Offisiell reiseguide for området rundt Oslo
This monumental barrow is located close to center of Jesshein and Gardermoen airport, only 6 kilometers from highway E6. The mound is larger than any other burial mound in northern Europe and its construction is alo exceptional; between soil and sand, 75000 logs are piled in three pyramid shaped layers.
The original height was more than 18 meters and the diameter about 77 meters. The burial mound was built during one winter and summerr, sometime between 533-551 AD.
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In 1871, glass production started up again with lamp glasses for paraffin lamps, a lamp workshop and glassware such as drinking glasses, carafes, jugs and "pocket larks" were made with pressed glass technology that made prices affordable. The production of electric lamps increased and Norgesglasset with screw caps was introduced after an idea from the American glass industry. This revolutionized the canning and storage of food by housewives.
Glass production was transferred to Hadeland Glassverk and pewter objects were made at the works.
The workers at Verket had relatively good working conditions and no one was poor. Until 1917, the workers were given free housing and fuel, a good standard of housing according to the standards of the time with one or two rooms and a kitchen. They also had their own school, their own gymnastics room, library and reading room.
In 1910, the works got yet another new glass hut. This year, Høvik Glassverk was Bærum's second largest company with between 200 and 300 employees. The employees and their families, about 800 people, mostly lived inside the factory area. Skilled workers came from Sweden, Germany and Austria, or from the works at Hadeland and Biri.
Høvik verk was a fairly closed community until development in the Høvik area began in full in the 1950s and 1960s. It was a self-sufficient community with a camaraderie and unity that was very special. Within the plant, there was a big difference between workers, officials and management. This was reflected on the beach, where the working-class and white-collar children had to stick to their respective parts. At Svartodden, the white-collar children were alone with their beach and their bathhouse.
The immigrants who came to the Høvik area were sceptical about the working environment. The workers drank a lot of beer, often in the middle of the morning, and the boys at the works sailed on ice floes in the spring and bathed naked in the sea. Children from Øvre Høvik and other neighborhoods were not allowed to cycle down to the "ramp at Høvik Verk". Gradually, however, both children and adults experienced that there was a peaceful and good environment at Verket, with little fighting and quarrelling, as there was more of in other industrial communities in Bærum.
During World War II (1940–1945), the entire factory area was seized by the Germans, and all lamp production stopped. The Germans used the factory premises for their central workshop for car engines. Since then, filing cabinets, primuses and cooking appliances were produced. In 1972, the factory and the surrounding area were sold to Det Norske Veritas (DNV), lamp production was moved to Halden and called Høvik Lys, while steel production was transferred to Hensmoen near Hønefoss.
Kilde: https://barumhistorie.no / Knut Erik Skarning
So why was the airport placed here? Yes, because as early as 1927, the island of Gressholmen had served as Oslo's main seaplane airport, but it was impractical to transport everyone out by boat and eventually there was a conflict with boat traffic.Various alternatives were considered and they landed at Fornebu, because there it was possible to combine an airport for land and seaplanes. There was a lot of unemployment in the 1930s, and permission was therefore granted for development in 1935. Initially, 3 runways were built, but only the north-south runway became important for traffic flow and the others were closed down after the war.
The airport was occupied by the Germans during World War II, and civil air traffic was suspended between 1940 and 1946. West of the airport, at Oksenøya farm, the Germans set up a prison camp. One of the prisoners' tasks in the winter was to keep the runways clear of snow, and by marching they trampled the snow so that the planes could use the runways.
The main users of the airport were Braathens SAFE (South American and Far East Air Transport) and SAS. The first long-haul flights were only carried out during the day because the planes' range and top speed were so low compared to today that the routes had to be divided into several sections, so that the crew could rest between each flight. The first Braathens SAFE flights between Oslo and Hong Kong for example were set up with stops in Amsterdam, Marseille, Cairo, Basra, Karachi, Calcutta and Bangkok in that order. At the time, the route was the world's longest continuous flight route. The airline that flew the longest at Fornebu was Dutch KLM; the company participated in the opening on 1 June 1939 and, with the exception of the war years, they flew continuously until the airport was closed.
