Tønsberg, the Royal Town
Castle ruins, two Viking ships and royal mounds, all close to the station.
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Tønsberg is regarded as Norway's oldest town, and Slottsfjellet, right by the station, was the site of one of the country's largest castles in the Middle Ages. Slottsfjellsmuseet houses the Klåstad ship, and down in Ollebukta the Viking ship Saga Oseberg lies moored. At Haugar there are two royal burial mounds, where new kings were acclaimed at the assembly. The walk is short, so there is time for the museum and a meal on the waterfront.
The stops
- 1
Slottsfjellsmuseet
The museum at the foot of the hill shows the Klåstad ship, the fourth Viking ship found in Norway.
- 2
Tunsberghus
The ruins of the royal castle on Slottsfjellet. The 1888 tower next to them has views over the town and the fjord in summer.
- 3
Oseberg vikingarv
Saga Oseberg, a replica of the Oseberg ship, is moored here when it is not out sailing.
- 4
Haugar
Two royal mounds, according to Snorri for Harald Fairhair's sons, and the site of the Haugating assembly.
- 5
Tønsberg domkirke
The town's cathedral from 1858, the last stop before the station.
About the trip
- Where
- Tønsberg
- Getting around
- On foot
- Time
- 2 h 15 min
- Distance
- 2.9 km
- Stops
- 5
- Themes
- History, Views
Practical
- Start
- Tønsberg station. The Vestfold Line has a train every hour from Oslo.
- Finish
- Tønsberg station, a couple of hundred metres from the cathedral.
- Toilets
- At Slottsfjellsmuseet and the restaurants on the waterfront.
- Accessibility
- Steep gravel paths and steps up Slottsfjellet, about 60 metres of climbing. The waterfront and Haugar are easy with a pushchair.