Tønsberg
Encyclopedia
is a city and municipality
in Vestfold
county
, southern Norway
, located around 25 km (15.53 mi) north-east of Sandefjord
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tønsberg.
The city of Tønsberg was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
). The rural municipality of Sem
was merged into the municipality of Tønsberg on 1 January 1988.
The population of the entire urban area
, regardless of municipality borders, and following the guidelines set by Statistics Norway
, was 46,862 on 1 January 2008, making Tønsberg the tenth
most populous urban area in Norway. Tønsberg is generally regarded as the oldest town in Norway.
form of the name was Túnsberg. The first element is the genitive case
of tún (n
), meaning fenced area or garden. The last element is berg (n), meaning mountain
. The name originally referred to the fortifications on Slottsfjellet
. The old spelling has been retained in the name of the diocese
, Tunsberg bispedømme
.
is an old city seal from as far back as 1349. The seal shows Tønsberg Fortress surrounded by a ring wall on a mountain with the sea in front. There is also a longship
in the water in front of the fortress. Around the seal are the words (in Latin): This is the seal of Tunsberg.
, Tønsberg was founded before the Battle of Hafrsfjord
, which, according to Snorri, took place in 871. What year the battle took place is disputed, however, and most current historians believe the battle took place closer to 900. However, if the battle did in fact take place in 871, this would make Tønsberg the oldest present Scandinavia
n city. It was based upon this that the city's 1000 years jubilee was celebrated in 1871, and 1100 years jubilee in 1971. The archaeological excavations conducted in 1987-88 underneath the monastery ruins revealed several Viking graves which have served to confirm the earlier age of the original settlement.
The king or his ombudsman resided in the old Royal Court at Sæheimr, today the Jarlsberg Estate
(Jarlsberg Hovedgård), and on the farm Haugar, (from the Old Norse
word haugr meaning hill or burial mound), which can be assumed to have been Tønsberg's birthplace. Haugar became the seat for Haugathing, the Thing
for Vestfold and Norway's second most important place for the proclamation of kings. The site had probably been named after two Viking Era mound, which tradition links to two sons of King Harald I, Olaf Haraldsson Geirstadalf
, who was king in Vestfold
, and his half-brother, Sigrød Haraldsson, king of Trondheim
. Both are presumed to have fallen in battle at Haugar against their half-brother Eric Bloodaxe
and to have been buried on the same spot.
Slottsfjellet (Castle Mountain), north of the city centre, made for a near impregnable natural fortress. During the civil war era
of the 12th century, it was fortified by the Bagler
s. The Birkebeiner
s besieged it for 20 weeks in the winter of 1201 before the Bagler
s surrendered. In the 13th century, King Haakon Haakonson
set up a castle in Tønsberg, Tønsberg Fortress
. The town was destroyed by fire in 1536, but Tønsberg remained one of the most important harbour towns in Norway.
During the German
occupation of Norway
in World War II
, the Berg concentration camp
was constructed near Tønsberg. In 1948, Tønsberg became the cathedral city of the Diocese of Tunsberg
(Tunsberg bispedømme), created when the counties of Buskerud
and Vestfold
were separated from the Diocese of Oslo
.
Perhaps the most important landmark in the town is Slottsfjellet, the tower standing on the hill. It was erected in 1888 as a memorial to Tønsberg Fortress
(Tunsberg festning), the old fortress, of which just fragmentary ruins remain today. Several streets in the town are named after old kings of Norway.
Other notable tourist sites include:
Tønsberg is the site of Oseberghaugen, a Viking era burial mound. The Oseberg ship was found in the Oseberg burial mound in 1904. This Viking era longship
is now in the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo
. Archaeological excavations in 1904 uncovered history's largest and richest example of craftmanship from the Viking Age. In addition to the Oseberg ship, Oseberghaugen contained the Oseberg carriage, five beautifully carved bed-posts shaped like animal heads, four sledges, beds, chests, weaving-frames, household utensils and much more. Scientific examinations in 1992 now date the burial to 834 AD, and indicate a probability that it was Queen Alvhild, the first wife of King Gudrød
, who was buried here.
s, paper mill
s, leather processing
, and breweries
. It is noted especially for its silverware
. The city is served by the railway line Vestfoldbanen, which runs in a loop through the city before reaching Tønsberg Station
.
municipality. The urban area extends from Eik in the north, to Tolvsrød, Vallø and Ringshaug in the east and Borgheim
on Nøtterøy in the south. Tønsberg municipality contains four additional urban areas: Sem
, with 2,147 inhabitants of which 2,100 live in Tønsberg and 47 live in Stokke
; Barkåker
, with 1,292 inhabitants; Åsgårdstrand
, with 2,847 inhabitants of which 2,794 in Horten
and 53 in Tønsberg; and Vear
, with a population of 3,502 of which 2,263 live in Stokke and 1,239 live in Tønsberg.
with Tønsberg:
Covarrubias, Spain
Évora
, Portugal
Ísafjörður
, Iceland
Joensuu
, Finland
Lamia
, Greece
Linköping
, Sweden
Ravenna
, Italy
Speyer
, Germany
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...
, southern 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 around 25 km (15.53 mi) north-east of Sandefjord
Sandefjord
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Sandefjord. The municipality of Sandefjord was established on 1 January 1838...
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tønsberg.
The city of Tønsberg was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt was the name for a Norwegian local self-government districts put into force in 1838. This system of municipality was created in a bill approved by the Storting and signed into law by King Carl Johan on 14 January 1837...
). The rural municipality of Sem
Sem, Norway
Sem is a village in Tønsberg in Vestfold county, Norway.Sem was a former municipality in Vestfold. The parish of Sæm was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . According to the 1835 census the municipality had a population of 3,590. On 1 January 1965 the district Stang with 126...
was merged into the municipality of Tønsberg on 1 January 1988.
The population of the entire urban area
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
, regardless of municipality borders, and following the guidelines set by Statistics Norway
Statistics Norway
Statistics 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...
, was 46,862 on 1 January 2008, making Tønsberg the tenth
Largest urban areas of Norway
This is a list of the largest urban areas of Norway by population.The population is measured by Statistics Norway. The statistics bureau uses the term tettsted , which is defined as a contiguous built-up area with a maximum distance of 50 m between houses unless a greater distance is caused by...
most populous urban area in Norway. Tønsberg is generally regarded as the oldest town in Norway.
Name
The Old NorseOld Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
form of the name was Túnsberg. The first element is the genitive case
Genitive case
In grammar, genitive is the grammatical case that marks a noun as modifying another noun...
of tún (n
Grammatical gender
Grammatical gender is defined linguistically as a system of classes of nouns which trigger specific types of inflections in associated words, such as adjectives, verbs and others. For a system of noun classes to be a gender system, every noun must belong to one of the classes and there should be...
), meaning fenced area or garden. The last element is berg (n), meaning mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
. The name originally referred to the fortifications on Slottsfjellet
Tønsberg Fortress
Tønsberg Fortress was a medieval fortress, located in Tønsberg, Norway which was defended by the fortress for over 300 years.-History:...
. The old spelling has been retained in the name of the diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
, Tunsberg bispedømme
Diocese of Tunsberg
Tunsberg is a diocese of the Church of Norway. It includes parishes located within the counties of Vestfold and Buskerud, with the cathedral city located in Tønsberg.-History:...
.
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 an old city seal from as far back as 1349. The seal shows Tønsberg Fortress surrounded by a ring wall on a mountain with the sea in front. There is also a longship
Longship
Longships were sea vessels made and used by the Vikings from the Nordic countries for trade, commerce, exploration, and warfare during the Viking Age. The longship’s design evolved over many years, beginning in the Stone Age with the invention of the umiak and continuing up to the 9th century with...
in the water in front of the fortress. Around the seal are the words (in Latin): This is the seal of Tunsberg.
History
The first time the town was mentioned by a contemporary writer was in the year 1130. According to Snorri SturlusonSnorri Sturluson
Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing...
