Andebu municipality is a rural and forestry district in the hart of Vestfold, Norway. It covers approximately 185,9 km2 and has approximately 5,500 inhabitants. The coat-of-arms of the district symbolises each of the three parishes in the district: Andebu, Høyjord and Kodal. Each parish has its own centre, but smaller centres are also found with shops and services, such as Hvitstein and Torp. The waterlily has been chosen as the district´s flower.

Andebu district is one of the most important outdoor districts in Vestfold, and it has a well developed network of paths and trails open in summer and winter, for both well-trained end experienced walkers as well as more inexperienced and less confident nature lovers. Many attractive forest roads in Andebu district are ideal for cycle enthusiasts of all ages, and with a good map to hand the possibilities for trips are endless.

There are approximately 35 lakes in the district, of which most are small. The rivers Skorgeelva and Svartåa contain sea trout and salmon. There are 16 lakes / rivers in the district which may be fished with a permit. Andebu also has a rich variety of wildlife, and hunting is an important outdoor activity and industry in the district.

Anebu has two areas which are under the protection plan for marshes from 1980. Marshes are important habitats for birds, animals and rare plants. The marches also function in regulating the ground water. One of the areas is called Skarsholttjønn and lies west of Vidaråsen. This area is approximately 35 acras. The other is called Veggermyra, it is approximately 15 acres and lies along route 307 just north of Bråvoll.

THE VESTFOLD TAPESTRIES

Most of these tapestries, 13 at present, come from Andebu, e.g. Trollsås Tapestry, Døvle Tapestry, Hynne Tapestry, Tønsberg Tapestry and Sandar Tapestry. These tapestries are made using a very special technique called “Vestfold weave” and were produced between 1708 and 1840.

LORENS BERG

Known for his books about the area and local historical research, Lorens Berg was born on the Berg Farm in Kodal in 1862. The Andebu Book was published in 1905, and other books about Brunlanes, Hedrum, Tjølling, Sandeherred, Tjøme, Nøtterøy and Stokke followed later. Lorens Berg died in 1924. In 1928 the Vestfold History Society built a memorial, and in 1952 a statue of Lorens Berg was unveiled in Prestbyen in Kodal. The statue was made by the sculptor Hans Holmen.

GULLI MUSEUM

Gulli skoletun is the oldest school museum in the county of Vestfold. The school building at Gulli was built in 1892 and used as a school until 1958. In 1978 it was decided that one of the two schoolrooms in the building should be arranged as an “old-fashioned” schoolroom. School equipment from the old days has been collected, and today approximately 50 pictures and almost 600 objects are on display. The cultural office gives information on opening hours and arranges guided tours.

COMMUNALSTUA

Communalstua was built in 1854 as an annex to the vicarage´s wash-house. This wing was named Communalgården and became the permanent locality for county meetings until 1908. In 1977 Communalstua at the vicarage was pulled down, and in 1985 it was re-built at Gulli skoletun. Communalstua still contains many of the fixtures from 1854.

HØYJORD STAVE CHURCH

Vestfold’s only preserved stave church. The church’s oldest part, the chancel, is trom the 12th century. The nave, however, is from the second half of the 13th century. As well as the corner posts the church has side posts and a central post. Originally it was whitewashed and decorated inside, some of this has oeen restored. Finn Kramt has in addition painted a number of new decorations. On the north wall are drawings of ships from the 14th century. The crosses are from the original consecration. The restoration was completed in 1953, the architect was Otto L. Scheen.

Guided tours 1st – 31st July. Mon-Fri 5.00 and 5.30 pm. Saturday at 11.00 and 11.30 am. During the rest of the year guided tours for groups may be arranged through the verger.

The Stave Churches are constructions of high quality, richly decorated with carvings. In virtually all of them the door frames are decorated from top to bottom with carvings. This tradition of rich ornamentation appears to go back to the animal carvings of the Viking age. The dragons are lovingly executed and transformed into long-limbed creatures of fantasy, here and there entwined with tendrils of vine, with winding stems and serrated leaves. The elaborate designs are executed with supreme artistic skill. The stave church doorways are, therefore, among the most distinctive works of art to be found in Norway. However, it is difficult to connect them with the Christian gospel.

ANEBU CHURCH

Stone church from before 1200 AD. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St. Nicholas. On the south wall of the nave is a picture by the Dutchman Pieter Aertsen, painted in 1569. For many years this picture was the altarpiece in The Church of our Lady in Tønsberg. The altarpiece of Andebu church comprises three paintings framed by columns, with a larger picture of the Ascension above it, probably trom the first half of the 17th century. Font in gothic style from the 12th century, soapstone.

KODAL CHURCH

The chancel is of stone and dates from the 12th oentury. The nave from 1691 is made of round timbers. The altarpiece “The Crucifixion” is from 1781. The painting “Jesus and the disciples on the walk to Emmaus” by Otto Valstad in the style of Dorph, 1899.

GOLF

Golf in Vestfold.