Larvik () is a

town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares an ori ...

and

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

Vestfold Vestfold 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 t ...

Vestfold og Telemark Vestfold og Telemark (; ) is a county under disestablishment in Norway. The county is the southernmost one of Eastern Norway and consists of two distinct and separate traditional regions: the former counties of Telemark and (most of) Vestfold ...

county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposes Chambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...

. 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 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 ...

. The city achieved market town status in 1671. Larvik was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). The city of Stavern, and the rural municipalities of

Brunlanes Brunlanes is a parish and former municipality within Larvik municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. It was annexed by Larvik on January 1, 1988. The administrative centre of the municipality was located in the adjacent villages of Nevlunghavn ...

, Hedrum, and

Tjølling Tjølling is a former municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. Tjølling was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). Together with Brunlanes, Stavern and Hedrum, it was merged into Larvik on January 1, 1988. Tjøl ...

were forcefully merged into the municipality of Larvik on 1 January 1988. On 1 January 2018, neighboring Lardal was merged into Larvik as part of a nationwide municipal reform. After the merge, Larvik is the largest municipality in Vestfold by area, and the second-most populous municipality in the Vestfold district. Larvik is known as the hometown of

Thor Heyerdahl Thor Heyerdahl KStJ (; 6 October 1914 – 18 April 2002) was a Norwegian adventurer and ethnographer with a background in zoology, botany and geography. Heyerdahl is notable for his ''Kon-Tiki'' expedition in 1947, in which he sailed 8,000& ...

. 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.

Farris Bad Farris is a 20 km long fresh water moraine-dammed lake near the Norwegian coastal town Larvik. The lake would have been a salt water fjord had it not been dammed by an end moraine left by the latest ice age An ice age is a long perio ...

has been described as one of the best spas in

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...

. It has the largest spa department in Scandinavia. Larvik has a daily ferry connection to

Hirtshals Hirtshals is a town and seaport on the coast of Skagerrak on the island of Vendsyssel-Thy at the top of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark, Europe. It is located in Hjørring municipality in Region Nordjylland. The town of Hirtshals has a p ...

, Denmark. Istrehågan,_Tjølling_(14550732106)

Etymology

The Norse form of the name must have been ''Lagarvík''. The first element is the genitive case of ''lǫgr'' m '

water Water (chemical formula ) is an Inorganic compound, inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and Color of water, nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living ...

;

river A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of w ...

' (now called

Numedalslågen Numedalslågen is a river located in the counties of Vestfold and Telemark and Viken in southeastern Norway. It is one of the longest rivers in Norway. Location Numedalslågen stretches for over through the counties of Vestfold and Telemark and ...

River). The second element is ''vík'' f '

cove A cove is a small type of bay or coastal inlet. Coves usually have narrow, restricted entrances, are often circular or oval, and are often situated within a larger bay. Small, narrow, sheltered bays, inlets, creeks, or recesses in a coast are o ...

, 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"''.

Coat of arms

The

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its ...

is from onl
2017
It is blue, with silver drops to represent waterways, harbour and growth for which the municipality is known.

History

Helgeroa_-_no-nb_digifoto_20151126_00250_NB_MIT_FNR_13928

Various remains from the Stone Age have been discovered in Larvik, for instance by Torpevannet by

Helgeroa 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 N ...

village. Raet goes through all of Vestfold County before peaking out of the ocean in

Mølen 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 popula ...

. Ancient peoples have carried rocks from Raet and constructed vast numbers of burial mounds at Mølen. During the

Roman Iron Age The archaeology of Northern Europe studies the prehistory of Scandinavia and the adjacent North European Plain, roughly corresponding to the territories of modern Sweden, Norway, Denmark, northern Germany, Poland and the Netherlands. The regi ...

, ancient peoples erected a stone monument resembling a ship at

Istrehågan Istrehågan is an ancient monument at Jåberg on the Sandefjord-Larvik border in Vestfold og Telemark, Norway.Jøranlid, Marianne (1996). ''40 trivelige turer i Sandefjord og omegn''. Vett Viten. Page 123. .Davidsen, Roger (2008). ''Et Sted i Sande ...

, one of Norway's greatest remains ("oldtidsminne") from prehistoric times. Immediately across the

border by Istrehågan is Haugen farm, which is the largest petroglyph site in Vestfold County. 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. Skiringssal has remains from the oldest town yet discovered in the Nordic countries, and it was one of Scandinavia's earliest urban sites. 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). 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 Haakon VII (; born Prince Carl of Denmark; 3 August 187221 September 1957) was the King of Norway from November 1905 until his death in September 1957. Originally a Danish prince, he was born in Copenhagen as the son of the future Frederick VI ...

and Queen Maud, vacationed at ''Larvik Bad'' in 1906. The spa also welcomed

Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson Bjørnstjerne Martinius Bjørnson ( , ; 8 December 1832 – 26 April 1910) was a Norwegian writer who received the 1903 Nobel Prize in Literature "as a tribute to his noble, magnificent and versatile poetry, which has always been distinguishe ...

in 1909, who wrote some of his lasts poems in Larvik, and

Knut Hamsun Knut Hamsun (4 August 1859 – 19 February 1952) was a Norwegian writer who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920. Hamsun's work spans more than 70 years and shows variation with regard to consciousness, subject, Point of view ...

in 1917. Hamsun wrote his novel ''

Growth of the Soil ''Growth of the Soil'' ( Norwegian ''Markens Grøde'') is a novel by Knut Hamsun which won him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920. It follows the story of a man who settles and lives in rural Norway. First published in 1917, it has since been tr ...

