Bærum has approximately 115.000 inhabitants and covers a area of 192,3 km2. Sandvika is the administrative centre of the municipality of Bærum in Norway. Farming and forestry have always been important for settling and employment in Bærum. Large shoppingcentres and specialist shops draw people from a large area to Bærum. The main attractions are the Henie Onstad Art Centre, Bærums Verk Centre, Haslum Church, Tanum Church, lime kilns at Slependen and Ringi, the Lommedalsbanen (railway line) and the Samvirke Museum.
Agriculture has always been one of the most important industries in Bærum. But in the 1860s, a new era began: Technical developments, particularly the steam ship, paved paved the way for new opportunities. Fishing and Horticulture compered with agriculture as the most important activity because products could now be quickly transported by steam ship to the market.
The word Bærum means “mountainous area” – the old name for the community (Bergheim) means a community with many mountains and ridges. The area was first settled during the late ice age, and when the ice melted the soil was rich and yielded good harvests. Under the Kolsåstoppen mountain “rock carvings” (helleristninger) have been found. The rock carvings figures of ships etc. dating from 1,500 BC – the Bronze age. On the Kalvøya, an island just outside Sandvika, archealogists have found traces of settlements from the Bronze and Iron age.
The most important motorways and main roads to and from the whole of Norway go through Akershus. Travelers by train, coach, car and boat to and from the area around Oslo have to pass through Akershus. There is a very good public transport system carrying large numbers of passengers between Akershus and the surrounding area daily, facilitating travel around the county. This provides an alternative to the big city, whether it´s for just an afternoon trip or a longer stay. You can get to all parts of Akershus within one hour from the centre of Oslo. The most modern airport in Europe lies in Akershus Oslo Airport.
FORNEBU
Oslo Airport, Fornebu served as the main airport for Oslo and the country since before World War II and until the evening of October 7, 1998, when it was closed down. Overnight, a grand moving operation was performed, so that the following morning, the new main airport, located inland at Gardermoen (OSL), opened for operations as the main airport, as opposed to previously having been a minor airport.
As of 2001, the Fornebu area is being developed as a centre for information technology and telecom industry, as well as there being some housing project developments nearby. The head office of some of Norways big companies are located here. Norway´s telecom giant Telenor, Scandinavian Airlines System´s (SAS), Norwegian Air Shuttle, Aker Solution, Statoil and EVRY is also based at Fornebu.
Telenor Arena, sometimes referred to as Fornebu Arena, is a multi-purpose indoor arena located at Fornebu. It serves as a venue for a variety of events, including concerts, exhibitions, action shows, family shows, TV and sport. It has a capacity for 15,000 spectators for sports and 23,000 for concerts, including 40 luxury boxes and club seating for 1,200. The venue has a fixed roof and an asphalt floor. Telenor Arena has hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, as well as concerts.
LYSAKER
Lysaker is the easternmost part of Bærum, and borders Oslo proper. Lysaker was initially a farming community, later becoming a residential area. Today it is primarily known as a business and trade area, and a public transport hub. It is considered part of Oslo, and is home to the offices of numerous national and international businesses. Lysaker is located where a stream, Lysakerelva, empties into Lysakerfjorden, a branch of the Oslofjorden. This stream is traditionally and politically considered the western border of Oslo proper. To the South-East Lysaker is bordered by the fjord. To the South-West is the Fornebu area, where one of Oslos two airports were located until the other airport, Gardermoen, was expanded in order to handle all the traffic alone. As with Lysaker, the Fornebu area is today primarily a business area, but also has a small airport for private planes and seaplanes. To the west and north are the primarily residential areas of Stabekk and Jar.
Sandvika is situated approximately 15 kilometres west of Oslo. It is the main transportation hub for Western Bærum, and has a combined bus and railway station. Sandvika is also one of the stops along the route of the Airport Express Train. Sandvika also has Scandinavia´s largest super mall, Sandvika Storsenter, with 190 stores and total area of 60.000 m2. A small islet in Sandviksbukta outside Sandvika is called Danmark. Danes who live in the area join together every year on 5 June Denmark’s national day to celebrate.
