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Experience the wooden town of Risør

Risør .
Photo: Frida Neverdal
Risør .
Photo: Frida Neverdal

Be charmed by the wooden town of Risør, the White City by the Skagerrak, which is so idyllic it almost hurts. Join a city walk, digitally or with weights. It is an experience in itself to admire the white, old wooden houses along Risør's streets. You won't have long to stroll before you are captivated by the city and understand why it is considered one of Europe's best-preserved wooden cities.

Risør-huset med ingen 90 graders vinkler .
Photo: Gjermund Glesnes
Risør-huset med ingen 90 graders vinkler .
Photo: Gjermund Glesnes

One of Europe's best-preserved wooden towns

That is why Risør is so beautiful today

Risør's attractive appearance is the heirloom from the city's golden sailing days. In the summer of 1861 250 old houses went up in flames in a dramatic town fire. But little Risør was one of the country's largest maritime towns at the time. Architects and craftsmen from all over Europe helped to raise a magnificent city from the ashes.

A hundred years later, many other of Norway's cities were characterized by sanitation and modernization. But the days of the white sails were long over. Risør did not have the finances for extensive urban renewal. Thus, the old houses were preserved. Risør was later one of the first cities in Norway to work systematically with the protection and preservation of a central area as a cultural environment.

 

Here you get a view of Trehusbyen

Once you've strolled the streets, you can enjoy great views of Trehusbyen from the open-air area Urheia or from Risørflekken, which is a large, whitewashed landmark that sailing ships navigated by in the old days.

In July, the city's old fire tower (Trappegata 5) is used as an art gallery. From the Galleri Branntårnet you have a good view of the city.