TONSBERG

town and seat of Vestfold fylke (county), southeastern Norway, at the head of Tnsbergfjorden. Considered to be the oldest town in Norway, Tnsberg was founded c. AD 871 and became an important trading centre. In the 13th century King Hkon Hkonsson built his castle, Tnsberghus, there. The town was destroyed by fire in 1536 and only in the 18th and 19th centuries did it become a major port and one of Norway's major shipping and whaling centres. Until the late 1960s it was Norway's third largest maritime town. Tnsberg remains an industrial and shipping centre, with such diverse concerns as metal shops, shipyards, paper mills, leather processing, and breweries; it is noted especially for its silverware. Tourist sites include ruins of the Tnsberghus, St. Michael's Church (c. 1150), the Royal Castle (1276), Sem Church (c. 1100), and the Vestfold Museum. Pop. (1983 est.) mun., 8,921.