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Gjerstad is Agder’s forested forge — a municipality where knife-making is a legacy, ironworks echo through the valley, and the local zoo features lemurs and lizards just off the E18. With around 2,400 residents and a landscape stitched with rivers, trails, and tales, Gjerstad is the kind of place where you can hike past pagan history, browse handmade crafts, and still catch a treetop concert before sunset. It’s got heritage, wilderness, and a name that once meant “Geirrekr’s place.”
Top Attractions
- The Little Zoo – hands-on animal park with monkeys, reptiles & play areas
- Studio d’Arte – seasonal art gallery with local and international works
Unique Experiences
- Holmen Gård – former folk art center with exhibitions, knife shop & café
- Horga – ancient sacrificial site tied to Olav Trygvason’s Christianization
- Eikeland Ironworks – preserved industrial relics in a scenic valley
- Gjerstad Knife Market – annual gathering of bladesmiths and collectors
- Gjerstad Watercourse Trails – blue-marked paths from 2 to 13 km
Where to Stay
Browse hotels, cabins & guesthouses in Gjerstad
Where to Eat
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Getting There
Gjerstad sits in eastern Agder, along the E18 near the border with Telemark. The Sørlandsbanen railway stops at Gjerstad Station, and buses connect to Risør, Tvedestrand, and Kragerø. The administrative center is the village of Gjerstad, but Brokelandsheia is the commercial hub — complete with EV chargers, cafés, and a zoo.