Arendal is one of the southernmost Norwegian cities, and this is one of its main advantages. Around Arendal there are several resort areas, which allows to consider it as one of the few Norwegian places suitable for beach holidays. But otherwise, Arendal is not the city where the tourist is waiting for a lot of breathtaking adventures. Unless two almost the best in Norway annual musical events and a strange opportunity to buy food in the Gothic church.
How to get to Arendal
The train from Oslo goes to Arendal just under 4 hours
Search for flights to Oslo ( the nearest a / p to Arendal)
Group and individual tours of the fjords.
Lighthouses and farms. Cottages in Norway.
Tours for sporting events.
Northern Norway. The Lofoten Islands.
A little history
The city appeared on the map of the world around the middle of the last millennium . In the 17th century it officially became a port, and in the 18th century - a trading city . Iskoni local residents traded in fishing, trade, forging and smelting of metals, worked in mines and shipyards . A lot of Norwegian ships descended from the stocks here . In the 20th century the development of Arendal was slowed down, and only in recent years the city has gradually started to transform from classic "seasonal" town that spends the whole winter in hibernation to the "all-season" town .
Entertainment, excursions and attractions of Arendal
Perhaps the main attraction of the city is the Church of the Holy Trinity . Its basilica is built in gothic key of red stone with a copper roof . This is the third church in the city that bears such a name . The first was built of wood in the second half of the 17th century, but soon proved too small for all parishioners and was dismantled in the first half 19th century . Right after it was erected bent the second church in the imperial style for 555 seats . And in 1880 . it was decided to build an even more beautiful and large church . The first stone of the building was laid in 1885 ., and the construction lasted 5 years . Today, three bells are installed in the bell tower in addition to the carillon . And the interesting gallery of the Holy Trinity can be considered a market gallery with round arches that surrounds the construction . This is the only shopping gallery in the church in Norway, which was designed and built simultaneously with the church building itself .
- Look inside the modern art gallery "Bomuldsfabriken", which is ten minutes walk to the north of the city center - one of the largest in the south.
- Visit the museum "Eidehavn", which is half an hour by bus, and see how ordinary Norwegian industrial workers lived.
In the center of the city is a quarter of old wooden houses that have been preserved since the 17th century. This place is called Tikolmen, and it was built up to the 19th century. Also interesting is the inner harbor of Arendal - with a fish market, pubs and restaurants. Once Arendal was a city of canals, but technical progress required that most of them be bombarded.
One of the iconic city attractions is the Store Torungen lighthouse, which stands outside the mainland of the city, on the island. It was built in 1844 and electrified in 1914. The height of the lighthouse is almost 35 m, and it is still used for its intended purpose. From the city to it you can swim by boat in about an hour. Another lighthouse, Lille Torungen, also stands on a small island. It is a bit lower: it does not reach 30 m. Both of these lighthouses were built as twinning beacons
Events of Arendal
Hove Festival - one of the largest music festivals in the country with guests from all over the world. It has been running since 2007 on the island of Tromoy, very near the city center. Buses and ferries go there every quarter of an hour. At the festival, in addition to music, you can see the author's cinema and eat ekoda. In 2010, the British Daily Telegraph called the Hove Festival the best music festival in Europe. For a few years, teams with world names participated in the event: Massive Attack, Prodigy, Muse.
Another no less significant music festival of the city is the Channel Street, dedicated to jazz and blues. It has been held in the city since 1996. The festival is diversified with unusual events, such as concerts "jazz on the lighthouse", "bathing blues" and "floating jazz" in the harbor, bohemian jazz in the suburb of Arendal Kolbjørnswicke and so on. This is one of the few Norwegian festivals where jazz and blues are combined as main genres. However, there are also rock bands at the festival.
Also, in the Arendal, the Norwegian Grand Prix is held in the F1 race for motor boats.
Surroundings of Arendal
The Murdo Island is located some distance from the coast opposite the Skagerrak, and at 17 -18 centuries it was the main export port of the vicinity. The first ships appeared here in the 1300s, and by the beginning of the last century, about 100 people lived in Murdo in 20 small houses. Today, people on the island live only in the summer, but still it is a beautiful and peaceful place to rest.
First, there is a museum, it is a small coastal farm with a captain's house, which was built in 1736 . and remains intact from 1800 g ., with all the interior and furniture . In the summer the museum organizes guided tours with a real oven, barn and other farming . Secondly, the whole island is more than picturesque : here you can see the burials of the Iron Age, love be a secluded bay or have a picnic in the greenery . In addition, there are excellent beaches and the one that the museum can be considered the best for children in the entire region . Regular boats can get to the island from Arendal every day in the summer season .
The small island of Tromoy, which is connected to the mainland of Arendal by a suspension bridge, boasts the nature protection zone of Hove Camp, on its southern coast. There are a football field, volleyball courts, and a lot of hiking trails. In addition, the famous Hove Beach is also located here.
Other popular beaches are located on the Lingor Archipelago, which consists of four islets. Here you can admire the picturesque stone landscape and explore the pretty wooden houses in the harbor. The beach of Itre Lingor is popular among Norwegians: it blows a soft southern breeze, so it's good to swim and sunbathe on the beach (and even fish if you want).
There is a Stolswick beach in Hiioi, which is divided into two parts: one with smooth sand, the second - stony. This beach is different in that here annually in the summer season, the rescuers are on duty. Therefore, Stolswick is very popular for recreation with children.