'' in Larvik, which later earned him the 1920

Nobel Prize for Literature ) , image = Nobel Prize.png , caption = , awarded_for = Outstanding contributions in literature , presenter = Swedish Academy , holder = Annie Ernaux (2022) , location = Stockholm, Sweden , year = 1901 , ...

. Larvik received market town status in 1671. The city of Larvik (in contemporaneous

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...

spelling: ''Laurvig'') was founded in 1671 by Ulrik Fredrik Gyldenløve, who became the first

count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

of Laurvig. The count's residence, "Herregården", can still be visited today. Larvik houses the

Treschow Treschow may refer to: *An alternative spelling of Tresckow, a family belonging to the German ''Uradel'' * Treschow (Dano-Norwegian family), a Dano-Norwegian family originally from Næstved Næstved () is a town in the municipality of the same n ...

estate, Fritzøehus, which is currently owned by the heirs of

Mille-Marie Treschow Mille-Marie Treschow (3 April 1954 – 29 September 2018) was a Norwegian landlord and businessperson. She was known for her previous marriage to Stein Erik Hagen, well known as "Rimi-Hagen", being the former owner of the Rimi chain of low-cost ...

, 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

and

Tønsberg Tønsberg , historically Tunsberg, is a city and municipality in Vestfold og Telemark county, eastern Norway, located around south-southwest of Oslo on the western coast of the Oslofjord near its mouth onto the Skagerrak. The administrative c ...

, were the three dominant

whaling Whaling is the process of hunting of whales for their usable products such as meat and blubber, which can be turned into a type of oil that became increasingly important in the Industrial Revolution. It was practiced as an organized industr ...

cities of Norway in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Demographics

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. The municipality had a total population of 46,899 as of January 1, 2018, while the city of Larvik had a population of 23,927 as of 2016. Immigrants made up 11.2 percent of the population in 2017. The largest immigrant groups (first- and second generation immigrants) were: Polish (1,200), Lithuanians (446), Iraqis (408), Vietnamese (327), and Somalis (318). 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. The population sometimes double during summer weeks due to tourism. Larvik is home to 4,775 vacation homes as of 2018.

Economy

Larvik is the most important agricultural municipality in

. 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 Færder is a municipality in Vestfold in Vestfold og Telemark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Borgheim. The municipality was established in 2018 by the unification of the former municipalities of ...

. Important fishing harbours are Stavern,

, and

Nevlunghavn 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 ...

. Furthermore, Larvik has the biggest logging industry in the county. Norway Spruce is the most important tree species.

Larvikite Larvikite is an igneous rock, specifically a variety of monzonite, notable for the presence of thumbnail-sized crystals of feldspar. These feldspars are known as ''ternary'' because they contain significant components of all three endmember f ...

is exported from Larvik to countries in Europe and to the United States.

Tourism

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. 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. The coastal town of Stavern and picturesque villages of

and

receive large numbers of tourists during summer months. Stavern is known as a summer community, and its population more than doubles during summers. Tourist attractions in Stavern include

Hall of Remembrance The Hall of Remembrance was a series of paintings and sculptures commissioned, in 1918, by the British War Memorials Committee of the British Ministry of Information in commemoration of the dead of World War I. History The artworks commissi ...

Fredriksvern Fredriksvern (also called ''Friderichsværn'' (1801), ''Frederiksværn'' (1865), ''Fredriksværen'' (1900) and abbreviated ''Frsværn'') was an important Norwegian naval base, just south of Larvik in Vestfold. It is named after Fredrik V Denmark- ...

, and

Citadellet Citadellet (''Citadel'') was a 19th-century Norwegian fortress. The last day of military activity was in 1970. The fort was demolished in 1971. Citadellet was intended to protect the Royal Norwegian Navy's Karljohansvern naval station in Horten. ...

. Citadel Island is home of

Staverns Fortress Staverns Fortress was a military facility located on the island of Citadelløya at Stavern in Vestfold, Norway. History The construction of Staverns Fort began in 1677 when Ulrik Frederick Gyldenløve built a blockhouse with battery and pali ...

which dates to the 1680s. The island is a current refuge for artists.

