Risør

6831 ( March 31, 2013 )

Risr? / I is a municipality in the southern Norwegian coast in the province (county ) Aust- Agder.

The name comes from the island " Risøya " ( German: Brushwood Island) off the coast. The small town is one of Europe's best preserved wooden house area from the 19th century - in 1990 she received the award for the most beautiful wooden city in the country. It got its nickname the hvite by ved Skagerrak ( German: The White City of the Skagerrak ) it owes its creation during the great wood export boom in the Netherlands around 1500.

The place was until 1630, the timber transshipment point for skiing. As Kristiansand was built, the residents should be relocated from Risr there, but this failed due to opposition of the population. Risr had larger customs revenues as Kristiansand in the 18th century. 1723 Risr received city rights. During the war from 1808 to 1818 went from Risr a large number of hackney from. There, a large sailing fleet was stationed, but disappeared with the advent of steam navigation.

1861, a devastating fire every 248 homes. Then Risr was rescheduled. The town retained its old name " Øster Riisøer " until 1905. Thereafter " Risr " the official name. In 1964, the formerly independent places Risr and Søndeled were merged under the name Risr.

Søndeled is much older and grew out of a traffic junction of creek, fjord and land. The church of the district from 1150 was appointed to the local cultural monument in 1997.

Today about 3,500 people live in the district Risr. 136 km ² of the municipality area are covered with forest, 6 km ² are arable land.

Special

• The Holy Spirit Church of Risr was built in 1647. The altarpiece was painted by Rubens a student and was originally intended for a church in Riga. But the ship was shipwrecked between Risør and Lyngør and the Church of Risr was given. The frame of the image and the pulpit are from 1674.
• Above the village Risr is a prominent limestone Risørflekken. From it can be seen 22 nautical miles across the sea, and he serves the shipping industry as a landmark.
• In August, a popular regatta for wooden boats takes place.