Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The
Lyngør Båtselskap ferry ( 41 45 41 45; adult/child Nkr32/19)
between Gjev-
ing, Holmen and Lyngør leaves every half-hour or so in July and August and about seven
times daily through the rest of the year.
Arendal
POP 40,100
The main appeal of Arendal, one of the larger south coast towns, is its undeniable buzz
throughout summer around the harbour (known as Pollen), with outdoor restaurants and
bars next to the water and a fairly full calendar of festivals. Large enough to have an array
of amenities but not too big to overwhelm, it's a nice place to spend a few days. The
matchbox-sized old district of Tyholmen, which features many timbered houses, adds con-
siderable charm, while those seeking greater communion with the sea than a harbour-side
cafe can offer will find the offshore islands of Merdø, Tromøy and Hisøy to be worthwhile
excursions.
Sights
Tyholmen
OLD TOWN
RisingupbehindtheGjestehavn(GuestHarbour)istheoldharbour-sideTyholmendistrict,
home to beautiful 17th- to 19th-century timber buildings featuring neoclassical, rococo
and baroque influences. In 1992 it was deservedly awarded the prestigious Europa Nostra
prizeforitsexpertrestoration.Tyholmenwasonceseparatedfromthemainlandbyacanal,
which was filled in after the great sailing era. Look out in particular for the
rådhus
(town
hall), a striking wooden building dating from 1815.
Kulturhistoriste Senter
MUSEUM
(
www.aaks.no
, in Norwegian; Parkveien 16; adult/child Nkr20/10; 9am-5pm Mon-
Fri, noon-5pm Sat mid-Jun-mid-Aug, shorter hr rest of yr)
The museum wasfirst con-
ceived in 1832, when the town authorities asked their globetrotting sailors to be on the
lookoutforitemsthatmaybeofinterestbackhome.Themostinterestingexhibitsarethose
covering the ill-fated final journey of the slave ship
Fredensborg,
which went down off
Tromøy in 1768.