Kaupang Kaupang was a Norse term for ''market-place'' composed of kaup- (buy) and angr (fjord, harbor), hence "buy fjord" or "buy harbor" (similar to the literal translation of Copenhagen). Today, it is generally used as a name of the first town-like m ...

has been described as the "chief attraction" for visitors in Larvik. Kapuang is also known as Norway's most important monument from the

Viking Age The Viking Age () was the period during the Middle Ages when Norsemen known as Vikings undertook large-scale raiding, colonizing, conquest, and trading throughout Europe and reached North America. It followed the Migration Period and the Germ ...

. Another source describes Mølen Geopark as Larvik's most visited tourist attraction. Other attractions include the Maritime Museum, Fritzøehus, Herregården, the home of

, and Bøkeskogen. Larvik is also home to

, the largest spa in the Nordic countries, which has been described as one of Europe's best spa facilities.

Geography

Larvik occupies the southwestern corner of

, between

in the east and the Langesundsfjord in the west. The coast stretches from the entrance to the

Sandefjordsfjord The Sandefjordsfjord (), sometimes also called the Sandefjord (), is an approximately 9 km long fjord in the municipality of Sandefjord in Vestfold, Norway. It is located to the west of Vesterøya. The Sandefjordsfjord is the longest of the ...

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 Telemark is a traditional region, a former county, and a current electoral district in southern Norway. In 2020, Telemark merged with the former county of Vestfold to form the county of Vestfold og Telemark. Telemark borders the traditional ...

County in the west. 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. The municipality is approximately southwest of

Oslo Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population ...

. The municipality covers an area of , 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

and

. Larvik has its own

fjord In physical geography, a fjord or fiord () is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by a glacier. Fjords exist on the coasts of Alaska, Antarctica, British Columbia, Chile, Denmark, Förden and East Jutland Fjorde, Germany, ...

which connects to the Lågen River. Larvik borders to

Kongsberg Kongsberg () is a historical mining town and municipality in Buskerud, Viken county, Norway. The city is located on the river Numedalslågen at the entrance to the valley of Numedal. Kongsberg has been a centre of silver mining, arms production ...

in the north,

in the east, and

Porsgrunn is a city and municipality in Telemark in the county of Vestfold og Telemark in Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Porsgrunn. The municipality of Porsgrunn w ...

and Siljan ( Telemark County) in the west. The southernmost point in the municipality is

Tvistein Lighthouse Tvistein Lighthouse ( no, Tvistein fyr) is a coastal lighthouse in the municipality of Larvik in Vestfold og Telemark, Norway. It was first lit in 1908, and was automated in 1988. See also * List of lighthouses in Norway * Lighthouses in Norway ...

in the sea south of Hummerbakken in

. On the mainland, its southernmost point is found in Oddane, between

and

. 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. The district also includes the town of Stavern (population: 5,000) and the villages of

, Kvelde, Hvarnes, and

. Notable geographical features include the lake

Farris Farris is a 20 km long fresh water moraine-dammed lake near the Norwegian coastal town Larvik. The lake would have been a salt water fjord had it not been dammed by an end moraine left by the latest ice age An ice age is a long perio ...

and the river

, locally called ''Lågen'', which terminates in Larvik, east of the town. Other bodies of water include the lakes

Goksjø Goksjø is a lake in the municipalities of Sandefjord, Larvik and Andebu in Vestfold og Telemark county, Norway. Goksjø is 5 km from north to south, and has a circumference of 20 km. At its deepest, Goksjø is no deeper than 26 meters. Goksjø ha ...

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 Skiringssal (Old Norse ''Skíringssalr'') was the name of a Viking Age hall which stood at a site now known as Huseby, about 0.73 miles (1.2 km) south-west of Tjølling, a settlement a little over east of Larvik, in the south of the ...

trading outpost. Larvik is also home to the world's northernmost natural occurrence of ''Fagus sylvatica''

forest A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...

s (

European Beech ''Fagus sylvatica'', the European beech or common beech is a deciduous tree belonging to the beech family Fagaceae. Description ''Fagus sylvatica'' is a large tree, capable of reaching heights of up to tall and trunk diameter, though more ...

tree), known as '' Bøkeskogen'' ("The Beech Tree Forest").

Villages

The municipality is home to one city and seven villages: * Larvik (23,927) * Stavern (5,635) *

and

(1,890) * Lauve/ Viksfjord (1,777) * Kvelde (931) * Verningen (931) * Svarstad (608) Himberg is an exclave which is part of

, although bordering Larvik in all directions. 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. 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.).

Culture

Larvik Museum

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.

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 Larvikite is an igneous rock, specifically a variety of monzonite, notable for the presence of thumbnail-sized crystals of feldspar. These feldspars are known as ''ternary'' because they contain significant components of all three endmember f ...

