Hvitsten is a former town in
Akershus
Akershus () is a county in Norway, with Oslo as its administrative centre, though Oslo is not located within Akershus. Akershus has been a region in Eastern Norway with Oslo as its main city since the Middle Ages, and is named after the Akers ...
county, Norway, located between
Drøbak and
Son.
It is the smallest town that has ever existed in Norway: In 1951 it had 76 inhabitants, and an area of just 0.07 km
2. Due its size it could not be established as a municipality of its own, and it had to be a part of the rural municipality of
Vestby. Hvitsten lost its status as a town January 1, 1964. The place is probably most known for the TV-show «Neste Sommer», which was filmed in this Area.
The name
The town was named after the old farm Hvitsten (
Norse ''Hvítisteinn''), since it was built on its ground. The first element is ''hvítr'' 'white', the last element is ''steinn'' m 'stone, rock'.
Notable people
Edvard Munch
Edvard Munch ( ; ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter. His 1893 work ''The Scream'' has become one of Western art's most acclaimed images.
His childhood was overshadowed by illness, bereavement and the dread of inher ...
bought the property Nedre Ramme in 1910 and created some well-known works there before it was taken over by the invading Germans during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
.
are also connected to Hvitsten where they have the family place Lysedal. The Hvitsten chapel (built in 1903) was a gift from Fred Olsen's mother, Bolette Olsen. Today, son
Petter Olsen's
Ramme Gaard estate is located in the area.
References
Former cities in Norway
Vestby
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