In the post-war period, there were several step-by-step expansions of both terminals and runways, and Fornebu was the workplace for over 5,000 people in the early 90s. As a passenger, it is easy to overlook that an airport is more than planes and airlines. These services were also necessary to keep the airport running: air traffic controllers, weather service, fire and rescue service, customs, freight, mail, fuel suppliers, police, security and various types of service personnel. From a modest beginning with a few departures per today, the number of travelers reached 10 million in 1997 before the move to Gardermoen.
As a central area with proximity to Oslo, it also helped to build up the local environment with a rich working life and large influx of people. Today, the area is being developed into "Fornebyen", a city, trade and residential area. Today, seaplanes are allowed to operate in Lilløykilen through Kilen Sjøflyklubb.
Full of drive and enthusiasm, Falsen, aged 26, stormed into Follo's elite as a magistrate in 1808. He bought the farm Vollebekk. Originally this was a small farm. In a few years, Falsen Vollebekk developed into an estate with nearly 1,500 acres of cultivated land and a total of 9 buildings, of which a dominant main building with its own office wing. Most likely, it was here that Falsen and his friend, fellow student and collaborator Johan Gunder Adler sat when they formed the draft of Norway's constitution.
Vollebekk was very centrally located in Follo. Therefore, this was a natural place to have the magistrate's office. The then main road south / north through Østfold, Follo and Akershus, the so-called "Fredrikhaldske Kongevei", ran through the yard at Vollebekk. The same can be said about east / west – the axis from the inner villages to Drøbak (De drøy bakken).
Falsen and Adler already had a draft constitution ready in outline form in February 1814. This draft became very important during the national assembly at Eidsvold which met on 10 April 1814. Here Christian Magnus Falsen became leader of the constitutional committee. With his strong will and ongoing style, he became a driving force in the committee's work.
Falsen also soon became the leader of the majority in the Riksdag who was in favor of full independence. In this he became a main opponent of Count Wedel Jarlsberg, who wanted union with Sweden.
Falsen finished his development work of the young, new Norway in 1814 as an adviser to the Danish king Christian Fredrik during the negotiations in Moss in August 1814. He was among those who advised the king to continue the war.
Whether it was burdensome debt or "hatred of the Swedes" that drove Falsen west to the office of magistrate in Nordre Bergenhus county is not well known. In many ways, the disappointment over the Moss Convention appears as a driving force to get out of the center of events. Until then, Falsen had been very central in a decisive phase for Norway and the Nordic region.
We see less of the strong, confident Falsen in his later years. When he died of a stroke aged just 47, he was a Supreme Court justice, living in Oslo where he is buried.
The six years Christian Magnus Falsen lived and worked in Follo, in many ways characterize the dominant image of the man who many believe can rightly be called the "Father of the Constitution".
It is difficult to form an overall picture of Christian Magnus Falsen. It can be documented that he was an active spy for the Danish king before 1814. He was also later accused of espionage.
He acted for a long time and clearly as farmer-friendly and a man of the common people. Then he appears later as the sovereign representative of the upper class and the aristocracy, almost with contempt for "the people".
He referred to the independent men at Eidsvold (of which Falsen became an undisputed leader): "as the glorious Falsen". The union men at Eidsvold – who were therefore opponents of Falsen – were far from positive in their comments. Jacob Aall has depicted Falsen in rather gloomy colours: – "His demeanor was unpleasant, his speech harsh and offensive, his expression dark and harsh in the Assembly".
Halvdan Koht writes: And even 100 years after his death, there is a burning question in our history: Was he a traitor? Or was he done a bloody wrong? Was there a connection in his apparent contradictions? Or did he really change ideals?