, the area's main export product. The Iron Works was closed during 1868. Larvik Herregaarden

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 A regent (from Latin : ruling, governing) is a person appointed to govern a state '' pro tempore'' (Latin: 'for the time being') because the monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge the powers and duties of the monarchy ...

style. The house is filled with 17th- and 18th-century antiques. Herregården from 1677 is considered one of Norway's finest secular Baroque structures. It is one of few baroque architectural monuments representing nobility in Norway. Furthermore, it is one of Norway's largest wooden buildings from 17th century. 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

Fritzøehus

Fritzøehus is a private estate located in Larvik. The estate has traditionally been associated with various members of the

family and is presently owned by

. It is Norway's largest privately owned estate.

Recreation areas

Recreation areas include the beach Lydhusstranda at Naverfjorden.

, which is considered one of Norway's best

salmon Salmon () is the common name for several commercially important species of euryhaline ray-finned fish from the family Salmonidae, which are native to tributaries of the North Atlantic (genus ''Salmo'') and North Pacific (genus '' Oncorhy ...

fishing rivers, is located in Larvik. Freshwater fishing is also common at Goksjø Lake, which lies on the

-Larvik border. Fish species in this lake include

Northern pike The northern pike (''Esox lucius'') is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus ''Esox'' (the pikes). They are typical of brackish and fresh waters of the Northern Hemisphere (''i.e.'' holarctic in distribution). They are known simply as a p ...

European perch The European perch (''Perca fluviatilis''), also known as the common perch, redfin perch, big-scaled redfin, English perch, Euro perch, Eurasian perch, Eurasian river perch, Hatch, poor man’s rockfish or in Anglophone parts of Europe, simply th ...

, Ide, Common dace, European eel,

Salmon Salmon () is the common name for several commercially important species of euryhaline ray-finned fish from the family Salmonidae, which are native to tributaries of the North Atlantic (genus ''Salmo'') and North Pacific (genus '' Oncorhy ...

, and Brown trout. 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. Hiking trails can be found throughout the municipality, including in the city forest '' Bøkeskogen'', Norway's largest beech tree forest. 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. Hiking trails can also be found at

, which is an UNESCO GeoPark and home of Norway's largest stone beach. The Coastal Path (Kyststien) is a 35 km from

to Stavern. Additional hiking trails can be found by

- and Farris Lakes. Farris Lake is the largest lake in Vestfold County. 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 The moose (in North America) or elk (in Eurasia) (''Alces alces'') is a member of the New World deer subfamily and is the only species in the genus ''Alces''. It is the largest and heaviest extant species in the deer family. Most adult ma ...

; Larvik has among Norway's highest number of moose. Between 7-800 moose are annually slaughtered in the county. Other important species of game are

Roe deer The roe deer (''Capreolus capreolus''), also known as the roe, western roe deer, or European roe, is a species of deer. The male of the species is sometimes referred to as a roebuck. The roe is a small deer, reddish and grey-brown, and well-adapt ...

Red deer The red deer (''Cervus elaphus'') is one of the largest deer species. A male red deer is called a stag or hart, and a female is called a hind. The red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Anatolia, Iran, and parts of we ...

Mountain hare The mountain hare (''Lepus timidus''), also known as blue hare, tundra hare, variable hare, white hare, snow hare, alpine hare, and Irish hare, is a Palearctic hare that is largely adapted to polar and mountainous habitats. Evolution The mount ...

European beaver The Eurasian beaver (''Castor fiber'') or European beaver is a beaver species that was once widespread in Eurasia, but was hunted to near-extinction for both its fur and castoreum. At the turn of the 20th century, only about 1,200 beavers survi ...

, and

Common wood pigeon The common wood pigeon or common woodpigeon (''Columba palumbus''), also known as simply wood pigeon, wood-pigeon or woodpigeon, is a large species in the dove and pigeon family (Columbidae), native to the western Palearctic. It belongs to the g ...

Beaches

List of publicly owned beaches in Larvik: Beach,_Ula

* Farris * Rekkeviksbukta * Batteritomta * Gonstranda (Østre Halsen) * Hvittensand (Østre Halsen) * Corntin ( Stavern) * Blokkebukta (Naverfjord) * Anvikstranda (Naverfjord) * Stolpstadstranda (Naverfjord) * Lydhusstranda (Naverfjord) * Roppestad (Farris) * Skjærsjø ( Kvelde) * Ula (

) * Kjerringvik (Tjølling)

Transportation

Larvik is served by

Sandefjord Airport Torp Sandefjord Airport, Torp ( no, Sandefjord lufthavn, Torp; ) is an international airport located northeast of Sandefjord, Norway and south of Oslo. The airport features a runway aligned 18/36. Torp partially serves as a regional airport for Ves ...

, its nearest international airport.

European route E18 European route E18 runs from Craigavon in Northern Ireland to Saint Petersburg in Russia, passing through Scotland, England, Norway, Sweden and Finland. It is about in length. Although the designation implies the possibility of a through jo ...

traverses the municipality and is one of Norway's most important main highways. Larvik Station is the city's main railway station, while daily ferries to

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark , establish ...

depart from the city harbour and are operated by Color Line. The neighbouring city of

has several ferry links with daily departures to

Strömstad Strömstad is a locality and the seat of Strömstad Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 6,288 inhabitants in 2010. For historical reasons, Strömstad is called a ''city'' despite its small population. Strömstad became part of S ...