Claude Monet visited in early 1895. During his stay he painted several views of the town and the surrounding landscape, with the mountain ridge Kolsås featuring in many of the paintings either in the background or as the primary subject. Perhaps the most well known of the paintings from this visit is Sandviken Village in the Snow which features the Løkke bridge in the foreground with Kolsås in the background. The bridge still stands in Sandvika.
KALVØYA
Kalvøya island is right outside of Sandvika. The island has been connected to the mainland by a suspension bridge to Kadettangen since 1963. Kalvøya island is a good place for recreation. Kalvøya is one of the most popular bathing spots in Bærum. On the far east side of the island there is a nude beach. Kalvøya plays host to an annual soccer tournament for kids and a children´s festival. The festival Øyafestivalen also has its roots there. Kalvøya is also host to an annual music festival where several national acts have performed live over the years.
HENIE-ONSTAD ART CENTER
The Henie-Onstad Art Center has the largest collection in Norway of international modern art, and is one of the most popular museums in Norway. In addition to art exhibitions, the museum is a thriving activity center for music, dance, theatre, film and literature. Cafe / restaurant with award-winning cuisine named (Bølgen & Moi). Gallery shop and library.
The Henie-Onstad Art Center is a donation from the famous Norwegian figure skater, Sonja Henie, and her shipowner husband, Niels Onstad. A room in the gallery displays all the awards, prizes and trophies tha Sonja Henie won during her career as a figure skater.
The Henie-Onstad Art Center is surrounded by an international sculpture park. The focal point is work by Arnold Haukeland, who was a pioneer of modern Norwegian sculpture, and who lived in Bærum for most of his life. The Henie-Onstad collection comprises more than 7.000 works and includes Picasso, Matisse, Beuys and Christo.
BÆRUMS VERK
Picturesque countryside and buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries form the backdrop to Bærums Verk. This old iron works from 1610 is one of the most distinctive shopping and handicraft centres in Norway. A iron ore was found in Bærum in 1603, and the iron foundry Bærums Verk was established. This foundry would become an important contributor to the Norwegian economy in the next centuries. Peder Anker was one of the owners, and after his death his son in law, count Herman Wedel-Jarlsberg, inherited the foundry. It stayed in his family until 1902 when the Løvenskiold family acquired it. Other important industries in the community included factories that produced iron nails, and a powder and cellulose factory at the Lysaker river (Lysakerelva).
LOMMEDALEN
Lommedalen is a picturesque, rural community in a small valley. Lommedalen is located about 4 kilometers north of Bærums Verk. Lommedalen includes wooded areas, some agricultural land, and residential zones. It includes parts of the forest area Krokskogen. The river Lomma runs through the valley. The lake Burudvannet, which is a popular bathing place, is also located in the area. The pilgrim road to Nidaros Cathedral passed through Lommedalen.
Lommedalen is a popular area for skiing in winter time and horse back riding in summer time. It is also home to two golf courses, Lommedalen Golf Club and Bærum Golf Club.
Magnus Carlsen the World Chess Champion and No 1 ranked player in the world, grew up in Lommedalen.
ARTISTS
In addition to the factories, several Norwegian artists lived in Bærum: the Norwegian painters Fritz Thaulow, Christian Skredsvig, Harriet Backer, Kitty Kielland and Otto Sinding all lived in this community. Perhaps best known is the so-called Lysakerkretsen (the Lysaker group) which included Eilif Pettersen, Gerhardt Munthe and Erik Werenskiold. The arctic explorer Fridtjof Nansen also belonged to this group. The summer of 1886 is perhaps the most important time period for this artistic community. The Fleskum-summer was a unique time period in Norwegian artistic history: six of the most important artists in Norway spent that summer on the farm Fleskum in Bærum.
FISHING
Fishing possibilities are good in Oslofjorden. A rich variety of activities are available, including good trout fishing in rivers and lakes.
GOLF
Bærum Golfclub is a golf course with 18 holes and a variation of difficulties. The course is an open forrestcourt. Drivingrange and ProShop.
Ballerud Golfclub is a golf course with 9 holes and a variation of difficulties.
Bærum Golfcenter is a place where you can simulate a game of golf.
Haga Golfclub is a training course with 9 holes and a variation of difficulties.
Lommedalen Golfclub is a golf course with 9 holes and a variation of difficulties.