 1876.Relying on a staff of about 1,000, Statistics Norway publish about 1,000 new statistical releases every year on its web site. All releases are published both in Norwegian and English...
- The Naval Museum
- Museum of Photography
- Local History Museum
- VisitHorten.com
- Gjengangeren - the local newspaper of Horten
- Horten bilmuseum (the classic car museum)
- Borre Golfbane (Borre Golf Course)