, Sweden and, further south, the city of

Langesund is the administrative centre of the municipality of Bamble, Norway. The town of Langesund was established as a municipality 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). It was merged with Bamble 1 January 1964. In the early days, Langesund was ...

links to

through a ferry which is operated by Fjord Line.

Points of interest

Notable points of interest include: *

, ancient burial ground on the Larvik-

border * Bøkeskogen, Norway's largest and the world's northernmost beech tree forest. * Larvik Maritime Museum, museum dedicated to Larvik's nautical history. It is home to several models by

Colin Archer Colin Archer (22 July 1832 – 8 February 1921) was a Norwegian naval architect and shipbuilder known for his seaworthy pilot and rescue boats and the larger sailing and polar ships. His most famous ship is the '' Fram'', used on both in Fridt ...

, and has its own exhibition dedicated to

. *

and

, adjacent coastal villages *

, remains from the oldest Nordic town yet discovered. *

, first

UNESCO Global Geopark UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGp) are geoparks certified by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council as meeting all the requirements for belonging to the Global Geoparks Network (GGN). The GGN is both a network of geoparks and the agency of the United Nati ...

in the Nordic countries. It is home to 230 cairns dating to the Iron Age. * Farris Lake, largest lake in Vestfold County. * Stavern, coastal village and former home of Norway's main naval base in

, largest monument in Vestfold County. ** Citadel Island, fort which came to prominence during the Nordic War of 1709–1720. * Farris Bad, built next to Larvik's best sandy beach, Farris Bad is named amongst the best spas in Europe by '' Lonely Planet Publications''. * The Nesjar Monument, located in

, made on the 1,000th anniversary for the

Battle of Nesjar Battle of Nesjar (''Slaget ved Nesjar'') was a sea battle off the coast of Norway in 1016. It was a primary event in the reign of King Olav Haraldsson (later Saint Olav). Icelandic skald and court poet Sigvatr Þórðarson composed the poem ...

. First unveiled July 29, 2016. * Herregården, erected in 1677 and recognised as one of Norway's finest secular Baroque structures. * Larvik Church, erected in 1877 and situated at Tollerodden. Famous for its paintings. * Childhood home of

, located at Steingata 7 in Larvik proper. *

, third-largest lake in Vestfold County, located on the

-Larvik border. Used for swimming, fishing, kayaking, ice-skating, and skiing.

Gallery

File:Gravhaug.jpg, Burial mound in Bøkeskogen. File:Kaupang, Vestfold view 22jun2005.jpg,

is the oldest town in Norway. File:Larvik church, Larvik, Vestfold, Norway - panoramio.jpg,

Larvik Church Larvik () is a List of cities in Norway, town and Municipalities of Norway, municipality in Vestfold in Vestfold og Telemark Counties of Norway, county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Larvik. The municipality ...

. File:Fredriksvern shipyard - panoramio.jpg,

in Stavern. File:Larvik town hall.jpg, Former Larvik Town Hall. File:Larvik (14387497427).jpg,

Widerøe Widerøes Flyveselskap AS, trading as Widerøe, is a Norwegian airline, and is the largest regional airline operating in the Nordic countries. The airline's fleet of 40 Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft, and 3 Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, serves over 40 ...

aerial photo, 1964. File:Larvik torg.jpg, Larvik City Centre. File:Larvik museum.jpg, Larvik Maritime Museum. File:Citadelløya Stavern.jpg, Citadel Island. File:Cairns at Mølen.jpg,

is Norway's longest stone beach. File:Istre Hågan.jpg, Rock settings at

resemble a ship. File:Ulaflyfotojle2003.jpg, Ula, Norway.

Notable residents

Honorary citizens

(1914–2002) a Norwegian adventurer and ethnographer *

Carl Nesjar Carl Nesjar (né Carlsen; 6 July 1920 – 23 May 2015) was a Norwegian painter, sculptor and graphic artist. He is best known for his collaborations with Pablo Picasso; serving for nearly twenty years as Picasso's chosen fabricator — the artis ...

(1920–2015) a painter, sculptor and graphic artist; worked with Pablo Picasso * Antonio Bibalo (1922–2008) an Italian-Norwegian pianist; composed classical operas *

Arne Nordheim Arne Nordheim (20 June 1931 – 5 June 2010) was a Norwegian composer. Nordheim received numerous awards for his compositions, and from 1982 lived in the Norwegian government's honorary residence, Grotten, next to the Royal Palace in Oslo. He ...

