More than 60 preserved burial mounds shape Bøkeskogen in Larvik. The area is a protected landscape and part of the Gea Norvegica Geopark; it is also part of the large Ra moraine, formed at the end of the last Ice Age.

Bøkeskogen: Past and Landscape

Blue-marked circular trails, 2, 6 and 10 kilometres long, offer different route options. The comparison is straightforward: two kilometres is the shortest loop, ten the longest, and the 6-kilometre loop falls in between. The burial mounds point to the area’s archaeological history, while its place in the Ra moraine gives it a geological context.

History in Different Places

Kaupang was founded around the year 800 as a centre for trade and production. Exhibitions there offer insights into the work of archaeologists, the finds and what is known today about the site’s history. Guided tours cover Viking crafts, knowledge, religion and food culture; they take place every day Kaupang is open. Check whether the site is open before you visit.

Herregården was built in 1674 for Ulrik Fredrik Gyldenløve and recalls the more than 400-year history of Denmark-Norway. Fredriksvern verft was Norway’s first main naval station; its construction began in 1750. The Larvik Museum researches and presents the city’s history, focusing on the county era, the cultural environment and urban development. It has two locations in Larvik.

Coastal Trails and Activities by the Water

Rakke adds another waterside option to the coastal trails: this rocky area in Larvik municipality is two kilometres south of Stavern and is used for swimming and fishing.

The coastal routes differ in length and course: Kyststien is a 35-kilometre marked coastal trail between Stavern and Helgeroa, while Fjordstien runs from Larvik to Stavern along the western side of the Larvik Fjord. Kyststien passes skerries, sandy beaches, shallow bays and various types of forest; you can access the trail directly from the centre of Stavern. The Strandpromenaden and Revstien route is considerably shorter, at around 4 kilometres, and follows the water from Vadskjæret to Kanalkaia. Its illuminated section, Revstien, is about 1 kilometre long and easily accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Getting There and Planning Your Stay

The Vestfoldbanen train stops in central Larvik, and VKT buses make it easier to get around Larvik. When looking for accommodation, you can consider transport and local travel alongside your interests in history, nature or coastal trails.

A Look at the Wider Destination of Vestfold

In the wider destination of Vestfold lies Mølen, Norway’s largest pebble beach and part of the terrain left behind by the last Ice Age around 10,000 years ago. Its cultural landscape includes 230 Iron Age stone burial mounds. Twice a year, migratory birds visit Mølen as they travel north in spring and south again in autumn; the birds you may spot can vary.

Discover more destinations: Larvik, Nevlunghamn, Stavern, Helgeroa, Kvelde, Tjodalyng, Holmestrand, Stokke.

Back to the wider travel overview: Vestfold.