Andebu is a former municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The 186-square-kilometre (72 sq mi) municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution on 1 January 2017. The area is now part of Sandefjord Municipality. The administrative centre was the village of Andebu. Other main villages in Andebu include Høyjord and Kodal.

Andebu was the fourth-largest municipality in Vestfold county and it was situated in the center of the county. Upon its dissolution, the 186-square-kilometre (72 sq mi) municipality had a population of 5,937. The municipality's population density was 32 inhabitants per square kilometre (83/sq mi).^[5][6]

Andebu's economy was primarily related to logging and forestry. Andebu has been inhabited for centuries and the oldest artifacts retrieved here dates back 4000 years to the Iron Age. Most retrieved artifacts are various types of tools, mainly axes made of flint and other rocks. Andebu’s geography consists mainly of valleys, hills, mountains, forests, and lakes.^[7]

The parish of Andebo (later spelled Andebu) was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1878, an area of Hedrum municipality (population: 61) was transferred to Andebu.^[8] On 1 January 2017, a municipal merger took place: the municipalities of Sandefjord (population: 45,820), Stokke (population: 11,657), and Andebu (population: 5,937) were merged to form a new, larger Sandefjord Municipality. Andebu now makes up the northern part of the new municipality.^{[9]: 64 [10]}

Churches

The Church of Norway had three parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Andebu. It was part of the Sandefjord prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Tunsberg.

More information Parish (sokn), Church name ...

Churches in Andebu

Parish (sokn)	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Andebu	Andebu Church	Andebu	c. 1100
Høyjord	Høyjord Stave Church	Høyjord	c. 1100
Kodal	Kodal Church	Kodal	c. 1100

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Andebu Church was the main church for the municipality. It was built around the year 1100. It is a stone church with seating for 300. The soapstone baptismal font is from the 1100s. The altarpiece and the pulpit are in Renaissance style and date from about 1650. The church was extensively restored in 1686. The church is home to Norway's oldest existing written parish register from 1623. The ridge turret was destroyed in a storm in 1701 and had to be rebuilt.^[15]

The Høyjord Stave Church is also located in Andebu and it is the only stave church in Vestfold County.^[16]

Various historical artifacts and burial mounds dated to the Viking Age have been discovered in Andebu. Finds include a bronze key, a stone axe, arrows, and more. Burial mounds have been discovered on approximately 30 farms in Andebu, including 17 in the village of Andebu, 5 in Høyjord, and 7 in Kodal. Some mounds are dated back as far as 500 BCE (in other words, over a thousand years prior to the Viking Age). Large amounts of burial mounds are found at Nordre Haugan, Nedre Skjelland, Våle, Vestre Høyjord, Bjørndal, and Gjerstad.^{[17][18]: 14}

The 14th century Black Plague had a devastating impact on the population of Andebu. It is estimated that the population was 600 as of 1600 A.D., approximately the same amount as prior to the plague, meaning that it took about 200 years to regain the lost population for the area.^{[19][18]: 4}

Andebu municipality was established on 1 January 1838, with priest Jens H. Otterbeck as its first mayor. Otterbeck served as mayor for 24 years and was the longest-serving mayor of Andebu.^[20]

While it existed, this municipality was responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment, social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. During its existence, this municipality was governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor was indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.^[21]

Andebu was located in the interior central parts of Vestfold County. Most of Andebu is forested, but numerous rivers and mountains can also be found in Andebu. Rivers include Merkedamselva, which flows through eastern parts of the village of Høyjord. Steinselva (Skorgeelva), Bergselva and Bølevannsbekken are other rivers in Andebu. Lakes in Andebu included Stålerødvannet, Heievannet, Goksjø, and others. The highest points of the former municipality are in northwestern parts near the village of Høyjord. Some peaks include Brånafjell, which is the tallest peak in Sandefjord municipality, as well as Åletjønnåsen and Storås. Smaller peaks include Bustingen, Skørsåsane, and Storås by Skjeau. The municipality of Andebu was home to 35 lakes, including the 0.37-square-kilometre (91-acre) Askjemvannet, which was the largest lake in Andebu. Parts of the lake Goksjø were also located in Andebu, while minor lakes included Ilestadvannet and Åletjønn, both located near the village of Høyjord.^{[43][18]: 1–3}