(1931–2010) a Norwegian composer *

Ingvar Ambjørnsen Ingvar Even Ambjørnsen-Haefs (born 20 May 1956) is a Norwegian writer. He is best known for his "Elling" tetralogy: ''Utsikt til paradiset'' (1993), ''Fugledansen'' (1995), ''Brødre i blodet'' (1996), and ''Elsk meg i morgen'' (1999). ''Brødr ...

(born 1956) a Norwegian writer

Explorers

* Johan Bryde (1858–1925) a Norwegian ship owner and whaler *

Carl Anton Larsen Carl Anton Larsen (7 August 1860 – 8 December 1924) was a Norwegian-born whaler and Antarctic explorer who made important contributions to the exploration of Antarctica, the most significant being the first discovery of fossils for which ...

(1860–1924) a Norwegian Antarctic explorer, discovered fossils *

Oscar Wisting Oscar Adolf Wisting (6 June 1871 – 5 December 1936) was a Norwegian Naval officer and polar explorer. Together with Roald Amundsen he was the first person to reach both the North and South Poles. Biography Oscar Wisting was born in ...

(1871–1936) a Norwegian Naval officer and

polar explorer This list is for recognised pioneering explorers of the polar regions. It does not include subsequent travelers and expeditions. Polar explorers * Jameson Adams * Stian Aker * Valerian Albanov * Roald Amundsen * Salomon August Andrée * Piotr ...

Erik Hesselberg Erik Bryn Hesselberg (4 June 1914 – 15 September 1972) was a Norwegian sailor, author, photographer, painter and sculptor. He is most known as a crewmember of the Kon-Tiki raft expedition from South America to French Polynesia in 1947. Biogr ...

(1914-1972)

Kon-Tiki The ''Kon-Tiki'' expedition was a 1947 journey by raft across the Pacific Ocean from South America to the Polynesian islands, led by Norwegian explorer and writer Thor Heyerdahl. The raft was named ''Kon-Tiki'' after the Inca god Viracocha, fo ...

crew member, author, painter and sculptor * Thorstein Baarnes (born 1984), explorer, hunter, philanthropist and inventor * Jarle Andhøy (born 1977) a controversial Norwegian adventurer and sailing skipper Portrett av Jens Schou Fabricius - Oslo Museum - OB

Portrett av Jens Schou Fabricius - Oslo Museum - OB

Public Service & public thinking

Jens Schou Fabricius Jens Schou Fabricius (3 March 1758 – 6 April 1841) was the Norwegian appointed Minister of the Navy 1817–1818. He served as a representative for ''Søe-Deffensionen'' at the Norwegian Constitutional Assembly at Eidsvoll in 1814. During his nav ...

(1758–1841) Vice-admiral & Norwegian Minister of the Navy 1817–1818 * Friderich Adolph von Schleppegrell (1792–1850) was a Dano-Norwegian military officer. *

Johan Sverdrup Johan Sverdrup (30 July 1816 – 17 February 1892) was a Norwegian politician from the Liberal Party. He was the first prime minister of Norway after the introduction of parliamentarism and served as the 4th prime minister of Norway. Sverdrup was ...

(1816–1892), politician,

Prime Minister of Norway The prime minister of Norway ( no, statsminister, which directly translates to "minister of state") is the head of government and chief executive of Norway. The prime minister and Cabinet (consisting of all the most senior government department ...

1884-1889 *

Thomas Archer Thomas Archer (1668–1743) was an English Baroque architect, whose work is somewhat overshadowed by that of his contemporaries Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor. His buildings are important as the only ones by an English Baroque archit ...

(1823-1905), Australian pastoralist and Agent General for Queensland *

(1832–1921) a Norwegian naval architect and

shipbuilder Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and other floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to befor ...

Sophus Bugge Elseus Sophus Bugge (5 January 1833 – 8 July 1907) was a Norwegian philologist and linguist. His scholarly work was directed to the study of runic inscriptions and Norse philology. Bugge is best known for his theories and his work on the runic ...

(1833–1907) a Norwegian philologist and linguist *

Karl Gether Bomhoff Karl Gether Bomhoff (6 August 1842 –23 September 1925) was a Norwegian pharmacist, politician and Governor of the Central Bank of Norway. Biography He was born in Larvik. He graduated as pharmacist in 1863, and worked in Drammen and Tron ...

(1842–1925) pharmacist, politician and Governor of

Norges Bank Norges Bank / Noregs Bank is the central bank of Norway. The bank shall promote economic stability in Norway. Norges Bank also manages the Government Pension Fund of Norway and the bank’s own foreign exchange reserves. History The history of ...

Bertrand Narvesen Bertrand Narve Louis Narvesen (April 29, 1860 – March 7, 1939) was a Norwegian businessman and merchant. He was the founder of the Norwegian chain of newsagents ''Narvesens Kioskkompagni'' (Later shortened to ''Narvesen''). Today, ''Narvesen'' is ...

(1860–1939) a Norwegian businessman, founded ''

Narvesen Narvesen is a Norwegian chain of newsagents / convenience stores which, with its 370 outlets nationwide, is one of Norway's largest retailers. The company has since 2000 been part of the Reitan Group (''Reitangruppen''). Narvesens Kioskkompagni ( ...