Falsen's acquisition and development of Vollebekk may well be an underlying reason why the Storting in 1859 decided to place the newly established "Høiere Landbruksskole" precisely at Vollebekk in Ås (now the University of Life Siences.
On Brønnøya we can today see remains of lime kilns and extraction of lime. Three lime kilns have been registered on the island, in addition to the fact that the area bears the mark of lime mill operations. The largest lime kiln can be seen in Sandbukta, where it rises majestically only five meters from the Oslo Fjord.
The lime kiln at Sandbukta was built in 1874. It is square, built of stone and built with lime. The oven is in good condition, although the individual places are slightly cracked. The lime kiln is only five meters from the sea. Today, both the kiln construction and the associated ramp on the slope behind are protected.
Magnor Glassworks is one of Norway's best-known glassworks
The glassworks has existed for over 120 years, and still produces all its products by hand. Here you can find works by a number of designers and artisans, experience concerts, visit the factory outlet and blow your own glass.
Magnor Glassworks was founded as early as 1896 in the deep border forests on the Norwegian side, Magnor, just 3 km from the Swedish border (and 12 miles from Oslo). The large forests were to provide fuel for the heat-sucking smelting furnaces. Several generations of skilled designers and glass workers have shaped Magnor Glassverk's history. More than 120 years of tradition and experience in handmade glass have come in handy and provided valuable knowledge and experience.
Development does not stand still even as the years pass, but much remains the same when molten sand is magically transformed into sparkling glass.
Tours
The tour starts with history and facts. Then further into glass production to see what we make today, we also follow the glass's cooling and grinding process. There are also options for dining.
Prices:
• Tour approx. 40 min. incl. coffee and waffle, NOK 150 per person
• Tour approx. 40 minutes, NOK 100 per person
Discounted items in the Factory outlet
In "Glasshytta" (the glass cabin), you will find Magnor Glasswork's own factory outlet with a large selection of products! Here you will find great gifts for all occasions, tastefully displayed in bright and pleasant premises. In addition to our entire range in crystal, we also produce our own items that are only sold at Magnor.
In the Factory Sale, you can buy our goods with a 30 – 70% discount on the recommended retail price. This discount applies to the assortment that is second sorting or same sort, this means goods that may have small defects such as air bubbles or the like.
Here you can also buy products that cannot be found elsewhere, these are often products where blowers and designers have tested their new ideas.
The farms originally belonged to clerical institutions such as the Oslo Bishopric and Hovedøya Monastery, before they were sold and divided. Over time, Ljan was divided into several farms, including Øvre Ljan, Nedre Ljan and Stubljan, all of which had different owners and roles in the area. Stubljan, which was located at Hvervenbukta, became part of the larger Ljans estate and became known for its main building built by Peder Holter, which unfortunately burned down in 1913
At Hvervenbukta there was a magnificent estate – Stubljan (also called Ljan). The farm was mentioned as early as 1308, and after being divided into Øvre, Nedre and Stubljan, it was united under the main farm in the 17th century. In 1765, wealthy man Peder Holter bought the property and built a magnificent main building and a Baroque garden overlooking the bay.
The “manor house” became a gathering place with 32 rooms, a magnificent entrance hall, a crystal hall, a porcelain room and a steady stream of guests – including royalty such as Oscar II, King Haakon and Queen Maud. In the rococo pavilion that still stands by the beach, guests were welcomed with tea and wine when they arrived by sea from Christiania.
In January 1913, the main house burned down as a result of a fire after a damp Christmas celebration – and all that remains today are the remains of the walls and a memorial stone bearing the names of the former owners. Employees saved much of the contents – which today can be found in various places such as museums and private estates.
The area also houses the two Portnerboligene (1898) at Gamle Mossevei – the two charming houses that were used by property guards are now used by artists.
Helleberget, the gardener's residence down by the beach, is today a café known as "Anne på landet". The house dates from the 18th century and housed the gardener family who maintained the baroque garden.
