"Kristiansand, Norway" Top 5 Page for this destination Kristiansand by Synch_X

Map of the area around Kristiansand

Take a look to my travelogue, it's a collection of pictures I took from the ship I was on which had stopped in the port at Kristiansand, although I had no time to get off the ship and enjoy the place. I endeavour to come back one day to sample its delights.

General info about Kristiansand

As the tall ships were at the peak of their power in the last century, Kristiansand’s merchant class grew and prospered, many people worked in the shipping industry, and Kristiansand emerged as the chief city on Norway’s south coast. Yet most of the population still consisted of fishermen, farmers and craftsmen.

Kristiansand enjoys warm and sunny summers, and thousands of small, picturesque islands just offshore of a green, hilly countryside make this an ideal region for swimming, boating, fishing and hiking. The wooded hills of Baneheia and the lush Ravnedalen park are particularly popular amongst walkers.

There are many museums and historical sites in and around Kristiansand, and a number of festivals and cultural events are organized throughout the year. The Otra River flows down from the Setesdal Valley, noted for its magnificent scenery and mountain formations. Just east of the city is the Kristiansand Zoo and Theme Park, one of Norway’s most popular family attractions.

A regional airport, a major railway station and a modern port are all located within the city limits, and ferry crossings to Denmark, Sweden and Great Britain are frequent. The peaceful atmosphere of the waterfront is just a stone’s throw from the friendly bustle of downtown, with its wide variety of shops, and you can easily enjoy both in one relaxed stroll.

Kristiansand symbol

Christian IV, king of the Union of Denmark-Norway, founded the renaissance town of Kristiansand in 1641. His objective was to
establish a shipping and naval port to serve the town he was
planning to build on the sandy banks at the mouth of the Otra River. Naming the town after him was standard procedure.

The insatiable demand for Norwegian oak timber to build the European fleets of sailing ships provided an excellent basis for
extensive trade in the town and its surroundings. Customs stations and pilot services were additional sources of income. Kristiansand was often the first port of call for sailing ships arriving from the Netherlands, Denmark, England, the Baltic countries, etc.

Trade with other European and other countries quickly grew, and at the beginning of the last century, the town of Kristiansand boasted one of the world’s largest fleets of sailing ships.

Unprecedented economic growth also made it possible to develop the hydroelectric power, the pulp and paper, and fishing industries - all based on abundant local resources.

The early trading houses evolved into today’s dynamic import and export firms. The present population of approximately 75,000 makes Kristiansand Norway’s fifth largest city. The city serves as the primary hub for ferry,
shipping, air, road and rail traffic in southern Norway.