What to do and see in Aust-Agder, Southern Norway: The Best Churches & Cathedrals

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.

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.

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.

Originally a 10 m long stone church dating back to approximately the year 1000. In 1767 expanded to twice its original size. In 1831 a wing was added on to the north facing wall. The restauration was completed in 1831. Open by appointment,913 20 619.

A timber cruciform church from 1858, in Byzantine-Roman style. Architect Chr. H. Grosch. Alterpiece: The resurrection by Lars Osa, 1908. 650 seats. Open by appointment at tel +47 900 69 196

Vestre Moland church is a stone church from approx. 1200. Alterpiece from 1630 with paintings by Gotfried Hendtzschel. The church was extended into a cruciform church in 1797. Restored in 1966.

Octagonal wooded church from 1865. Seating capacity approx. 200, colourful Renaissance altarpiece, originally from Oddernes Church, probably came to Herefoss at the beginning of the eighteenth century. The church was restored in 1965. Open by appointment.

Cruciform church built in 1836. The older of the church's two bells was cast in Helsingor in Denmark in 1656. For a guided tour contact the church warden, Adina Skaiaa, tel. 975 06190 (mob.) or 379 62154.