Ravnedalen, Kristiansand
| Ravnedalen | |
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| Location | Kristiansand, Norway |
| Coordinates | 58°09′20″N 7°58′23″E / 58.155603°N 7.973113°ECoordinates: 58°09′20″N 7°58′23″E / 58.155603°N 7.973113°E |
| Created | 1878 |
| Status | Open all year |
Ravnedalen is a park at Grim in Kristiansand, close to Baneheia. It was constructed 1874–1878 by military soldiers under Colonel, later Major General Joseph Frantz Oscar Wergeland's command.[1]
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[edit] History
Ravnedalen was the former billeting area Grimsmoen, which had room for about 1,200 soldiers.[1] In the 1860s the military camp was moved to Gimlemoen. There were plans for using the old camp area as a rifle range, but Colonel Wergeland protested and insisted that the area would be perfect for a pleasure garden.[1] In 1872 Byselskabet, where Wergeland was a chairman, applied for fundings, and the park was constructed during 1874–1878, by soldiers with spades instead of weapons.[1]
[edit] Construction
The park was constructed as a romantic garden, in a vally with dramatic cliffs and waterfalls.[2] A dam fointaine was built with natural pressure support from the nearby lake Baanetjønn.[1] The garden has open areas for public arrangements like concerts, gatherings and festivals.[2] The former gardener house is today used as a café. There used to be apes and peacocks, while today ducks and swanes dominate the lakes.[1] Some of Norway's largest spruce trees, planted around 1875, are found in the park.[1] Exotic plants were imported and planted, like rhododendron, magnolia, mimosa, yew and cypress.[2]
[edit] Culture
In the 1880s and 1890s the area was used for public feasts. Today, Ravnedalen is one of Kristiansand's cultural sites, where concerts and other arrangements are held regularly.[3] The location has a capacity of 5,000 spectators in front of the outdoor stage.[4]
Gustav Lærum's 1917 bronze statue of Wergeland is located in Ravnedalen.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Ravnedalen. Litt historie" (in Norwegian). http://www.ravnedalen.no/historie.html. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ^ a b c Jahn Holljen Thon, based on May-Brith Ohman Nielsen. "Oscar Wergeland (1815-1895) og Ravnedalen" (in Norwegian). Wergeland 2008. http://www.wergeland2008.no/byvandring/ravnedalen.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ^ "Ravnedalen. Program" (in Norwegian). http://www.ravnedalen.no/program.html. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ^ "Ravnedalen - landets flotteste utendørsscene" (in Norwegian). Kristiansand Kommune. 2008. http://www.kristiansand.kommune.no/ncms.aspx?id=EE39CBCC-B90E-4F86-8132-381B4373693C. Retrieved 2008-11-16.[dead link]
- ^ Wikborg, Tone. "Gustav Lærum". In Helle, Knut (in Norwegian). Norsk biografisk leksikon. Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. http://www.snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Gustav_L%C3%A6rum/utdypning. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