The 399-metre (1,309 ft) tall Brånafjell was the tallest mountain peak in the former municipality of Andebu, and currently the highest peak in Sandefjord municipality. It is located in northernmost Andebu on the border with what used to be Re Municipality and about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the border with Lardal (now part of Larvik Municipality). Parking for mountain hiking trails can be found by Trollsvann.^[9]: 144

Nature preserves in Andebu included Veggemyra (marsh), Nordre Skarsholttjønn (marsh), Dalaåsen (birch forest), and Flisefyr-Hidalen (forest).^[7]: 196

Heisetra is a cabin owned by Sandefjord Tourist Association which lies by the lake Heivannet and the river Svartåa. There are 100 kilometres (62 mi) of marked hiking trails are located near the cabin. The trails are used by cross-country skiers, bicyclists, hikers, and equestrians.^{[44][45][9]: 20} Heisetra is situated in western Andebu near the border to the municipality of Larvik. A nature trail with interactive signs detailing local nature is located near the lake Heivannet. The lake is used for paddling, kayaking, swimming, and fishing. Nearby trails are used for hiking, skiing, mountain biking, horseback riding, and collection of mushrooms and berries. The 100-kilometre (62 mi) trail network from the cabin leads as far as Hardangervidda, while shorter trails include those leading to Grevesteinen and Sliradammen. The 9.7-kilometre (6.0 mi) Svartåa culture trail was previously used for the movement of logs to Larvik. This trail has various interactive signs describing the river’s cultural and historical significance, including signs near the Hansekanal, a canal created by Hans Anders Dahl in 1950.^{[7]: 200–201}

Andebu is home to numerous gravel trails, for instance located by Snappen, Trolldalen, and Vidaråsen. Parking for Snappen can be found nearby Heisetra cabin, along with a variety of other forest- and mountain hikes. It can be reached by driving to Pipenholt, which lies along county road 210 between Kodal and Åsrum in Larvik. From Pipenholt, drive towards Hvitstein. Heiaveien goes through an agricultural landscape and passes by Geirastadir.^{[9]: 481, 490–491}

Andebu's highest mountain, Brånafjell is located in northernmost Andebu. The trail to the mountain can be found by Trollsvann Lake.^[9]: 165 Trollsvann is located on the border with Lardal and is surrounded by tall hillsides. A trail, Trollstien, follows the lake on its western side. A number of trailheads can be found near the cabin Trollsvannstua, a cabin owned by the Norwegian Trekking Association. Trails from Trollsvannstua lead as far as to Merkedammen Lake in Re and westwards to Åletjønn Lake. There are also trails leading to the waterfall Løkedalsfossen in Lardal.^{[7]: 197–199}

Another mountain trail leads to the peak and tower at Vetan, a 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) hike from the village of Andebu. From the village centre, follow Kodalveien to Familiesenteret. From there, make a right and follow the gravel Møylandsveien over the farm fields. Before the farm, the trail winds left into the woodlands. Interpretive signs can be found throughout the trail, which describe the area's species of wildlife and flora. The peak has an elevation of 180 metres (590 ft) and the house on top was originally a lookout tower meant to be used in times of war. An overlook tower was constructed at Vetan in 1988, which provides panoramic views of Tønsberg Fortress, the Oslo Fjord, Gaustatoppen, and Skrim.^{[9]: 47–50} Parking for the trail to Vetan is located by the Møyland kindergarten, immediately west of the centre of the village of Andebu.^[7]: 202

Andebu is home to 35 lakes, where fishing is permitted in 16 lakes. The largest rivers are Svartåa and Skorgeelva.^[46]

• Høyjord Stave Church, the only remaining stave church in Vestfold County
• Heisetra, a cabin owned by Sandefjord Tourist Association, adjacent to 100 kilometres (62 mi) of hiking trails^{[47][7]: 200}
• Andebu Church, the largest medieval church in Sandefjord municipality^[48]
• Goksjø Lake, the third-largest lake in Vestfold County
• Svartåa River, one of Andebu's largest rivers, popular fishing river^[49]
• Brånafjell, the tallest mountain in Sandefjord municipality

• Kaare Reitan (1903–2000), an orthodontist

• List of former municipalities of Norway