Things to do in Larvik, Eastern Norway: The Best Churches & Cathedrals

Fredriksvern church from 1756 is the first garrison church in Norway. It is a worthy representative for all rococo churches in our country. Fredriksvern shipyard and naval base was established in 1750, and the garrison church was established and then inaugurated six years later. The church was built in rococo style from Dutch brickwork, and it has glazed, dark blue tiles. Salt from the bricks eventually damaged the walls, and because of this exterior and interior walls were whitewashed. In the 1880s the church was rejuvenated, and the genuine colours of red and yellow were reinforced. As the only place of worship in town, the floor in Fredriksvern church is formed as a cross. The church also still has the two-storey altarpiece it got to the inauguration in 1756. There is a hipped end roof in the church. Above the main entrance the monogram of king Fredrik V. shines in typical rococo style, and in addition the mechanical clockwork from 1756 that the church vicar still winds up twice a week.

Hedrum church is a stone church dating from around the year 1100. The church can seat 260 people, and celebrated its first 950 years in 2010. The Roman-style stone church is mentioned in writing as early as the year 1080. It was recognized as one of six main churches in the ancient Viken county. Over the centuries the church has gone through some major changes, but the original nave with its characteristical crooked ground plan has primarily been kept as it was. A bell from the 1100s is today the oldest relic inside the church, while the impressive renaissance interior can be dated to the late 16th century. Also worth mentioning is the fact that there are several old gravestones masoned to the church floor here.

Berg old church is a church built around the year 1100 in Brunlanes outside Larvik. The church is easy to find, close to classified road 301. The church is Anglo-Saxon, with an oval nave and a smaller four-sided choir, in Roman style. The original church was torn down in 1882, and rebuilt in 1970. The oldest object in the church is a runic stone from the 12th century laid inside the church walls and a grave stone from the same period with a primitively carved crucifix. The pulpit is from the year 1592.