What to do and see in Arendal, Southern Norway: The Best Sights & Landmarks

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!

In June 2019 the day to day management of the cafe, wedding and event venues at Bjellandstrand Gard was overtaken by the Smag & Behag, a populær and highly recommended restaurant and caterer from the neighbouring town Grimstad. The new hosts Kenneth Haugeland and Francisca Witsø with their comprehensive experience have many exiting plans for the further development of the beautiful place at Tromøy. The farm is located in beautiful surroundings, close to the sea in the new Raet National Park and with a beautiful rose garden and galleri on the premises. You can sense, experience, and fantasize. A taste of summer all year long. The farm Bjellandstrand gard (farm) and the area around has a long and exciting history, dating back to the very first years when people inhabited Tromøy

The trinity church is the third church on this site. The first church, a Y-shaped wooden structure, was erected in 1670. A desire to assert the town's status over Kristiansand was probably the motive behind its construction. In the 1830s, the town's shipping industry flourished, the population grew and the church became too small and was therefore demolished in 1832. In 1833, Crown Prince Oscar (Oscar I) laid the foundation stone for an octagonal church. Over the next 50 years, the population of Arendal doubled. According to church law, a church had to have seating which corresponded to the population of the parish, so a new church again had to be built. In 1888, the third church was completed, in spite of the financial collapse of the banks in 1886. It towers above the Arendal skyline with its 87-metre-high tower. The church was ravaged by fire in 1902, but the damage was fortunately not extensive. The large chandelier which now hangs in the church vestibule originates from the town's first church. Copperplate engravings from the 16th century can be seen near the baptismal font. The new pipe organ was built by the German company Werkstätte für Orgelbau Mühleisen, and it has about 3900 pipes between 4 millimetres and 7 metres high. It is (November 2010) the fourth largest church pipe organ in Norway, with 59 voices and built in a German-Romantic style. Opening hours Tuesday-Thursday 1230-1400.

Kalvoysund fort was a German coastal fort at Kalvoysund on the island Flostaoya east of Arendal town, built during WW2. The battery was meant to cover the eastern seaward approach to Arendal, and the area was more than 10 acres large. Kalvoysund fort was one of the largest fortifications the Germans built in Southern Norway during the second World War. The fortifications were built in 1941 and consisted of about 50 buildings and bunkers. There are four locations for cannons in the area, and the cannons who were there had a range of 11-12000 metres. Bunkers and other parts of the fortification are kept partially well, and the foundation walls from many of the buildings are still left in the landscape. After WW2, the fort was run by the Norwegian armed forces for a while, and there were a couple of military exercises on the fort. Then the area was given to the local authorities, and it is now a popular recreational area. There is a public bathing area in Kalvoysund, and the area is open to the public.