'' * Bernt Berntsen (1863–1933) a Norwegian-American Protestant Christian missionary to China * Anna Hvoslef (1866–1954) a Norwegian journalist, politician and feminist * Adolf Fonahn (1873–1940) a Norwegian physician, medical historian and orientalist * Niels Christian Ditleff (1881–1956) diplomat, architect of

White Buses White Buses was a Swedish humanitarian operation with the objective of freeing Scandinavians in German concentration camps in Nazi Germany during the final stages of World War II. Although the White Buses operation was envisioned to rescue Scan ...

operation *

Erling Utnem Erling Gudmann Utnem (7 February 1920–11 November 2006) was a Norwegian theologian, priest, and Bible translator. He was the Bishop of the Diocese of Agder from 1973 until his retirement in 1983. Utnem was one of the founders of the intern ...

(1920–2006) a theologian, priest and Bishop of Agder 1973-1983 * Herman Sachnowitz (1921-1978) one of the few

Norwegian Jews The history of Jews in Norway dates back to the 1400s. Although there were very likely Jewish merchants, sailors and others who entered Norway during the Middle Ages, no efforts were made to establish a Jewish community. Through the early mod ...

who survived deportation to a concentration camp * Knut Helle (1930–2015) a Norwegian historian and academic *

(born 1954–2018) a Norwegian landlord and businessperson *

Lars Gule Lars Gule (born 24 June 1955) is a Norwegian philosopher. He has graduated with a doctorate in philosophy, and is an associate professor (at Oslo Metropolitan University). From 2000 to 2005 he was secretary general of the Norwegian Humanist Asso ...

(born 1955) a Norwegian philosopher and commentator on extremism and terrorism * Anders Anundsen (born 1975) a Norwegian politician,

Minister of Justice A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a ...

2013-2016 *

Hassan Abdi Dhuhulow Hassan Abdi Dhuhulow (1990 – 22 September 2013) was a Norwegian-Somalian Islamic terrorism, Islamist terrorist and Al-Shabaab (militant group), Al-Shabaab-member who was one of four perpetrators of the 2013 Westgate shopping mall attack in Nair ...

(1990–2013) a Norwegian-Somalian

Islamist terrorist Islamic terrorism (also known as Islamist terrorism or radical Islamic terrorism) refers to terrorist acts with religious motivations carried out by fundamentalist militant Islamists and Islamic extremists. Incidents and fatalities ...

The Arts

* Hans Holmen (1878–1958) a Norwegian painter and sculptor *

Herman Wildenvey Herman Wildenvey (20 July 1885 – 27 September 1959), born Herman Theodor Portaas, was one of the most prominent Norwegian poets of the twentieth century. During his lifetime he published 44 books of his own poetry, in addition to translati ...

, (1885–1959) prominent Norwegian

poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator ( thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems ( oral or wri ...

Arthur Omre Arthur Omre (17 December 1887, in Brunlanes – 16 August 1967) was a Norwegian novelist and writer of short stories. Omre hailed from Vestfold. With a background as sailor, journalist, constructor in the United States, engineer in Oslo, busine ...

(1887–1967) a Norwegian novelist, liquor smuggler, swindler and thief * Gunnar Reiss-Andersen (1896–1964) a Norwegian lyric poet and author * Ruth Lagesen (1914–2005) a Norwegian pianist and conductor *

(1920–2015) a painter, sculptor and graphic artist; fabricator for

Pablo Picasso Pablo Ruiz Picasso (25 October 1881 – 8 April 1973) was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist and Scenic design, theatre designer who spent most of his adult life in France. One of the most influential artists of the 20th ce ...

(1931–2010) a Norwegian composer * Louis Jacoby (born 1942) a Norwegian singer and writer * Mari Bjørgan (1950–2014) a Norwegian actress and variety show comedian *

Birgitte Einarsen Birgitte Einarsen is a Norwegian singer and musical theatre artist from Helgeroa in Larvik, Vestfold county. She was born in 1975. Birgitte has performed in popular musicals like Grease, Fame and The Little Shop of Horrors. She has also done th ...

(born in 1975) a Norwegian singer and musical theatre artist from Helgeroa *

Anne Holt Anne Holt (born 16 November 1958) is a Norwegian author, lawyer and former Minister of Justice. Early life She was born in Larvik, grew up in Lillestrøm and Tromsø, and moved to Oslo in 1978. Holt graduated with a law degree from the Universit ...

(born 1958) a crime writer, lawyer and former Minister of Justice *

Terje Gewelt Terje Gewelt (born 8 June 1960) is a Norwegian jazz musician (upright bass). Career Gewelt was born in Oslo and raised in Larvik, a small town on the southeastern coast of Norway. He started playing guitar at the age of 10, switched to elec ...