, Tønsberg was founded before the Battle of Hafrsfjord
Battle of Hafrsfjord
The Battle of Hafrsfjord has traditionally been regarded as the battle in which western Norway for the first time was unified under one monarch.The national monument of Haraldshaugen was raised in 1872, to commemorate the Battle of Hafrsfjord...
, which, according to Snorri, took place in 871. What year the battle took place is disputed, however, and most current historians believe the battle took place closer to 900. However, if the battle did in fact take place in 871, this would make Tønsberg the oldest present 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,...
n city. It was based upon this that the city's 1000 years jubilee was celebrated in 1871, and 1100 years jubilee in 1971. The archaeological excavations conducted in 1987-88 underneath the monastery ruins revealed several Viking graves which have served to confirm the earlier age of the original settlement.
The king or his ombudsman resided in the old Royal Court at Sæheimr, today the Jarlsberg Estate
(Jarlsberg Hovedgård), and on the farm Haugar, (from the Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
word haugr meaning hill or burial mound), which can be assumed to have been Tønsberg's birthplace. Haugar became the seat for Haugathing, the Thing
Thing (assembly)
A thing was the governing assembly in Germanic and introduced into some Celtic societies, made up of the free people of the community and presided by lawspeakers, meeting in a place called a thingstead...
for Vestfold and Norway's second most important place for the proclamation of kings. The site had probably been named after two Viking Era mound, which tradition links to two sons of King Harald I, Olaf Haraldsson Geirstadalf
Olaf Haraldsson Geirstadalf
Olaf Haraldsson , was a reputed son of King Harald Fairhair of Norway with Svanhild Øysteinsdotter, daughter of Øystein Jarl.The saga Heimskringla, written in Iceland in the thirteenth century by the poet and historian Snorri Sturluson, gives the ninth century Norwegian founder king Harald Fairhair...
, who was king 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...
, and his half-brother, Sigrød Haraldsson, king of Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
. Both are presumed to have fallen in battle at Haugar against their half-brother Eric Bloodaxe
Eric Bloodaxe
Eric Haraldsson , nicknamed ‘Bloodaxe’ , was a 10th-century Scandinavian ruler. He is thought to have had short-lived terms as the second king of Norway and possibly as the last independent ruler of the kingdom of Northumbria Eric Haraldsson (Eric, anglicised form of ; died 954), nicknamed...
and to have been buried on the same spot.
Slottsfjellet (Castle Mountain), north of the city centre, made for a near impregnable natural fortress. During the civil war era
Civil war era in Norway
The Civil war era of Norwegian history is a term used for the period in the history of Norway between 1130 and 1240. During this time, a series of civil wars were fought between rival kings and pretenders to the throne of Norway. The reasons for the wars is one of the most debated topics in...
of the 12th century, it was fortified by the Bagler
Bagler
The Bagli Party or Bagler was a faction or party during the Norwegian Civil Wars. The Bagler faction was made up principally of the Norwegian aristocracy, clergy and merchants....
s. The Birkebeiner
Birkebeiner
The Birkebein Party or Birkebeinar was the name for a rebellious party in Norway, formed in 1174 around the pretender to the Norwegian throne, Eystein Meyla...
s besieged it for 20 weeks in the winter of 1201 before the Bagler
Bagler
The Bagli Party or Bagler was a faction or party during the Norwegian Civil Wars. The Bagler faction was made up principally of the Norwegian aristocracy, clergy and merchants....
s surrendered. In the 13th century, King Haakon Haakonson
Haakon IV of Norway
Haakon Haakonarson , also called Haakon the Old, was king of Norway from 1217 to 1263. Under his rule, medieval Norway reached its peak....
set up a castle in Tønsberg, Tønsberg Fortress
Tønsberg Fortress
Tønsberg Fortress was a medieval fortress, located in Tønsberg, Norway which was defended by the fortress for over 300 years.-History:...
. The town was destroyed by fire in 1536, but Tønsberg remained one of the most important harbour towns in Norway.
