| Ravnedalen | |
|---|---|
| Location | Kristiansand, Norway |
| Created | 1878 |
| Status | Open all year |
Ravnedalen is a park at Grim in Kristiansand, close to Baneheia. It was constructed 1874–1878 by military soldiers under Colonel, later Major General Joseph Frantz Oscar Wergeland's command.[1]
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Ravnedalen was the former billeting area Grimsmoen, which had room for about 1,200 soldiers.[1] In the 1860s the military camp was moved to Gimlemoen. There were plans for using the old camp area as a rifle range, but Colonel Wergeland protested and insisted that the area would be perfect for a pleasure garden.[1] In 1872 Byselskabet, where Wergeland was a chairman, applied for fundings, and the park was constructed during 1874–1878, by soldiers with spades instead of weapons.[1]
The park was constructed as a romantic garden, in a vally with dramatic cliffs and waterfalls.[2] A dam fointaine was built with natural pressure support from the nearby lake Baanetjønn.[1] The garden has open areas for public arrangements like concerts, gatherings and festivals.[2] The former gardener house is today used as a café. There used to be apes and peacocks, while today ducks and swanes dominate the lakes.[1] Some of Norway's largest spruce trees, planted around 1875, are found in the park.[1] Exotic plants were imported and planted, like rhododendron, magnolia, mimosa, yew and cypress.[2]
In the 1880s and 1890s the area was used for public feasts. Today, Ravnedalen is one of Kristiansand's cultural sites, where concerts and other arrangements are held regularly.[3] The location has a capacity of 5,000 spectators in front of the outdoor stage.[4]
Gustav Lærum's 1917 bronze statue of Wergeland is located in Ravnedalen.[5]