According to the earliest Norwegian writings, it was in our very district our ancient gods had their actual site. The Sarpsborg area holds some of the finest relics in the country - rock carvings, burial mounds, fortifications and impressive monuments in stone. Norway's most famous king, Olav Haraldsson - later St. Olav, founded Sarpsborg in 1016.
The Kulås park
The landscape is welcoming, full of variety. Lush meadows, deep forests and calm waters offers wonderful opportunities for walking tours, swimming, fishing and canoeing. Sarpsfossen was one of the sights of Northern Europe when the largest volume of water in Scandinavia thundered in free fall over the precipice.
Sarpsfossen waterfall
Today one can admire what this enormous water power has created - the huge industrial plants. By the Sarpsfossen waterfall lies Hafslund Manor, built in 1760.
The Hafslund Manor
Sarpsborg was founded in 1016 by King Olav Haraldsson. He had this town as his capital for several years, but left for good in 1028. He died at the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030. Through the Middle Ages the town is mentioned only occasionally.
Sarpsborg's geographical location placed the town in the front line of hostilities in the war Sweden fought against Norway and Denmark in 1567 - and the result was our town as a smoking ruin. A sad story - and this fact, together with the increasing competition in exporting of logs, made the people to move their town nearer the sea, to what today is the town of Fredrikstad.
After St. Olav it went hundreds of years with peaceful sleep for Sarpsborg. But one interruption has to be mentioned: The nightmare in 1702 when the old town was completely destroyed in a gigantic landslide. The few reminds of the town as it was is a church ruin and about 200 feet of the old town ramparts.
The ruins of St. Nicolas Church at The Borgarsyssel Museum
Our main factory, sited near the great waterfall, is Borregaard. It was at first a sawmill, but it burnt to the ground and was replaced by a sulphate pulp mill to produce paper and wood pulp. The construction works began in 1890. Within a period of ten years the plant became the largest in the country. Today Borregaard Industries is one of the world's leaders in several chemical products.
On the whole, from being one of the largest in wood forest industry in Norway several industrial concerns in Sarpsborg gradually developed towards modern, high-tech concerns. One of them, Norcool, is well known world wide for their quality products.
After years "in the shadow" Sarpsborg again was granted town status in 1839. From the year 1992, after a resolution in the Norwegian parliament (Stortinget), Sarpsborg, Skjeberg, Tune and Varteig became one municipal unit. Today's population is 52.805 (year 2011) and the total area is 427 km2. Of this 84 km2 is cultivated earth and 32 km2 is water - the rest is mostly forests. Sarpsborg has 23 schools, 11 churches, 4 libraries and the number of civic employees is 4.100.
Inspiria Science Center
Twin cities
Sarpsborg's twin cities are Forssa in Finland, Struer in Denmark, Södertälje in Sweden, Berwick upon Tweed in England, and in connection with the Norwegian Independence Day, 17. of May, our mayor in 1997 signed the twin city agreement with the city of Bethlehem in Palestine. On the very place where the first "Oslo Agreement" between Israel and Palestine was signed - at Borregaard Manor. In October 2005 the twin city agreement between Sarpsborg and Grand Forks in North Dakota, USA, was signed - in Grand Forks.
Our city emblem is a bear and a fortress (Borg in Norwegian) - symbols of St. Olav's town and strength. The original emblem was made by earl Alv Erlingsson around 1285.
The City Emblem
Inspiria Science Center
Visit Sarpsborg (The tourist office)