Mandal
Encyclopedia
is a town and municipality
in Vest-Agder
county
, Norway
. The administrative center of the municipality is the town of Mandal.
The town of Mandal was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
). The rural municipalities of Halse og Harkmark
and Holum
were merged with Mandal on 1 January 1964.
Mandal borders Lindesnes
to the west and northwest, Marnardal
to the north, Søgne
to the east. It is the southernmost town of Norway and the skerry Pysen
(south of the town) is the southernmost point of land.
Besides Mandal proper, Mandal municipality includes the villages (delområde) of Bykjernen, Skjebstad, Sånum-Lundevik, Skogsfjord-Hesland, Holum, Harkmark, Skinsnes-Ime, Tregde-Skjernøy.
form of the name was Marnardalr. The first element is the genitive case
of the river name Mörn (now Mandalselva) and the last element is dalr which means "valley" or "dale".
The old name of the town (before 1653) was Vesterrisør ("western Risør"). The name was originally referring to the island Risøya outside the town, and the first element was added in the 16th century to distinguish it from the town of Østerrisør.
is from modern times. They were granted on 2 July 1921. The arms show three salmon
, symbolizing the importance of salmon fishing on the Mandalselva. Mandal is the southernmost municipality with a large salmon population. Salmon fishing also played a major role in the development of the village.
(See also coat-of-arms for Grane, Kvalsund
and Nordreisa
.)
es surrounding the town. Sjøsanden
(The Sea Sand) is the most famous beach, as it stretches for almost a kilometre just outside the town centre. It is frequently ranked as one of Norway's most popular beaches.
The city center is known for its charming concentration of old, white wooden houses and the Mandal river running through it. Another attraction is the city's church: Mandal kirke
. It is the largest wooden church in Norway, with 1,800 seats and a pulpit on the wall behind the altar.
The sculptor Gustav Vigeland
(1869–1943) was born in Mandal, and has a museum dedicated to him here. Vigeland's main achievement is the Vigeland Sculpture Park (Vigelandsparken) in Oslo
.
The painter Adolph Tidemand
(1814–1876) was also born in Mandal. His most famous painting is the national romantic image of a traditional wedding on the Hardanger fjord, which he made together with Hans Gude
.
Because of these and other artists, like Amaldus Nielsen
and Olaf Isaachsen
, the town is sometimes called "The Little Town with the Great Artists".
Hogganvik, in the Sånum-Lundevik area of Mandal, is the site of discovery of the Hogganvik runestone
in 2009.
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
in Vest-Agder
Vest-Agder
In the 16th century, Dutch merchant vessels began to visit ports in southern Norway to purchase salmon and other goods. Soon thereafter the export of timber began, as oak from southern Norway was exceptionally well suited for shipbuilding...
county
Counties of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties . The counties form the primary first-level subdivisions of Norway and are further divided into 430 municipalities...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The administrative center of the municipality is the town of Mandal.
The town of Mandal was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt was the name for a Norwegian local self-government districts put into force in 1838. This system of municipality was created in a bill approved by the Storting and signed into law by King Carl Johan on 14 January 1837...
). The rural municipalities of Halse og Harkmark
Halse og Harkmark
Halse og Harkmark is a former municipality in Vest-Agder county in Norway. It is located in the present-day municipality of Mandal. When it was a municipality, it encompassed the rural areas that surrounded the city of Mandal, including many islands such as Hille, Skjernøy, and Pysen .-Name:Halse...
and Holum
Holum
Holum is a former municipality in Vest-Agder county in Norway. It is located in the northern part of the present-day municipality of Mandal.-Name:...
were merged with Mandal on 1 January 1964.
Mandal borders Lindesnes
Lindesnes
Lindesnes is a municipality in the county of Vest-Agder, Norway. Lindesnes was created as a new municipality on 1 January 1964 after the merger of the older municipalities of Spangereid, Sør-Audnedal, and Vigmostad....
to the west and northwest, Marnardal
Marnardal
Marnardal is a municipality in Vest-Agder county, Norway. Marnardal was created as a new municipality on 1 January 1964 through the merger of the former municipalities of Bjelland, Laudal, and Øyslebø....
to the north, Søgne
Søgne
Søgne is a municipality in Vest-Agder county, Norway. Søgne was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . Greipstad was separated from Søgne on 1 July 1913....
to the east. It is the southernmost town of Norway and the skerry Pysen
Pysen
Pysen is a skerry in Mandal, Norway. It is the southern-most point of Norway proper.-References:...
(south of the town) is the southernmost point of land.
Besides Mandal proper, Mandal municipality includes the villages (delområde) of Bykjernen, Skjebstad, Sånum-Lundevik, Skogsfjord-Hesland, Holum, Harkmark, Skinsnes-Ime, Tregde-Skjernøy.
