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ARENDAL MUNICIPALITY was, in 1992, amalgamated with the
neighbouring municipalities of Hisoy, Tromoy, Oyestad and Moland and has close to
40.000 inhabitants.
For centuries the
Arendal region was the largest source of iron ore in Norway, and
with sale of timber this formed the basis of incredible growth, so
that by the end of the nineteenth century Arendal was one of the
most important harbour towns in Scandinavia.
Today the most important industries are
electronics, maritime-related industries, leisure boat building, and
a growing tourist industry.
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Tyholmen with Pollen and
the Trinity Church.
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Arendal Town Hall
made in 1815 is among
the largest wooden buildings in the
country.
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Arendal was originally called the the
Scandinavian Venice because the town is built on 7 islands, with a network of
canals surrounding it. The most glorious period in the town history was during
the sailing ship era, having, in 1870, the largest
fleet of sailing vessels in Norway.
The atmosphere of
those bygone days can still be sampled at Tyholmen, an area of
wooden buildings that is reckoned to be among the most picturesque
and best preserved of its kind in Norway. In 1992 it was awarded the
much coveted EUROPA-NOSTRA prize.
Part of Tyholmen is
Pollen, which has its own special atmosphere and thriving boating
life in the summer. |
