Sarpsborg was founded by the Viking King Olav Haraldsson in 1016. Unfortunately most of the old city ended up in the river Glomma, after a mudslide between 1200-1400. The city was rebuilt at a safer location but was burnt down to the ground by the Swedish invaders in 1567 (are you getting the common theme here?)
Welcome to Sarpsborg
Sarpsborg is officially the brightest city in Norway, when it was declared the sunniest place in the entire country for the year 2005. I'm going to have to agree with them, as the one day we were there, the sun shone down on us.
The city was home to the family Bakkelund, before they immigrated around 1900 to America. The literal meaning of the name Bakkelund is, "hill-grove." A fairly accurate description of the Bakkelund that I know.
Jon, the first Bakkelund to return to the homeland.
The city is a blue collar economy, with many of its 50,000 inhabitants working industrial jobs. It is also home to Borg beer brewery, the most famous of the Norwegian Pilsners.
Bakkelund drinking a Borg in Sarpsborg, now there is a Norwegian scene
It is fairly clear why the Bakkelunds left Sarpsborg, as the city isn't much to look at. What is ironic however, is that the Norwegian countryside looks EXACTLY the same as the Wisconsin countryside. I guess people stick to what is familiar to them. Take a walk in Sarpsborg by clicking here.
Vestvannet Lake (Fjord?)
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