Mrs. Johanne Ingier, ranked among Norway's most beautiful women, took over the estate after she was widowed in 1900. Under her leadership, Ljansgodset flourished until the fire. The estate's wealth came from the forest and the river. Timber was sawn and exported via the harbor at Hvervenbukta, especially to Denmark and the Netherlands. This was an important source of income, and many local families found work here.
There have been mills here since the 17th century, while today's mill was ready in 1909 after the old one burned down. In 1919, the mill was modernized and a separate power station with electricity supply was established. This ensured electricity for the farm under which the mill is located, as well as 20 other subscribers in the neighbourhood.
It is stated that the mill ground 296 tonnes of rye, wheat, barley and oats.
During the Second World War, grain was ground at night without the Germans knowing about it. A watch was then kept around the area to scout for suspicious vehicles.
The mill was in operation until the 1980s. After this, it became part of Ne's collections in the museum, before it passed into private hands again. These now want to display the mill for public viewing again.
The stable, which is connected to the mill, was repaired in 2019, and stands today as it was when it was new, and the horses needed a place to rest.
The Møller house is in original condition, and is used today as a summer residence.
The narrow-gauge railway "Tertitten" came in 1898 to Skulerud, which was the terminus. Skulerud became an important hub between railways, canals and eventually buses.
The railway's traffic base was mainly forestry and agricultural products. Timber was driven to Skulerud and from there floated to Halden. Interconnection with DS Turisten also became a popular tourist attraction such as "The Great Round Trip".
The track was closed in 1960. Long before the railway came to Skulerud, the place was an important junction between road and waterway. Together with agriculture and forestry, Skulerud was an industrial site with rafting, a steam saw, a tannery and a lathe. Work is now underway to re-establish the railway environment at Skulerud. This has been made possible through the National Antiquities' conservation program for technical and industrial heritage. In 2016, part of the railway line at Skulerud was fully renovated. The forge looks the same on the outside as before, but the inside is furnished as a coastal cabin. On the site is the museum "Isbingen" with over 100 objects from the floating period. The timber crane has been restored. There is a service center on site.
On today's Skulerud you can start your journey through the Haldenkanalen. There is a launch ramp, guest jetty, service house, and you can even spend the night at the coastal hut, Smia. There are also plenty of parking spaces here. Here you also have the option to empty the boat's sanitary system. In the "Station area" is Skulerud Grendehus, which can be rented for small and large events.
The Geology Center in Slemmestad has an exhibition in the Trilobox containging fossils, rocks and minerals. A model shows the bedrock of Slemmestad which has a unique geology that we find only 3 places in the world.
In the outdoors, you can find octopus fossils, trilobites and snails that lived over 400 million years ago.
Slemmestad is a central part of the Oslo field and has a particularly complex geology. Next to Kolsås, this is probably the place in Norway most used for geological studies. Here you will find in a small area rich deposits of fossils and a wide variety of rocks from the earth's ancient times.
The fossils, which are perhaps the most fascinating, are found almost everywhere. You just need to know what to look for! The fossils here in the area date from the Cambrian, Ordovician and Silurian periods, a period from 541 million to 419 million years ago. At that time, Slemmestad's seabed was in a relatively shallow sea. Here it was teeming with animals and plants. Some are similar to those we know today, while others look completely foreign.
The most famous fossils from Slemmestad are squid and trilobites. The trilobites were very common arthropods related to shrimp and crayfish. Along with them lived octopuses, snails and sea lilies. Most notable in recent years are the "football pitch fossils" nedt to Slemmestad Ungdomsskole. It is a relatively new and unique discovery: a gigantic petrified seabed that contains thousands of octopus fossils. In retrospect, a smaller part of the same area has been uncovered behind the local gas station. Both surfaces are full of squid and are a fascinating sight.
We recommend going to Slemmestad to see unique world-class stones and fossils. Visit us at the geology center for tips on where to go.
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