Every design for Stavern

Stavern sits at the mouth of the Larviksfjorden on the Skagerrak coast, a short way south of Larvik, and has been a harbour since ancient times. Old sources call it Staferni, a fishing place with a good harbour, and later came a pilot station, trade and busy shipping. When the navy moved its fleet station and galley yard here, the whole place took the name of the base, Fredriksvern, and only took back its old name much later.

There is a mood of summer and painters about the town. Herman Wildenvey, Jonas Lie, Hans Gude and Christian Krohg all lived here at some point, and Citadelløya, with its gunpowder tower and commandant's house, is now a refuge for artists. In summer the population swells many times over with campers, cottage folk and visiting boats. Sjømennenes minnehall honours the sailors who died in both world wars, Staverns Fort recalls the military town, and Agnesstranda and Agnesbukta are the summer swim. The fortifications reach out to Rakke fort as well.

Stavern was once Norway's smallest town, lost its town status in a merger and simply declared it back. For anyone who has sailed in past Citadelløya, that sounds right: Stavern is a town because coming back to it feels like coming home.