Arendal Old Town Hall is a reminder of the money that shipping once brought to this south-coast town. The pale timber building, completed in the early 19th century, looks more like a grand merchant house than a municipal office, which is precisely the point: Arendal’s public life grew out of its maritime wealth.
It is best seen as part of a walk through Tyholmen and the old harbour streets. You do not need to linger long, but the building helps explain why Arendal’s centre feels more elegant than its size might suggest.