Andebu

Andebu is a village in Sandefjord municipality, Vestfold County, and a former municipality. The administrative centre of the municipality was the village of Andebu. The village is surrounded by forests, mountains, and hills. Its nearest cities are Sandefjord and Tønsberg.[1] The parish of Andebo was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). On 1 January 2017, the municipality became a part of Sandefjord municipality, along with Stokke. The former municipality now makes up the northernmost part of Sandefjord municipality.[2]

Andebu
Former Municipality
View of Andebu seen from Dalaåsen. Andebu is mainly forests and lakes. (Photo: Gunnar Gallis)
Coordinates: 59°17′50″N 10°6′18″E
Population
 (2016)
 • Total2,160
 • Density28/km2 (70/sq mi)

Andebu is home to three Medieval churches.[3] It is home to Norway's oldest parish register, which belongs to Andebu Church and is dated to 1623. Andebu is also the home of Høyjord Stave Church, the only stave church in Vestfold County. Andebu was home to 2,160 residents as of 2016.[4]

General information
Andebu's former coat of arms.

Andebu has large areas of woodland. The main villages are Andebu, Høyjord, and Kodal. The church buildings in all three villages are from the Middle Ages; Kodal Church (Kodal kirke) dates from the 12th century; Høyjord Stave Church (Høyjord Stavkyrkje) was built around 1150–1200.

Name

The Old Norse form of the name was Andabú. The meaning of the first element is unknown and the last element is bú which means "district". Prior to 1889, the name was written "Andebo".[5]

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times. They were granted on 12 December 1986. The arms show three silver triangles, each for one of the three villages/parishes in the municipality: Andebu, Høyjord, and Kodal. The three triangles also form the letter A, the initial of the municipality. The colour green represents agriculture and forestry[6][7][8]

History
Høyjord Stave Church is Vestfold County's only stave church.[9]

Various historical artifacts and burial mounds dated to the Viking Age have been discovered in Andebu. Finds include a bronze key, a stone axe, arrows, and more. Burial mounds have been discovered on approximately 30 farms in Andebu, including 17 in Andebu proper, 5 in Høyjord, and 7 in Kodal. Some mounds are dated back as far as 500 BCE, i.e. over a thousand years prior to the Viking Age. Large amounts of burial mounds are found at Nordre Haugan, Nedre Skjelland, Våle, Vestre Høyjord, Bjørndal, and Gjerstad.[10][11]

The 14th century Black Plague had a devastating impact on Andebu. It is estimated that the population was 600 as of 1600 A.D., approximately the same amount as prior to the plague.[12][13]

Andebu municipality was established on 1 January 1838, with priest Jens H. Otterbeck as its first mayor. Otterbeck served as mayor for 24 years and was the longest-serving mayor of Andebu.[14]

Geography
Town Hall.

Andebu lies in the interior central parts of Vestfold County. Most of Andebu is forested, but numerous rivers and mountains can also be found in Andebu. Rivers include Merkedamselva, which flows through eastern parts of Høyjord village. Steinselva (Skorgeelva), Bergselva and Bølevannsbekken are other rivers. Lakes include Stålerødvannet, Heievannet, Goksjø, and others. The highest points of the former municipality are in northwestern parts near the village of Høyjord. Some peaks include Brånafjell, which is the tallest peak in Sandefjord municipality, as well as Åletjønnåsen and Storås. Smaller peaks include Bustingen, Skørsåsane, and Storås by Skjeau. The municipality of Andebu was home to 35 lakes, including Askjemvannet (0.37 km2), which was the largest lake in Andebu. Parts of Goksjø Lake was also located in Andebu, while minor lakes are Ilestadvannet and Åletjønn, both located near the village of Høyjord.[15][16]

Brånafjell at 399 meters above sea level is the tallest mountain peak in the former municipality of Andebu, and currently the highest peak in Sandefjord municipality. It is located in northernmost Andebu on the border to Re, and just two kilometers from Lardal. Parking for mountain hiking trails can be found by Trollsvann.[17]

Andebu Church
Andebu Church (Norwegian: Andebu kirke).

Andebu Church (Andebu kirke) dates from ca. 1100. The church was first mentioned in a diploma from 1314. The edifice is of stone and has 300 seats. The soapstone baptismal font is from the 1100s. The altarpiece and the pulpit are in Renaissance style and date from about 1650. The images of the altarpiece shows events from the crucifixion of Jesus. The church was extensively restored in 1686. The ridge turret was destroyed in a storm in 1701 and had to be rebuilt. The two church bells were cast by O. Olsen & Son in 1874. The pipe organ from 1909, was replaced during the 1970s. [18]

Recreation
Kodalveien in the centre of Andebu village.