During the German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
occupation of Norway
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Berg concentration camp
Berg concentration camp
Berg was a concentration camp near Tønsberg in Norway that served as an internment and transit center for political prisoners and Jews during the Nazi occupation of Norway.-Establishment:...
was constructed near Tønsberg. In 1948, Tønsberg became the cathedral city of the Diocese of Tunsberg
Diocese of Tunsberg
Tunsberg is a diocese of the Church of Norway. It includes parishes located within the counties of Vestfold and Buskerud, with the cathedral city located in Tønsberg.-History:...
(Tunsberg bispedømme), created when the counties of Buskerud
Buskerud
is a county in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark, and Vestfold. The county administration is located in Drammen.-Geography:...
and 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...
were separated from the Diocese of Oslo
Diocese of Oslo
Oslo bishopric is The Church of Norway's bishopric for the municipalities of Oslo, Asker and Bærum. It is one of Norway's five traditional bishoprics and was founded around the year 1070.-History:...
.
Tourist sites
Tønsberg Fortress
Tønsberg Fortress was a medieval fortress, located in Tønsberg, Norway which was defended by the fortress for over 300 years.-History:...
(Tunsberg festning), the old fortress, of which just fragmentary ruins remain today. Several streets in the town are named after old kings of Norway.
Other notable tourist sites include:
- Haugar Art Museum (Haugar Vestfold Kunstmuseum) - located in the former Seamen's School in the middle of Tønsberg, the brick building was built 1918-21. The museum was established in 1993 as a foundation created by Vestfold county and municipality of Tønsberg. The museum is a division in Vestfold County Museum Authority. Haugar Vestfold Art Museum is located in the parkland between the site of the ancient assembly of Haugating and the two Viking era mounds.
- Foynegården - the city's best-preserved merchant's yard. Foynegården is the site of a patrician houses from the 1700s where Svend FoynSvend FoynSvend Foyn was a Norwegian whaling and shipping magnate who pioneered revolutionary methods for hunting and processing whales. Svend Foyn introduced the modern harpoon gun and brought whaling into a modern age....
was born in 1809. - Ruins of St. Olav's Church (Olavskirken) - Former monastery founded in the year 1191, located near the current Tønsberg Library.
- Sem Church (Sem kirke) - Vestfold's oldest stone church built before 1100 in the Romanesque style, located near the Jarlsberg Estate
- Tønsberg Cathedral (Tønsberg domkirke) – Brick church from 1858 with pulpit from 1621 and an altarpiece from 1764.
Oseberghaugen
Longship
Longships were sea vessels made and used by the Vikings from the Nordic countries for trade, commerce, exploration, and warfare during the Viking Age. The longship’s design evolved over many years, beginning in the Stone Age with the invention of the umiak and continuing up to the 9th century with...
is now in the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo
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 ...
. Archaeological excavations in 1904 uncovered history's largest and richest example of craftmanship from the Viking Age. In addition to the Oseberg ship, Oseberghaugen contained the Oseberg carriage, five beautifully carved bed-posts shaped like animal heads, four sledges, beds, chests, weaving-frames, household utensils and much more. Scientific examinations in 1992 now date the burial to 834 AD, and indicate a probability that it was Queen Alvhild, the first wife of King Gudrød
Gudrød the Hunter
Gudrød the Hunter was a semi-legendary king in Vingulmark in south-east Norway, during the early Viking Age from 804 until 810...
, who was buried here.
Economy
Tønsberg is still an industrial and maritime centre, with such diverse concerns as metal shops, shipyardShipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
s, paper mill
Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
s, leather processing
Liming (leather processing)
In Liming for parchment or leather processing, the hides are soaked in an alkali solution by a drum/paddle or pit-based operation where four main objectives are met...
, and breweries
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
. It is noted especially for its silverware
Silver (household)
Household silver or silverware includes dishware, cutlery and other household items made of sterling, Britannia or Sheffield plate silver. The term is often extended to items made of stainless steel...
