Horten Municipality, municipality in Vestfold, Norway
Horten is a municipality in Norway located on a peninsula along the Ytre Oslofjord with a quiet maritime character. The town features simple streets with old buildings, a busy harbor with fishing boats, and forests and lakes that shape the surrounding landscape.
Horten became its own town in 1858 and was previously part of the Borre area before merging with nearby villages in 1965. The town developed closely with the Navy and shipping, with a major naval base called Karljohansvern that operated for over 140 years.
The town's name comes from an old farm and may relate to rocky ground. This maritime identity appears on the coat of arms, which displays a naval fort and boat, while a red rose symbolizes the gardens and green spaces surrounding the area.
The town is easily reached by train from Oslo, which is about half an hour away, or by ferry services that cross the fjord. There are many walking trails along the coast with views of the water and forests, plus bike routes that make exploring straightforward.
Borre Mounds is Norway's first national park and contains burial mounds of kings and warriors from Viking times, with valuable artifacts such as jewelry and even a buried Viking ship. This archaeological site reveals the power and prestige of that ancient civilization.
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