Photos: Vibecke Markhus
Åsgårdstrand is a town in Vestfold, Norway. It is also the name of a former independent municipality and a center of trade. The town is situated 10 km south of Horten, 10 km north of Tønsberg and 100 km south of Oslo by the west coast of the Oslofjord.
From 2007, the town has had the classification of a Tourist Town, which gives the shop owners in the oldest part, closest to the sea, the right to keep open all days of the week. In order to become a Tourist Town the number of visitors needs to greatly exceed the number of residents throughout the year.
In this small, southern idyllic town you will find art gallerys, hotel, a couple of bakeries, a café, grocery stores, bank, a pub and a wine bar. There are also several other summer open bars and restaurants around the older part of the town. In addition, Åsgårdstrand has an elementary school, an old folks home and several kindergartens.
In June every year, Åsgårdstrand celebrates Midsommer – the longest day of the year – with a large fire on the shorefront.
I 1898 kjøpte Edvard Munch hus i Åsgårdstrand. Mange av de kjente bildene hans ble laget mens han bodde her, blant annet “Pikene på broen”, “Melankoli” og “Livets dans”.
