Gjerstad: Ironworks history, Abel Trail and wooded hills

Gjerstad combines industrial history with marked trails and a landscape of wooded hills. Eikelands verk represents the history of the ironworks; around Gjerstad kirke, architectural history and the Abel Trail provide further cultural points of interest. Hiking maps, marked summer trails and the Vestølheia ski arena offer additional options to consider when planning a stay.

Ironworks history and cultural sites

Eikelands verk received its privileges as an ironworks in 1706 and began operations in 1707. Visitors can experience the remains of the ironworks and the industrial community that grew up around it. The works are a cultural heritage site of national importance. This visit therefore encompasses both the industrial complex and the community that developed around it.

The area around Gjerstad kirke is the municipality’s official millennium site and is also known as Niels Henrik Abel’s Plass. The church was completed in 1848: a Neo-Gothic long church designed by Christian Henrik Grosch. The term “long church” describes its elongated form; the Neo-Gothic style is another feature of the building.

The Abel Trail, marked with information boards, runs between Gjerstad kirke and Gjerstad prestegård. It was established in 2002 to mark the 200th anniversary of Nils Henrik Abel’s birth. Almuestaua was completed in 1896 and is listed in the SEFRAK register. Following its restoration, Holmen Gård has also in many ways become the cultural centre of Gjerstad municipality and plays an important role in sharing its history.

Hiking trails and landscape

To help hikers find their way, the municipality has produced maps for four areas: Brokelandsheia–Klavfjell, Sunde–Fossen, Gjerstad–Mesel and Kleivvann–Vestøl. If you would like to focus your initial trip planning on one area, you can use these mapped areas as a guide and refer to the relevant hiking map.

The municipality lists approximately 124 km of marked summer hiking trails. This approximate total length is based on registrations for the 2016 hiking map.

Most of Gjerstad’s landscape consists of wooded hills, which are highest in the northwest. The highest point is Marishei, at 572 m above sea level. Gjerstadskogane has a well-developed network of marked trails, with access to hunting and fishing. The trail network is used across the region from Vest-Agder to Telemark/Vestfold.

Summer trails and skiing

Summer hiking trails and the Vestølheia ski arena offer different activities in Gjerstad. The Vestølheia ski arena includes cross-country ski trails, a biathlon facility, a floodlit trail and a roller-ski track.

Getting here and choosing a location

Gjerstad has a railway station, and the European route E18 also runs through the municipality. Rail and road are separate points of reference when planning your journey. When choosing a hotel location, you could first consider whether the industrial and local history, the marked trails or the facilities at the Vestølheia ski arena are most important for your stay. Then include the travel option that suits you in your plans.

Discover more destinations: Eikeland, Sundebru, Grimstad, Froland, Birkenes, Arendal, Lillesand and Tvedestrand.

For the overview of the wider area: Aust-Agder.