6. GIMLE GAARD

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Gimle Gård – Et Herskapelig Smykke

Gimle Gaard, ofte kaldet landsdelens smukkeste herregård, blev bygget sidst i 1700-tallet som en lystgård for den velhavende købmand Bernt Holm og hans Familie. Siden blev Gaarden Aelaarsbolig og gik i arv i fem generationer, før den sidste ejer, Ottilie (Titti) Arenfeldt Omdal, testamenterede den til Kristiansand kommune. Hendes betingelse var, at gården skulle bevares for eftertiden som en værdig stiftelse.

I dag fremstår Gimle som en unik Herskabsbolig, hvor tiden synes at være gaaet i stå siden 1982. Huset og Parken er levende Vidnesbyrd om politiske, sociale og kulturelle Strømninger gennem 200 år. Omkranset af en Engelsk Landskabspark og samlokaliseret med Naturmuseum og Botanisk Have, er stedet en skat for både Historie- og Naturinteresserede.

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Camillas Besøk på Gimle Gaard

Min forbindelse til Gimle Gård stammer fra min barndom, og fra senere Christianssandsbesøg hos min kjære Broder Oscar, som lejede Gaarden af dens daværende Ejer. For mig var det en Oplevelse at træde ind i denne storslåede Bolig, hvor historiens vingesus næsten kunne føles i hver Krog. Det var ikke blot et Hjem, men en Scene for dannede Samtaler og rolige stunder i herskabelige Omgivelser.

Oscar, som havde et skarpt øje for Skønheden i Naturen, skabte også en arv for Byen med sine parker: Wergelandsparken, Ravnedalen og Baneheia. Hans værker var en forlængelse af Gimles sjæl – en hyldest til Naturen og Menneskets evne til at skabe Harmoni og felles Omraader at vandre og mødes paa.

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Et Vindue til Fortiden

For mig var Gimle Gaard mere end blot en pragtfuld Bygning. Det var et sted, hvor fortidens Aand levede videre i de herskabelige Stuer og i de smukke Landskaber. Selv nu, når stedet står aabent for Publicum, bærer det stadig den samme tidløse Ro, som jeg oplevede dengang – en Følelse af Samhørighed mellem Kultur og Natur, og mellem Fortid og Nutid.

In English:

Gimle Gård – A Majestic Jewel

Gimle Gård, often called the most beautiful manor in the region, was built in the late 18th century as a summer retreat for the wealthy merchant Bernt Holm and his family. Later, the estate became a year-round residence and was passed down through five generations until the last owner, Ottilie (Titti) Arenfeldt Omdal, bequeathed it to the municipality of Kristiansand. Her condition was that the estate be preserved for posterity as a dignified foundation.

Today, Gimle stands as a unique manor house, where time appears to have stood still since 1982. The house and its surrounding park are living testimonies to political, social, and cultural currents over the past 200 years. Encircled by an English landscape park and co-located with the Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden, the site is a treasure for history and nature enthusiasts alike.

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Camilla’s Visit to Gimle Gård

My connection to Gimle Gård stems from my childhood and later visits to Christianssand, where my dear brother Oscar rented the estate from its then-owner. For me, stepping into this magnificent home was an experience; one could almost feel history’s breath in every corner. It was not merely a residence but a stage for cultivated conversations and tranquil moments in stately surroundings.

Oscar, with his keen eye for the beauty of nature, also left a legacy for the city with his parks: Wergelandsparken, Ravnedalen, and Baneheia. His works were an extension of Gimle’s spirit—a tribute to nature and humanity’s ability to create harmony and shared spaces for wandering and meeting.

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A Window to the Past

For me, Gimle Gård was more than just a splendid building. It was a place where the spirit of the past lingered in the stately rooms and the beautiful landscapes. Even now, as the site stands open to the public, it carries the same timeless serenity I experienced back then—a sense of unity between culture and nature, between past and present.