Rykene: Nidelva, Church and Industrial History

The sharp bend in the Nidelva, Øyestad Old Church and the legacy of the pulp industry give Rykene several distinct points of reference. If you are weighing destinations based on river scenery, trails and history, you will find specific topics here to help you plan.

Nidelva, Fish Ladder and Fishing Zone

The Nidelva, the lower reaches of the Arendalsvassdraget watercourse, turns sharply east at Rykene, on the border between Arendal and Grimstad. At the Rygene power station, a 270-metre fish ladder enables salmon to reach their spawning grounds in the Nidelva. The number of fish using the passage and the operating conditions may vary.

For anglers, it is important to note the boundaries of Fishing Zone 4: it extends from 50 metres upstream of the dam at Rykene to the Blakstad Bridge on road Rv. 42. Fishing is prohibited in the rapids where the fish ladder has been built. Fishing rules and access conditions may change; check them before fishing.

Walking Trail and Seasonal Skiing

The Lysløype at Rykene can be used for walking year-round. When there is snow, it is also suitable for skiing, so possible activities depend on the season and snow conditions. There is ample parking at the sports facility in Rykene; the Lysløype starts directly opposite. As parking arrangements may change, check the parking situation before you travel.

Church and Industrial History

Øyestad Old Church is one of two preserved medieval churches in Arendal Municipality. It stands in Rykene and is a stone long church, probably dating from the 13th century. Alongside its industrial history, the area’s past therefore offers a distinct point of reference for church history.

The history of Rygene Træmassefabrikker dates back to the 19th century. In 1883, Rygene Smith & Thommesen took over a burned-down pulp mill and quickly rebuilt it under the name Rygene Træmassefabrikker. The large factory building was constructed in 1897 and is one of the very few surviving industrial buildings in Arendal Municipality.

The factory area also includes a large building that served as workers’ housing, as well as a manager’s residence built in 1909. Together with the factory building, these structures tell different parts of the story of the former industrial site: production, workers’ homes and administration.

Cultural History in the Wider Arendal Destination

In the wider Arendal destination, KUBEN explores the history of Aust-Agder and Arendal; the museum also includes the children’s exhibition “Barndom”. The Eydehavn Museum focuses on Eydehavn’s industrial and workers’ history. Its first floor covers the Arendal Smelteverk and Nitriden companies, as well as the society that developed around these industries. The museum also includes a workers’ home from the 1920s and the exhibition “Marens minner” about the work of coastal women in earlier times.

Bratteklev Shipyard also adds to the picture of the region’s industrial and maritime history. Fourteen ships were built there between 1868 and 1924: eight sailing ships, five steamships—two of them made of steel—and one schooner with a diesel engine. The almost entirely preserved shipyard from the sailing-ship era gives visitors a look inside the sawmill, forge, workshops and boathouses.

Discover more destinations: Kilsund, Staubø, Kolbjørnsvik, Arendal, Bjorbekk, Kongshavn, Færvik, Eydehavn.

Return to the overview of the wider destination: Arendal.