. The city is served by the railway line Vestfoldbanen, which runs in a loop through the city before reaching Tønsberg Station
Tønsberg Station
Tønsberg Station on the Vestfold Line, is the main railway station in the town of Tønsberg in Vestfold, Norway. The station is located in the downtown area, to the east of the hill Slottsfjellet. It is located at an altitude of above mean sea level, and is from Oslo Central Station...
.
Population
On 1 January 2009, the population of Tønsberg municipality was 38,914. The population of the urban area, Norway's tenth most populous, was 46,091. 30,061 lived in Tønsberg municipality, while 16,030 lived in NøtterøyNøtterøy
Nøtterøy is a municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Borgheim.The parish of Nøtterø was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
municipality. The urban area extends from Eik in the north, to Tolvsrød, Vallø and Ringshaug in the east and Borgheim
Borgheim
Borgheim is the administrative centre of the municipality Nøtterøy outside Tønsberg, Norway. The village is located in the middle of the island....
on Nøtterøy in the south. Tønsberg municipality contains four additional urban areas: Sem
Sem, Norway
Sem is a village in Tønsberg in Vestfold county, Norway.Sem was a former municipality in Vestfold. The parish of Sæm was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . According to the 1835 census the municipality had a population of 3,590. On 1 January 1965 the district Stang with 126...
, with 2,147 inhabitants of which 2,100 live in Tønsberg and 47 live in Stokke
Stokke
Stokke is a municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Stokke.-Background:The municipality of Stokke was established on 1 January 1838...
; Barkåker
Barkåker
Barkåker is a village in the municipality of Tønsberg, Norway. Its population is 1,374....
, with 1,292 inhabitants; 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...
, with 2,847 inhabitants of which 2,794 in Horten
Horten
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....
and 53 in Tønsberg; and Vear
Vear
Vear is a village in Vestfold, Norway, located in the municipalities of Stokke and Tønsberg. Of its population of 3,520, 1,256 reside in Tønsberg and 2,264 in Stokke....
, with a population of 3,502 of which 2,263 live in Stokke and 1,239 live in Tønsberg.
Notable residents
- Hjalmar AndersenHjalmar AndersenHjalmar "Hjallis" Johan Andersen is a former speed skater from Norway who won three gold medals at the 1952 Winter Olympic Games of Oslo, Norway. He was the only triple gold medalist at the 1952 Winter Olympics, and as such, became the most successful athlete there.-Short biography:Hjalmar...
, three time European (1950–1952) and World champion (1950–1952) as well as 1952 Winter Olympics1952 Winter OlympicsThe 1952 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VI Olympic Winter Games, took place in Oslo, Norway, from 14 to 25 February 1952. Discussions about Oslo hosting the Winter Olympic Games began as early as 1935; the city wanted to host the 1948 Games, but World War II made that impossible...
champion in speedskatingLong track speed skatingSpeed skating is an Olympic sport where competitors are timed while crossing a set distance. It is also a sport for leisure. Sports such as short track speedskating, inline speedskating, and quad speed skating are also called speed skating... - Anders AuklandAnders AuklandAnders Aukland is a professional Norwegian cross-country skier who has won both Olympic and World Championship gold medals. He lives in Oslo....
, the six-time winner of the world championship in cross-country skiingCross-country skiingCross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
, was born in the HusvikHusvik, TønsbergHusvik is a populated area located east of the city of Tønsberg, south of Klopp and Vallø in Norway....
area in Tønsberg in 1972. - Odd BørretzenOdd BørretzenOdd Lunde Børretzen is a Norwegian author, illustrator, translator, and vocalist.- Biography :He was born in Fister in the Hjelmeland municipality as the son of a preacher...
, a Norwegian writerWriterA writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and artist lives outside Tønsberg. - Ronny JohnsenRonny JohnsenJean Ronny Johnsen is a former Norwegian football player. He played as a centre back or defensive midfielder, but was often sidelined because of his many injuries.-Career:...