Name
The Old NorseOld Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
form of the name was Marnardalr. The first element is the genitive case
Genitive case
In grammar, genitive is the grammatical case that marks a noun as modifying another noun...
of the river name Mörn (now Mandalselva) and the last element is dalr which means "valley" or "dale".
The old name of the town (before 1653) was Vesterrisør ("western Risør"). The name was originally referring to the island Risøya outside the town, and the first element was added in the 16th century to distinguish it from the town of Østerrisør.
Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is from modern times. They were granted on 2 July 1921. The arms show three salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
, symbolizing the importance of salmon fishing on the Mandalselva. Mandal is the southernmost municipality with a large salmon population. Salmon fishing also played a major role in the development of the village.
(See also coat-of-arms for Grane, Kvalsund
Kvalsund
Kvalsund is a municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Kvalsund. Kvalsund was separated from the municipality of Sørøysund on 1 July 1869....
and Nordreisa
Nordreisa
Nordreisa is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Storslett.The municipality consists of the valley of Reisadalen, with the Reisa river and deep pine forests, surrounded by mountains and high plateaus. Most people live in...
.)
Attractions
Mandal is a very popular holiday resort, with its mild and refreshing summer climate. It is famous for its long-stretching beachBeach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
es surrounding the town. Sjøsanden
Sjøsanden
Sjøsanden is a beach in Mandal, Norway. It is around 800 meters long, and has several times been voted for the best beach in Norway. On it, there is a sector light, called "Bestemor"....
(The Sea Sand) is the most famous beach, as it stretches for almost a kilometre just outside the town centre. It is frequently ranked as one of Norway's most popular beaches.
The city center is known for its charming concentration of old, white wooden houses and the Mandal river running through it. Another attraction is the city's church: Mandal kirke
Mandal kirke
Mandal Church is the parish church of the town of Mandal, Norway. It was built after the town was destroyed by fire in 1810 and was officially opened in 1821. It is the first monumental building built in Norway after the independence of 1814. The style is empire/neoclassical. With 1800 seats, it is...
. It is the largest wooden church in Norway, with 1,800 seats and a pulpit on the wall behind the altar.
The sculptor Gustav Vigeland
Gustav Vigeland
Gustav Vigeland was a Norwegian sculptor. Gustav Vigeland occupies a special position among Norwegian sculptors, both in the power of his creative imagination and in his productivity. He is most associated with Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo...
(1869–1943) was born in Mandal, and has a museum dedicated to him here. Vigeland's main achievement is the Vigeland Sculpture Park (Vigelandsparken) in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
.
The painter Adolph Tidemand
Adolph Tidemand
Adolph Tidemand was a noted Norwegian romantic nationalism painter. Among his best known paintings are Haugianerne and Brudeferd i Hardanger with Hans Gude.-Biography:Adolph Tidemand was born in Mandal, Norway as the son of customs inspector and Storting representative...
(1814–1876) was also born in Mandal. His most famous painting is the national romantic image of a traditional wedding on the Hardanger fjord, which he made together with Hans Gude
Hans Gude
Hans Fredrik Gude was a Norwegian romanticist painter and is considered along with Johan Christian Dahl to be one of Norway's foremost landscape painters...
.
Because of these and other artists, like Amaldus Nielsen
Amaldus Nielsen
Amaldus Clarin Nielsen was a Norwegian painter.-Early life:He was born in Halse as a son of shipmaster and merchant Niels Clemetsen Nielsen and his wife Andrea Marie Møller . He grew up in Mandal in Vest-Agder county, Norway. He lived most of his childhood and adolescence without a father...
and Olaf Isaachsen
Olaf Isaachsen
Olaf Wilhelm Isaachsen was a Norwegian painter. Olaf Isaachsen is regarded as one of Norway’s more prominent artists and great colourist with motives from Setesdalen and the coast landscape of Southern Norway....
, the town is sometimes called "The Little Town with the Great Artists".
Hogganvik, in the Sånum-Lundevik area of Mandal, is the site of discovery of the Hogganvik runestone
Hogganvik runestone
The Hogganvik runestone is a fifth century runestone, bearing an Elder Futhark inscription, that was discovered in September 2009 by Arnfinn Henriksen, a resident of Hogganvik, in the Sånum-Lundevik area of Mandal, Vest-Agder, Norway, while working in the garden.-Description:The Hogganvik...
in 2009.
External links
- Municipal fact sheet from Statistics NorwayStatistics NorwayStatistics Norway is the Norwegian statistics bureau. It was established in 1876.Relying on a staff of about 1,000, Statistics Norway publish about 1,000 new statistical releases every year on its web site. All releases are published both in Norwegian and English...
- Photograph of Hogganvik runestone with colored runes
- Some Photographs of Mandal in August 1986, including the Lodsen Restaurant
