Charming Lillesand

by coach & on foot

Departing from the pier, your experience begins with a short city sightseeing drive, passing the old fortress of Christiansholm dating from 1672. As you continue, you will observe the rectangular pattern of streets between the harbour and the River Otra. During your drive, you will pass many delightful wooden houses in the old part of the town. After crossing the River Otra, you will pass the Oddernes Church, which is over 950 years old.

Your drive continues to Lillesand which is perhaps the most beautiful little town in the region. Its many houses date from the 18th and 19th centuries when Lillesand was bustling with maritime activity. At one point, the shipowners in Lillesand owned 87 ships and several shipyards. The town is blessed with a sheltered harbour that was an important port for shipping timber.

There will be some time for a stroll after you have enjoyed a cup of tea or coffee and cake at the old and fashionable Hotel Norge on the pier. The story of Hotel Norge begins in 1837 when the Irish rebel Robert Gonsalvo Major fled his homeland and settled in Lillesand. He built a bark mill and tannery, in which the oldest part of the hotel has its origins. The hotel first opened in 1873, when Lillesand experienced its glory days as a shipping town.

Following your visit, you will return to Kristiansand along the scenic coastal road.