Lyngor

Lyngor is a settlement of about seventy-five permanent residents spread across four small islands separated by narrow channels, with no cars, no roads and no bridges: everything moves by boat, including deliveries and the school run. White timber houses stand close together along the water with narrow paths between them and gardens on the rock. It grew as a pilot and shipping station and later declined, and the buildings survived because nothing was rebuilt; in 1991 a European heritage jury named it the best-preserved village in Europe. Summer multiplies the population several times over as owners return to holiday houses. A passenger ferry runs from Gjeving on the mainland.

History

The village was long a home for sea captains, reachable only by boat. In the strait through Lyngør the Battle of Lyngør was fought on 6 July 1812, when a Royal Navy squadron sank the frigate HDMS Najaden, whose wreck was found in the strait in 1957 (Wikipedia, Lyngør).

The main sights

• The four islets - a village split across islands with water between.
• The car-free paths - narrow walkways instead of roads.
• The white timber houses - preserved shipping-era buildings on the rock.
• The boat traffic - everything moving by water, including deliveries.

When to go

June to August, when the ferry runs frequently and the restaurants and shop are open; the village is largely empty and closed the rest of the year. Ferries are weather-dependent in autumn and winter.

Before you go

Almost all the houses are private homes and holiday properties, so visitors walk among people's gardens and doorsteps. Facilities are limited to a couple of seasonal places to eat. There is no accommodation beyond a small hotel and rentals booked far ahead.

Nearby

Tvedestrand and Risor are on the mainland; Arendal lies southwest along the coast.

Key facts