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KRISTIANSAND |
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Founded by and named after King Christian IV, KRISTIANSAND is the
closest thing to a seaside resort there is in Norway - a bright,
energetic place which thrives on its ferry connections with Denmark and
its popular beaches. There are also two reminders of its seventeenth-century
origins: the quadrant street plan that Christian IV applied to the
centre, and the squat Christiansholm Fortress , overlooking the
colourful marina at the east harbour, which now hosts arts and crafts
displays. Several excursions are on offer, the pick being the three-and-a-half-hour
cruise along the fretted coastline to Ny Hellesund , the islet site of
one of four hundred coastal defences built by the Germans - or more
accurately their POWs - during their occupation. The excursion is on the
M/S Maarten (late June to early Aug, 4 weekly; 150kr), which departs
from the quay beside Vestre Strandgate, at the foot of Tollbodgaten.
Kristiansand is also home to the annual five-day Quart music festival (
www.quart.no ) at the beginning of July. Recent years have seen
international names like Moby, Beck and Nick Cave headlining. For
tickets, contact Billettservice (tel 815 33 133). Most concerts take
place in Bendiksbukta, just outside the city, but there are also several
events at clubs in the centre.
Train , bus and ferry terminals are all close to each other, by the west
end of Vestre Strandgate, on the edge of the town grid. The tourist
office , close by at Vestre Strandgate 32 (June-Aug Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat
10am-8pm, Sun noon-8pm; rest of year Mon-Fri 8.30am-3.30pm), can provide
a handy town map and has information on accessible beaches and islands.
The rooms at the all-year youth hostel , on the edge of the centre at
Skansen 8 (tel 38 02 83 10; £10-15/$16-24), are satisfactory, but the
surroundings are a bit grim - the hostel adjoins a mini industrial
estate. The Roligheden campsite (June to mid-Sept) is near the seashore,
3km east of the centre on Framnesveien: once across the bridge at the
end of Dronningensgate, turn right along Marvikveien and then right
again at the end of the road and the site is signposted. More upmarket
is the Villa Frobusdal , also on the edge of the central grid at
Frobusdalen 2 (tel 38 07 05 15; £25-30/$40-48). This excellent small
hotel occupies an attractive old house, and the interior is packed with
period furnishings and fittings.
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