Ansgar Sommerhotell

Sørlandspasset - way to save money:

by Saagar

Sørlandspasset - "The Southern Counties' Pass" - gives you access and discounts to many activities and experiences in the Sørlandet region. The pass can be bought at the tourist offices (check www.sorlandet.com for tourist office locations and 2005. discounts). The pass is valid for one adult and one child (below 18).
You also get free parking in Kristiansand.
There are 24 hr passes, 48 hrs passes and week passes at NOK 100, 150 and 200 respectively.

Don't forget your camera!!

by Synch_X

As with all good holidays, it isn't complete without photographs of the great time you are having. So don't forget to pack a camera, and if it needs regular recharging (as my one does) don't forget to bring a european plug adapter (I forgot to bring one and had to buy another, d'oh!). Always bring plenty of film or have a large capacity memory card for your digital camera (I bought a 128mb card which allows me to save hundreds of nice pictures).

The Lighthouse

by hailsbails

Lindesnes is the southernmost mainland point in Norway. The first lighthouse on the site was fired up in 1656. The current one, a classical lighthouse built in 1915, is visible up to 19 nautical miles out to sea. Visiting Lindesnes lighthouse in rough weather is an adventure. The lighthouse area is complete with cafeteria, signboards and exhibitions.

To get there take the E39 from Kristiansand to the west and turn down highway Rv460 at Vigeland. Its total distance around is 80 km

Best experience of my life

by hailsbails

"My Second Home!!"

I arrived in Kristiansand, Norway, at the start of June. With a population of 70,000 inhibitants, i settled in rather well. It wasnt too big nor too small!! I made friends easy and found myself in love with the most wonderful people!!

I wasnt supposed to spend much time in Norway, but as the days went on, i just couldnt wait to see what every new day would bring. As my group of friends grew, the need to stay in Norway grew stronger, i felt so safe and secure there, and the thoughts of London seemed over wheelming to a small town girl like me!! In the end the huge standard of living killed my pocket and i had to move on to London and Dublin, i hated both places and returned to Norway by end of August. I was in desperate searching for a job in Norway, but the language was an issue as i didnt know hardly any norwegian, which was a shame..But i have no regrets about going back. I really recommend Norway to any traveller. Its a very expensive country but its well worth it. Its so understated at the beauty of it!! Kristiansand is considered the summer spot of Norway, and has the most sunshine hours of norway, when the weather is good its so so so good!! And you can spend weeks out at sea, parking up to all the little islands that are scattered around the coast!!

"Why its worth the flight!"

Whether you want to go for two weeks, or two years. Norway is just a great place to be. The people are extremely relaxed, and once you break the ice and get into a good group of friends, your set! As i went to Norway firstly in September 2003, it was hard to get to know people, especially because it was there for only 3 weeks. So i felt people werent so friendly and a bit cold. Then when i returned in June 2004, for 5 months and i realised how much i really loved everyone!

The scenery is beautiful, the people are beautiful, and even the buildings are still restored from the days when the Nazi dominated Norway. Kristiansand has survived bombings, and fires that devastated the city. But everything has been restored to its old self and the main church in Kristiansand, was bombed, but was built back up and has been donging every hour for the last hundred years!

The picture, is the label of the beer i drunk. Norwegians quite enjoy their beer, but for a whooping 50 kroner (12 nz dollars or 6 USD) for one in the pubs, certainly leaves you short. Somehow i survived, and lived off this beer for most of the time i was there. It was summer and that meant one thing. Wake up drink, party, party, party, sleep, wake up drink! So on for 2 months solid!! Also didnt have 1 cooked meal, just lived off Grandiosa pizza, a big hit with all Norwegians. All and all GOOD TIMES!!

"The people and why its worth the coin!!"

Although Norwegians arent the party animal type. They are quite reserved, and straight people, where its not custom to talk to strangers! I somehow broke through this barrier, and people were rather stunned at how open i was with strangers. It grew on my group of friends and they started to talk to strangers. So as i say once you make some good friends, you are set! Not only do you have a great experience, you are bound to make friends for life. Norway is by far and so far the best thing and experience i have ever had in my life. So i conclude, Norway = BEAUTIFUL!!!

Kristiansand, Norway

by Synch_X

" View of the mainland by sea "

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.

" Brief history of Kristiansand "

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.