Discover Høvik: Culture, Parks and Ice Skating

Get to know Høvik through its industrial history, historic parkland and the different uses of Høvikbanen. This gives you a clear choice of interests when planning your trip: Would you like to explore traces of the former Høvik Glasverk, include a walking trail along the shore and through the forest, or focus on ice skating, bandy and football? These themes give your search for accommodation in Høvik a clear direction without reducing the town to a single holiday motif.

Industrial history and distinctive buildings

Høvik Verk is one of the twelve priority cultural heritage areas in Bærum municipality. The historic group of buildings in Høvikstranden recalls the industrial community and works of Høvik Glasverk. Those interested in local history will find a range of architectural points of interest here, differing in function and design.

The old Høvik Verk school was completed in 1894. The two-storey building is made of red brick and has a traditional design. The gymnasium of Høvik Glasverk is also part of the area's history: it was used for theatre performances and concerts. The gymnasium formed part of the community life surrounding the glassworks.

Among the few surviving wooden buildings on the works site are the Swiss-style villas Østre and Vestre. Østre dates from the 1890s and Vestre from the 1870s; both are among the oldest surviving wooden buildings there. Together with the old school and the historic group of buildings in Høvikstranden, they illustrate different aspects of the area's architectural history. You can take these into account when choosing the focus of your trip if historic architecture matters more to you than a single leisure activity.

Parkland and walking trail

The landscape park at Høvik Verk was laid out in the 1870s. Veritas later developed it further, adding, among other things, a fountain, new plantings and retaining walls for the large trees. Old park trees help convey the history of the area. Parts of the landscape park are now part of the Veritas site. Veritasparken is registered as a cultural heritage site.

For outdoor exercise, there is a walking trail in the Høvik Verk–Veritas area that runs along the shore and through the forest. Its described route connects two contrasting landscapes: the shoreline and the forest. If you would rather build walking into your stay than visit sports facilities, this trail is a good reference point for your interests.

Ice skating and other activities at Høvikbanen

Høvikbanen is used as an artificial ice rink and also has gravel pitches for bandy and football. Families gather at Høvikbanen for ice discos, tournaments and shared activities. This offers a different perspective on Høvik from its buildings and parks: here, the focus is on sport and shared experiences. These activities differ, so when planning your trip you can weigh your interest in ice skating against your interest in the gravel pitches.

More local pages to help you find your bearings: Haslum, Stabekk, Sandvika, Lysaker and Fornebu.

For the broader travel overview: Bærum.