Aremark
Municipality · Østfold
About Aremark
The Strømsfoss lock on the Halden Canal, canoe water on Aremarksjøen, and quiet forest running right up to the Swedish border.
What to do and where to stay in Aremark
Places to stay are run locally, with no hotel or campsite chain behind them.
1Strømsfoss mølle (mill museum and Galleri Strømsfoss)History & culture
A canal-side mill that ground grain from 1897 to 1966 with its own power station downstairs; since 1995 a national mill museum, with a free summer art gallery inside.
Rakkestadveien 84, Strømsfoss · 45–60 min · Summer exhibitions
2Strømsfoss sluseSight
A lock blasted out of the bedrock beside the Strømsfoss waterfall in 1857–60, linking Øymarksjøen and Aremarksjøen, with an old-style country store and a guest quay.
Strømsfoss, by Fv21 · 20–30 min · Boating season for locking; viewable all year
3Cycle round AremarksjøenActivity
A 2–3 hour asphalt loop from Strømsfoss round Aremarksjøen past Skolleborg dam, where beavers may be seen, Skodberg bridge and Aremark church, partly on a cycle path.
Start and finish at Strømsfoss · 2–3 h by bike · April–October
4Tordivelen and Skodberg bridgeViewpoint
Aremarksjøen drains towards Aspern through a narrow strait called Tordivelen, 'the dung beetle'; Skodberg bridge beside it on the lake loop has a good view.
Skodberg bridge, south end of Aremarksjøen · 10–15 min · All year
5Aremark kirkeHistory & culture
A church from 1861 by architect Peter Høier Holtermann east of Aremarksjøen, with a memorial stone to theologian Ole Kristian Hallesby, born on a farm nearby.
Fosby, east side of Aremarksjøen · 15–20 min · Outside all year
6Holmgil churchLocal secretHistory & culture
A wooden church from 1902 built for the forest crofters, who gave their labour, on a knoll above Kasetjernet near the Swedish border.
Bjørkebekkveien 798, Bjørkebekk, east of Aspern
7Tripperød bathing area, AspernSwim
A sandy beach on Aspern at Bjørkebekk, 4.5 km south of Fossby, with a lean-to shelter, barbecue spot and guest jetty.
Bjørkebekk, Aspern, along fv. 864 · June–August
8Skjæra bathing spot, FossbySwim
The village bathing spot below Aremark school on the Halden Canal, with a beach, jetty and raft, and a shelter with a grill in the woods. Watch for boats.
Fossby, below Aremark school · June–August