(born 1960) a Norwegian jazz musician, plays the upright bass, raised in Larvik * Bjørn Lynne (born 1966) a Norwegian sound engineer and music composer * Jonas Kilmork Vemøy (born 1986) a Norwegian Jazz trumpeter and composer, raised in Larvik *

Absolute Steel Absolute Steel is a Norwegian heavy metal band from Larvik. Formed in 1999, the band’s founding members were Andy Boss (lead guitar), Dave Bomb (lead guitar) and K2 (vocals). Throughout the late 1990s they played live performances and develop ...

(formed in 1999) a Norwegian heavy metal band

Sport

20190225 Seefeld 3396 Anette Boe (cropped)

* Sverre Hansen (1913–1974) footballer, team bronze medallist at the 1936 Summer Olympics * Gunnar Thoresen (1920-2017) famous footballer, 261 caps for

Larvik Turn Larvik Turn & Idrettsforening is a Norwegian sports club that does football, handball, athletics, wrestling, and gymnastics. The club was founded as early as 1865, and has been playing football since 1906. The football team was at its best ...

and 64 for

* Anette Bøe (born 1957) cross-country skier, team bronze medallist at the

1980 Winter Olympics The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially the XIII Olympic Winter Games and also known as Lake Placid 1980, were an international multi-sport event held from February 13 to 24, 1980, in Lake Placid, New York, United States. Lake Placid was elected ...

Hallvar Thoresen Hallvar Thoresen (born 12 April 1957) is a former Norwegian footballer who played most of his career in the Dutch Eredivisie. The son of former Norwegian international Gunnar Thoresen, Hallvar Thoresen was central in 1980s Norwegian football. ...

(born 1957) a footballer, with 320 club caps and 50 for

Tom Erik Oxholm Tom Erik Oxholm (born 22 February 1959) is a former speed skater from Norway. He had his best period in the early 1980s. At the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, Oxholm won two bronze medals – on the 5,000 m and the 10,000 m. ...

(born 1959) speed skater, twice bronze medallist at the

Tom Sundby Tom Sundby (born 15 December 1960, Larvik) is a former Norway, Norwegian Football (soccer), footballer. A midfielder who scored 6 goals in 39 caps for the Norway national football team, national team, he participated in the Football at the 1984 S ...

(born 1960) a footballer with 39 caps for

Bjørg Eva Jensen Bjørg Eva Jensen (born 15 February 1960) is a speed skater from Norway. She had her best year in 1980, when she became junior world allround champion, finished third at the senior allround world championships, and won the 3,000 m event at t ...

(born 1960) a speed skater and gold medallist at the

Gunnar Halle Gunnar Halle (born 11 August 1965) is a Norwegian football manager and former player who played as a right back. He is the current assistant coach of Strømmen. Halle is best known for his playing spells at Oldham Athletic and Leeds United, foll ...

(born 1965) a football manager and player with 509 club caps and 64 for

Espen Hoff Espen Hoff (born 20 November 1981) is a retired Norwegian professional footballer, born in Larvik. He is primarily a winger, but may also play as an attacking midfielder, whilst at Lyn he occasionally featured on the left wing. With 406 top divi ...

(born 1981) a Norwegian retired professional footballer with 427 club caps *

Alexander Hvaal Alexander Hvaal (born 25 May 1992) is a professional rallycross driver from Larvik in Vestfold, Norway. He has raced in the European Rallycross Championship European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an ad ...

(born 1992) a professional rallycross driver

Sports teams

Larvik HK Larvik Håndballklubb, is a women's handball club from Larvik, Norway. History Larvik HK was founded in 1990 as a merger of the handball departments in the two clubs Larvik Turn and Halsen. They played in the top division since 1992/93. During ...

( handball) *

Larvik TIF Larvik Turn & Idrettsforening is a Norwegian sports club that does football, handball, athletics, wrestling, and gymnastics. The club was founded as early as 1865, and has been playing football since 1906. The football team was at its best durin ...

IF Fram Larvik Idrettsforeningen Fram, better known as Fram Larvik to distinguish it from other sport clubs, is a sports club from Torstrand in Larvik, Norway. It has sections for association football, athletics, handball and speed skating. General history T ...

Twin towns – sister cities

Larvik is twinned with: * Borlänge, Sweden *

Frederikshavn Frederikshavn () is a Danish town in Frederikshavn municipality, Region Nordjylland, on the northeast coast of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark. Its name translates to "Frederik's harbor". It was originally named Fladstrand. The town ...

, Denmark

References

External links

opplevlarvik.no Tourist information (in Norwegian)ilovelarvik.com
* *
iBrunlanes.no

Municipal web site

Live Camera - 10 cameras from Larvik

Larvik Museum official website Vestfoldmuseene website
{{Authority control Municipalities of Vestfold og Telemark Populated places in Vestfold og Telemark Cities and towns in Norway Populated places established in 1671 Populated places on the Numedalslågen 1671 establishments in Norway