, professional footballer (Manchester United), lives in Tønsberg - Lise Karlsnes, a Norwegian singer from the band BriskebyBriskebyBriskeby is an electro-pop band from Norway. Bjørn Bergene, Claus Heiberg Larsen and Bård Helgeland are from Larvik, while Lise Karlsnes is from Tønsberg.-Band name:The band's name is derived from the neighbourhood where their rehearsal room was located....
- Lene Nystrøm, singer of AquaAqua (band)Aqua is a Danish dance-pop group, best known for their 1997 breakthrough single "Barbie Girl". The group formed in 1989 and achieved huge success across the globe in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The group managed to top the UK Singles Chart with their first three singles. The group released two...
, was born here. - Marion RavenMarion RavenMarion Elise Ravn, born 25 May 1984 in Lørenskog, Norway, is a Norwegian singer-songwriter, and former child actress. Her surname is of Norse origin, with Ravn meaning Raven, which she adopted as her stage name Marion Raven as well as her trademark raven logo. She was one-half of the now defunct...
, a Norwegian singer, lived outside Tønsberg with her parents - DJ Ravi (Ivar Johansen)Ravi (Ivar Johansen)Ivar Christian Johansen is a Norwegian popular musician under the pseudonym Ravi . He writes songs with Anders Løvlie under the name Ravi og DJ Løv....
is born and raised in the town. - SeigmenSeigmenSeigmen was a Norwegian alternative rock band in the 1990s. The bandname is derived from a Norwegian brand of candies, "Seigmenn". The band went from a hard-edged grunge-like style to a more dynamic sound with more ambient parts and use of synthesizers and various audio-effects.-Members:* Kim...
, a Norwegian alternative rock band, comes from Tønsberg. - Jahn TeigenJahn TeigenJahn Teigen is a Norwegian singer and musician. Jahn received a knighthood from H.M. King Harald V. He represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest three times, in 1978, 1982 and 1983. His given name was Jan, he added the silent H later. Since October 2006 he has been living in Sweden...
, the lead singer of Popol Ace (formerly Popol Vuh)Popol Vuh (Norwegian band)Popol Vuh, later known as Popol Ace, was a 1970s Norwegian progressive rock band, that became popular in the 1970s Norwegian rock scene with such songs as "All We Have Is the Past", "Queen of all Queens" and "Music Box"....
, came from Tønsberg. - Magnus CarlsenMagnus CarlsenSven Magnus Øen Carlsen is a Norwegian chess Grandmaster and chess prodigy who is currently the number-one ranked player in the world. In January 2010 he became the seventh player ranked number one in the world on the official FIDE rating list...
, world blitz champion in chess, was born in Tønsberg.
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 Tønsberg:
Covarrubias, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Évora
Évora
Évora is a municipality in Portugal. It has total area of with a population of 55,619 inhabitants. It is the seat of the Évora District and capital of the Alentejo region. The municipality is composed of 19 civil parishes, and is located in Évora District....
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
Ísafjörður
Ísafjörður
Ísafjörður is a town in the north west of Iceland, seat of Ísafjarðarbær municipality.The town draws its name from the fjord and the fjord was given its name simultaneously to the island...
, 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...
Joensuu
Joensuu
Joensuu is a city and municipality in North Karelia in eastern Finland. It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of North Karelia region. It was founded in 1848...
, 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...
Lamia
Lamia (city)
Lamia is a city in central Greece. The city has a continuous history since antiquity, and is today the capital of the regional unit of Phthiotis and of the Central Greece region .-Name:...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
Linköping
Linköping
Linköping is a city in southern middle Sweden, with 104 232 inhabitants in 2010. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality with 146 736 inhabitants and the capital of Östergötland County...
, 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....
Ravenna
Ravenna
Ravenna is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and the second largest comune in Italy by land area, although, at , it is little more than half the size of the largest comune, Rome...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Speyer
Speyer
Speyer is a city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany with approximately 50,000 inhabitants. Located beside the river Rhine, Speyer is 25 km south of Ludwigshafen and Mannheim. Founded by the Romans, it is one of Germany's oldest cities...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
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...
- Municipality website
- Tønsberg Navigasjonsskole
- Haugar Art Museum