Everything about Grimstad totally explained
Grimstad is a town and
municipality in the
county of
Aust-Agder,
Norway. It belongs to the geographical region of
Sørlandet.
Grimstad was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see
formannskapsdistrikt). The rural municipalities of
Fjære and
Landvik were merged with Grimstad January 1, 1971.
It is a little maritime town set among many small islands (
Skjærgård). There is a harbour, a long pedestrian shopping street, a small market square, a church, and a museum dedicated to the early life of
Henrik Ibsen, who served as an apprentice to Grimstad’s local pharmacist Reimann, from 1844 to 1847, before leaving Grimstad in 1850. Ibsen's intimate knowledge of the local people and surroundings can be seen in his poem
Terje Vigen.
The name
The site of the town was originally the port (
Norse stoð f) of the old farm Grøm. (The exact meaning of the name
Grøm is uncertain, but it's derived from a river name
*Gró or
*Gróa 'the growing one'.)
Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from 1899 (based upon a seal from 1847). It shows a
brig.
Geography
Grimstad is a coastal municipality in
Aust-Agder county bordering on the
Skagerrak. The municipality is bordered by
Arendal in the east,
Froland and
Birkenes in the north, and
Lillesand in the west. In
1971 the municipalities of
Landvik and
Fjære were combined with Grimstad.
History
Grimstad lies within the boundaries of the ancient parish of Fjære.
It is reportedly first mentioned as a harbor in the
1500s. Eight years after he was deposed,
Christian II of Denmark & Norway (1513 – 1523)) attempted to recover his kingdoms. A tempest scattered his fleet off the Norwegian coast, and on
October 24 1531, they took refuge at Grimstad. On
July 1 1532, he surrendered to his rival,
King Frederick I of Denmark, in exchange for a promise of safe conduct. King Frederick failed to honor his promise and imprisoned Christian until he died.
An inn is recorded at Grimstad as early as 1607.
In 1622 it became a
recognized harbor.
By 1747 it was identified as a sailing community and a recognized haunt of
smugglers.
During the
Napoleonic Wars England blockaded Norway. In 1811, an English brig entered the harbor to capture
blockade runners, but was vigorously repulsed and didn't return.
John Frederik Classen, who owned the
Frolands Værk (an iron works), obtained concessions to export & import through Grimstad and bypass Arendal with its customs dues. Grimstad was awarded market town status in 1816.
Key attractions
The
Maritime Museum (accessible by boat trip), the comprehensive
City Museum and the
Norwegian Horticultural Museum, are all popular among tourists, as are the wealth of exhibitions and concerts that the town hosts. The town is also a popular destination for summer vacationers, and supports a robust shopping milieu during the Christmas season. During summer, Grimstad plays host to the
Norwegian Short Film Festival, which attracts film enthusiasts from far and near. Another popular attraction is the
Agder Theatre at
Fjæreheia, an open-air stage located in a disused stone quarry. And you can shop at the famous Oddensenter.
Famous residents
- Henrik Ibsen(1828 - 1906), Playwright - wrote his first drama, Catalina in Grimstad.
- Knut Hamsun (1859 – 1952), Author
- Roald Dahl (1916 - 1990), Author - visited grandparents and summered at the Strand hotel in Fevik in Grimstad.
- Sverre Hassel (1876 - 1928), polar explorer - accompanied Roald Amundsen to the South Pole.
- Tryggve Gran (1889 - 1980), polar explorer and flight pioneer.
- Thor Hushovd (1978), road bicycle racer, first Norwegian to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France, and also the first Norwegian to win the green jersey, and second Norwegian to win a stage.
- Dag Otto Lauritzen (1956), road bicycle racer, first Norwegian to win a stage in the Tour de France.
Education
Drottningborg, a private Lutheran boarding preparatory school
Bibelskolen in Grimstad (BiG) a private Lutheran bibleschool
Located in Grimstad
University of Agder has its faculty of engineering seated here.
Homborsund lighthouse station
Agder Theatre at Fjæreheia.
Norway's Short Film Festival.
Grimstad Sjømannsforening
Nøgne Ø, a Grimstad breweryFurther Information
Get more info on 'Grimstad'.
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