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M/S Strømsfoss - formerly M/S Turisten on the Halden Canal, Norway Photo: Asbjørn Nilsen

Attractions in Indre Østfold

Take a trip on the Halden Canal, Norway's oldest man-made waterway. Or visit the country's largest inland fortress in Mysen.

The Halden Canal

The Halden Canal, the oldest canal in Norway, goes all the way from Skulerud in the north to Tistedal in the south, stretching almost 80 kilometres. Along this exciting waterway you will find three lock systems, with a total of 39 metres lift height. You can take a boat trip on board the M/S Strømsfoss - (formerly M/S Turisten) or on one of the other steamboats moored in Ørje. Or you might want to hire a canoe and spend the night at one of the camp sites by the waterside.

In the north you will find Ørje Locks, dating back to 1860, with three locks and a total lift height of 10 metres. The locks here are operated by hand. At Strømsfoss Lock, also built in 1860, there is one lock with a two-metre lift height.

Brekke Locks are made up of four locks with a lift height of 27 metres. Brekke Locks are Northern Europe’s highest lock system.

Museums and defence works

 The Canal Museum in Ørje is the place to go to learn about the Halden Watercourse, the Halden Canal and the locks in the region.

Indre Østfold has played a central role in the country's history, and has impressive defence works from various periods. One of these is Høytorp Fort in Mysen which is Norway's greatest inland fortress. In Hobøl you will find Ole Kjærbu's krigshistoriske samlinger, an impressive collection of items from World War II.

There are also several rural museums such as Folkenborg Museum in Mysen and Rakkestad Bygdetun. You can also visit Bøensætre husmannsplass in Aremark, which is best known as location for the reality-TV series "The Farm" in 2008 (Norwegian edition) and 2009 (German edition).

It is also worth mentioning all the beautiful churches in the region. Some of these are open for tourists.

Last, but not least, Norway's largest ceramic workshop, Lannem Keramikk in Rakkestad, makes for an interesting stop. They produce their own clay and here you can not only buy ceramic products, but also see how they are made.

Outdoor activities

In Indre Østfold there are wonderful opportunities for an active outdoor life. There are several marked paths for both hiking and cycling, as well as good possibilities for hunting, canoeing and fishing.

Last updated:  2011-05-31
Ørje Locks, Norway - Photo: Jørn A. Fjeld
Ørje Locks, Norway

Topic:  Nature attractions, Buildings & Monuments, Museums & Galleries

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M/S Strømsfoss - formerly M/S Turisten on the Halden Canal, Norway - Photo: Asbjørn Nilsen

Attractions in Indre Østfold

Take a trip on the Halden Canal, Norway's oldest man-made waterway. Or visit the country's largest inland fortress in Mysen.

Attractions in Indre Østfold

Source: Visitnorway

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About Indre Østfold

Key facts about Indre Østfold

Come and enjoy the exciting district between Oslo and the Swedish border - enjoy undisturbed nature, wilderness experiences and a lot of culture.

Tourist information in Indre Østfold

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Indre Østfold

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