Grimstad

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Grimstad kommune
Locator map showing Grimstad within Aust-Agder
County Aust-Agder
District Sørlandet
Municipality NO-0904
Administrative centre Grimstad
Mayor (2003) Svein Harberg (H)
Official language form Bokmål
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Percentage		 Ranked 275
303 km²
272 km²
0.09 %
Population
 - Total (2004)
 - Percentage
 - Change (10 years)
 - Density		 Ranked 50
18,740
0.41 %
14.4 %
69/km²
Coordinates 58°21′N 8°32′E
www.grimstad.kommune.no

Data from Statistics Norway

Coordinates: 58°21′N 8°32′E

Grimstad is a municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. It belongs to the geographical region of Sørlandet.

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 younger years 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.

Contents

[edit] 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 is derived from a rivername *Gró or *Gróa 'the growing one'.)

[edit] Geography

Grimstad is a costal 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.

[edit] History

Grimstad lies within the boundaries of the ancient parish of Fjære.

It is reportedly first mentioned as a harbour 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 did not 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Famous residents

[edit] Located in Grimstad

[edit] References

  • Adventure Roads in Norway by Erling Welle-Strand; Nortrabooks, 1996. ISBN 82-90103-71-9
  • Norway', edited by Doreen Taylor-Wilkie; Houghton Mifflin, 1996. ISBN 0-395-81912-1
  • South Norway by Frank Noel Stagg, George Allen & Unwin, Ltd., 1958.

[edit] External links


Municipalities of Aust-Agder Aust-Agder coat of arms

Arendal | Birkenes | Bygland | Bykle | Evje og Hornnes | Froland | Gjerstad | Grimstad | Iveland | Lillesand | Risør | Tvedestrand | Valle | Vegårshei | Åmli
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