Originally founded in 1016 by the Viking King Olav Haraldsson, Sarpsborg is a vibrant city on the northern bank of the Glomma River. It was burned to the ground by Swedish invaders during the Northern Seven Years’ War and later flourished as an industrial hub, with the mighty Sarpefossen driving its power stations.
Things to do in Sarpsborg
Marvel at one of Europe’s most powerful waterfalls, Sarpefossen, with 577 cubic metres of water plunging every second into the Glomma River. Several viewpoints along the river’s east bank offer a chance to observe its mighty roar, while a railway passes above the waterfall. A couple of kilometres downstream is the “Sarp Wave”, which is a thrilling setting for river surfing and kayaking.
Sprawling to the south of Sarpsborg’s city centre is the Kulåsparken, a leafy green space that encompasses burial mounds dating back to the 3rd century AD. You can stretch your legs on one of the marked walking trails and admire the 19th-century Borregaard Hovedgård, an elegant manor house where secret meetings were once held in the lead up to the Oslo Agreement.
A stone’s throw from Sarpsborg is its sister city, Fredrikstad, which is dominated by a star fort dating back to the 17th century. It was established in 1567 by King Frederick II as Norway’s first Renaissance city, featuring atmospheric cobblestone streets, water-filled moats and high earth ramparts. Don’t miss the largest model railroad exhibition in Scandinavia at the Old Town Model Train Centre, which also features a scale model of the fortified town, Gamlebyen.
Getting around Sarpsborg
Sarpsborg is just over an hour’s drive from the centre of Oslo or 1.5 hours from Oslo Airport. Regular trains connect from the Norwegian capital to Sarpsborg railway station while buses travel throughout Sarpsborg.