Heisetra is a cabin owned by Sandefjord Tourist Association which lies by Heivannet Lake and Svartåa River. 100 km of marked hiking trails are located near the cabin. The trails are used by cross-country skiers, bicyclists, hikers, and equestrians.[19][20][21]

Andebu is home to numerous gravel trails, for instance located by Snappen, Trolldalen, and Vidaråsen. Parking for Snappen can be found nearby Heisetra cabin, along with a variety of other forest- and mountain hikes. It can be reached by driving to Pipenholt, which lies along county road 210 between Kodal and Åsrum in Larvik. From Pipenholt, drive towards Hvitstein. Heiaveien goes through an agricultural landscape and passes by Geirastadir.[22]

Andebu's highest mountain, Brånafjell, is the tallest mountain in Sandefjord municipality at 399 meters. It is located in northernmost Andebu, on the border to Re, and just two kilometers from Lardal (Larvik). The trail to the mountain can be found by Trollsvann Lake.[23]

Another mountain trail leads to the peak and tower at Vetan, a 1.5 km hike from the village centre in Andebu. From the village centre, follow Kodalveien to Familiesenteret. From there, make a right and follow the gravel Møylandsveien over the farm fields. Before the farm, the trail winds left into the woodlands. Interpretive signs can be found throughout the trail, which describe the area's species of wildlife and flora. The peak has an elevation of 180 meters and the house on top was originally a lookout tower meant to be used in times of war. An overlook tower was constructed at Vetan in 1988, which provides panoramic views of Tønsberg Fortress, the Oslo Fjord, Gaustatoppen and Skrim.[24]

Andebu is home to 35 lakes, where fishing is permitted in 16 lakes. The largest rivers are Svartåa and Skorgeelva.[25]

Points of interest
Norway spruce forest in Andebu.
  • Høyjord Stave Church, only stave church left in Vestfold County.
  • Heisetra, cabin owned by Sandefjord Tourist Association, adjacent to combined 100 km of hiking trails.
  • Andebu Church, largest Medieval church in Sandefjord municipality.[26]
  • Goksjø Lake (part), third-largest lake in Vestfold County.
  • Svartåa River, one of Andebu's largest rivers, popular fishing river.[27]
  • Brånafjell, tallest mountain in Sandefjord municipality.

Notable people

References
  1. Bertelsen, Hans Kristian (1998). Bli kjent med Vestfold / Become acquainted with Vestfold. Stavanger Offset AS. Pages 108-109. ISBN 9788290636017.
  2. Larsen, Erlend (2016). Tre kommuner blir til én: Suksesskriteriene bak nye Sandefjord. E-forl. Page 64. ISBN 9788293057277.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 January 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Lundbo, Sten (16 January 2018). "Andebu". Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019 – via Store norske leksikon.
  5. Rygh, Oluf (1907). Norske gaardnavne: Jarlsberg og Larviks amt (in Norwegian) (6 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 155. Archived from the original on 14 November 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  6. Norske Kommunevåpen (1990). "Nye kommunevåbener i Norden". Archived from the original on 15 July 2007. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
  7. "Fakta om Andebu". Andebu kommune. Retrieved 11 January 2009. (in Norwegian)
  8. Larsen, Erlend (2016). Tre kommuner blir til én: Suksesskriteriene bak nye Sandefjord. E-forl. Page 158. ISBN 9788293057277.
  9. Børresen, Svein E. (2004). Vestfoldboka: en reise i kultur og natur. Skagerrak forl. Page 67. ISBN 9788292284070.
  10. "Historisk Innledning". Archived from the original on 17 June 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  11. Gallis, Arne (1975). Andebu bygdebok: Kulturbind. Andebu kommune. Page 14.
  12. "Historisk Innledning". Archived from the original on 17 June 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  13. Gallis, Arne (1975). Andebu bygdebok: Kulturbind. Andebu kommune. Page 4.
  14. Ormestad, Stian (31 December 2016). "Her går en god nabo gjennom 179 år over i historien". ReAvisa. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  15. "HISTORISK INNLEDNING". andebu.info. Archived from the original on 17 June 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  16. Gallis, Arne (1975). Andebu bygdebok: Kulturbind. Andebu kommune. Pages 1-3.
  17. Larsen, Erlend (2011). På Tur i Vestfold del 2. E-forlag. Page 144. ISBN 9788293057222.
  18. "Andebu kirke". Den norske kirke. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  19. "Disse 10 fotturene er de beste i Vestfold". sb.no. 21 September 2015. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  20. "Heisetra – Sandefjord Turistforening". sandefjord.dnt.no.
  21. Larsen, Erlend (2010). På Tur i Vestfold del 1. E-forlag. Page 20. ISBN 9788293057130.
  22. Larsen, Erlend (2011). På Tur i Vestfold del 2. E-forlag. Pages 481 and 490-491. ISBN 9788293057222.
  23. Larsen, Erlend (2011). På Tur i Vestfold del 2. E-forlag. Page 165. ISBN 9788293057222.
  24. Larsen, Erlend (2011). På Tur i Vestfold del 2. E-forlag. Pages 47-50. ISBN 9788293057222.
  25. "Andebu (kommune) – Kodal bygdeleksikon". kodal.info. Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  26. "Andebu kirke". visitvestfold.com.
  27. "Sandefjord". gonorway.no. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.

Literature
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