Bø

Pop. 4,422; Area 266.43 sq. km. (102 sq. mi.)

Bø is open and inviting countryside under Lifjell. The town itself has had a period of great development in recent years. To a large degree this has been caused by the establishment of the Telemark District College in Bø. A high school with boarding facilities is also located here.
Lifjell is a popular winter and summer recreation area. The highest peak of the range is Gyrannaten. In 1870 two French balloonists escaped the German siege of Paris and landed at Lifjell. They were found by two local residents who helped them reach Oslo where they celebrated this first flight over Norway.

SIGHTS TO SEE:
The Bø churches lie side by side on a height overlooking the surrounding countryside. The Old Church is a romanesque stone church from the middle of the 1100's. The interior is in renaissance with a pulpit that has been termed a masterpiece. The New Church in Bø was consecrated in 1875. It is a long church built of wood. The altarpiece was painted by Victor Smith and carved in wood by Halvor Slettemeøs in the late 1940's.

The Bø District Museum has two separate locations: The Åheim General Store Museum, together with the local hall "Polen," at Oterholt Bridge. The interior of the General Store Museum dates to the early 1900's and the building itself is from 1898. Period goods and original equipment are displayed in the store, the office, the storeroom and warehouses. Just across the street is the local hall, "Polen," where old photographs and other mementoes of the old days in Bø are on display.

Østerli Farm has an old farmhouse, a "stabur" and a barn which give you an idea of how life used to be lived on a farm in this area. From the farmyard you get a fantastic view of Bø and the surrounding countryside.

Telemark Summerland is a family entertainment park built up in a forested area of over 10,000 acres. Features include the "Plunger" water slide, Water Wonderland, Fairy Tale Land, Tarzan's Jungle, and the Old Wild West, and Prehistoric Park. Top artists perform on the outdoor stage.

Gvålahaugen is a historic site with prehistoric grave mounds.

HOTELS:
Beverøya camping, 3800 Bø; Tel. 35 95 05 08

Bø Hotell, 3800 Bø; Tel. 35 95 01 11 Fax. 35 95 07 07

Hollanesæter Turisthytte, 3800 Bø; Tel 35 95 01 48

Lifjellstugo, 3800 Bø; Tel. 35 95 33 80 Fax. 35 95 33 67

LOCAL AUTHORITY OFFICE: 3800 Bø; Tel. 35 06 04 00

Bygdebøker for Bø

Bø-soga: Telemark. Skien: Bø kommune/O. Rasmussens Boktrykkeri.

Lunde, Gunnar. Bd. I. Kultursoga. 1972.

Nordbø, G. Bd. II-III. Gards og Ættesoga. 1982-1984.

Henneseid, Stian. Bd. IV. Gards- og Ætte-soge. 1986.

Soga om Hørtevereket. Av. Jon Hvitsand. Tug. Hørtesogelaget 1984.