Mandal museum

About the museum

Mandal museum is housed in Andorsengården on Store Elvegate, the oldest complete merchant’s house in the town, which is protected. The museum is part of Vest-Agder-museet, which was formed in 2006 through a merger of regional museums. The collections and exhibitions cover the town’s history, seafaring, fishing, industry and art history.

Mandal is known as “the little town with the great artists”. Five artists born in the town between 1814 and 1875 gave it this reputation: Adolph Tidemand, Olaf Isaachsen and Amaldus Nielsen, who all studied at the academy in Düsseldorf, and the brothers Gustav and Emanuel Vigeland. Gustav became a sculptor, while Emanuel became a fresco painter and stained-glass artist. The museum shows original works by Tidemand, Isaachsen, Nielsen and Gustav Vigeland.

Vigeland hus in Grensegata was the childhood home of the Vigeland brothers and has exhibitions of works by both of them. Ballastbrygga industrial history centre in Nordre Banegate shows the industrial history of Mandal. The exhibitions in Andorsengården are open in summer and when cruise ships call.

Highlights

• Andorsengården, the town’s oldest complete merchant’s house
• Paintings by Tidemand, Isaachsen and Amaldus Nielsen
• Vigeland hus, childhood home of Gustav and Emanuel Vigeland
• Ballastbrygga industrial history centre
• Exhibitions on seafaring and fishing
• Askevold’s collection “Med blikk for bilder” (With an Eye for Pictures)

Permanent exhibitions

• Den lille byen med de store kunstnerne – Painting exhibition with works by Tidemand, Isaachsen, Amaldus Nielsen and Gustav Vigeland, artists born in Mandal.
• Mandal – der elv møter hav – Local history exhibition about the town at the river mouth, with seafaring and fishing.
• Ballastbrygga industrihistoriske senter – Exhibition on the industrial history of Mandal.

Founded

1953

Operated by

Vest-Agder-museet

Admission & discounts

Companion cards are accepted. Guided tours for groups cost NOK 1,600 or NOK 2,200. An annual pass for 40 museums and sites in Agder gives free admission and can be bought online or at the museums.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Children enter free of charge, and there is a family ticket for two adults and three children.

Getting there & parking

Andorsengården is in Store Elvegate in central Mandal, Vigeland hus is at Grensegata 3, and Ballastbrygga is at Nordre Banegate 36.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit