The 10 Best Sights & Landmarks in Aust-Agder, Southern Norway

Homborsund Lighthouse is located on a small island by the Homborsund inlet off the coast of Grimstad. During the summer season, lighthouse hosts are on hand to welcome visitors. Please visit homepage for more information.

Bykle old church is located next to the new church building which opened in 2004. This is the oldest and perhaps most distinctive church building in the Setesdal Valley. It is constructed of logs, and has been restored several times. The church, with its altar from 1619, was completely renovated in 1804 when two galleries and a spire were added. The floorboards in the galleries and the timber in the armoury ceiling were originally used in an older church. In 1826, the church was decorated with traditional Norwegian rose paintings by Aslak Wasshus and K.a. Byklum. In the summer of 1997, the rose paintings underwent a thorough restoration.

Naes Ironworks Museum is located in Tvedestrand, Southern Norway. This is the only one of the old ironworks in Norway where most of the production buildings and equipment are preserved. The most important part of the museum is the blast furnace and the forge. The mechanical workshop has historical exhibitions. The operations at Naes date back to 1665. The ironworks gives a unique opportunity to see how an ironworks was organized, how people lived and worked at there, and how iron and steel were produced. Then visitors get a guided tour inside the production facilities, where the guide tell about how the work was done and demonstrate the rebuilt bellows. In addition to regular tours, the ironworks has many events and activities during the season. Nes Verk is a special national attraction, and a walk along the river Storelva, in the park and on the golf course gives a good picture of this historical area. Guided tours every hour from 11-16 in the summer season.

Enjoy an exciting farm visit. Open for farm adventures between 12:00 and 16:00 on Wednesdays in the summer season. Otherwise by appointment. Horse & cart rides, horseback riding and lots of animals. BBQ, Hot Dogs, pancakes, soft drinks, coffee and ice cream. Excellent walking, fishing and swimming opportunities. Boats, canoes and cabins for hire, and a Lavvo (Sámi tent) with food from the wild on the menu. Would you like to go fishing? There are trout, perch, pike, whitefish and eel in Uranavassdraget. Boats for sea fishing can be rented.

Tromoy church is located at Flademoen on the southern side of Tromoy, and the church was originally a Romansque stone church built around 1150. The church was reconstructed to a cruciform church between 1748-1758, and today this fabulous church is one of Arendal's oldest sights. The church is an old seamark, and due to the unsheltered location, the church is without a tower. The interior of Tromoy church is beautiful. There are wood carvings and painted interior from the 1750s, restored in 1926-1939. Several details in the church are worth mentioning, like the baptismal font made of soapstone from the 14th century, and candlesticks made of brass from 1660 Important people were buried inside the church in the Middle Ages, both in the choir and in the nave. The tombs had large gravestones in the church floor. It has been illegal to bury people inside the church since 1805, and the large gravestones were moved outside during the restoration in the 1750s. They are now visible along the churchyard wall in the west, together with boulders from Tromoy. Tromoy church has been opened to the public in July many summers, to those who wish to study the church. More information, see contact information.

A fun and educational experience for the whole family! In addition to our exhibition area, we also have fun science-activities. Se our website for the daily program. You find the Science Center at the quay in the center of Arendal, and our mini-Science Center in Kristiansand, in the main street. Welcome!