Boat trip to Hesnesøya island – "In the wake of Terje Vigen" – guided tour on the island

Join us for a historical guided tour focusing on the famous poet Henrik Ibsen and his poem about Terje Vigen. The poet Henrik Ibsen lived in Grimstad for a few years between 1840 and 1850. As an apprentice pharmacist, he collected herbs among the islets, which may have sparked the idea for the story of Terje Vigen. Set during the Napoleonic Wars, the poem tells of the English blockade that caused famine. Terje attempted to row to Denmark for grain but was captured and imprisoned. On this trip, we visit the areas described in the poem.

Ibsen's grandfather was the captain of the ship Caritas, which wrecked off Hesnes in 1798. A replica of the ship's bell now hangs at the old Hesnes school. We will walk there with a guide to learn about Hesnes as an important harbor during the age of sail. The tour runs every Tuesday from July 1st to August 5th. The guided walk on the island lasts approximately 1 hour.

In case of bad weather, the captain may cancel the trip shortly before departure, in which case tickets will be refunded.