BOEN GÅRD – Boutique Hotel | Restaurant | Salmon Fishing

BOUTIQUE HOTEL | RESTAURANT | SALMON FISHING

WELCOME to Boen Gård

Situated a few kilometres from the coast of Southern ­ orway’s archipelago, by the banks of the Tovdal River, N you find the elegant manor house Boen Gård.

A tradi­tional park encircles the beautiful main house built in 1813. The building has been thoroughly restored, with furniture and art typical of the period. Guests are received in spacious, bright rooms and parlours situated on two floors.

Boen Gård offers 18 double rooms in total. 14 rooms are situated in two historical buildings by the riverbank, which recently have been completely renovated. Here new meets old, and rustic meets comfort. Four rooms are situated in the two wings of the main house.

The kitchen at Boen Gård is based on local and seasonal produce. Here we create elegant courses, which bring out the origin and uniqueness of the produce. Vegetables, apples, berries, and honey are harvested from the garden.

“Ishuset” offers unique facilities for meetings, courses/ conferences and events. The building is newly renovated.

THE HISTORY of Boen Gård

Queen Sophie Amalie owned Boen during a brief period.

Monogram carved in a rock by the waterfall.

The grange by the river was originally called Eid. As the business activity increased and the warehouses grew, the name gradually got forgotten and people start­ ed calling it Bua. It was called Boden in Danish, as in Tollboden, and the name was later simplified to Boen.

When Kristiansand was a town in growth, King Christian II owned Boen, but he leased the grange, sawmills, and the fishing rights to his officials. However, in the late 1670s Queen Sophie Amalie of Denmark and Norway owned the property.

In 1702 law speaker Christian Braunmann took over with an intention of reopening the sawmill, as it was the most profitable business. The administration in Copenhagen had closed many of the sawmills in the region, and the sawmills were thus conditioned by privilege in order to keep running. Boen and Braunmann were amongst those who were granted privilege. Braunmann passed away in 1729, but his descendants owned the property until 1753, when the Irishman Edvard Smith, a successful merchant, bought Boen. Many of the buildings on the property were dilapidated, but Smith intended to restore the estate to its former glory, and moved from Kristiansand to Boen.

Smith returned to Ireland as early as in 1765, and left the property to his daughter ­Margaretha and her husband Just Arctander for 14 000 rix-dollars. When ­Margaretha died in 1801, the heirs put the estate out for auction. The highest bid was 26 000 rix-dollar and the new owner was a man named Daniel Isaachsen, the owner of ­Kristiansand’s largest business and amongst the wealthiest men in Norway.

It would seem that Boen would disappear from Margaretha Smith Arctander’s powerful family. However, Margretha’s granddaughter Hanne Nideros married the new owner, Daniel Isaachsen, and through her the family continued to live on the estate until 1940.

TIMBER for Europe

Timber was a profitable industry. In the late 1500s considerable amounts of timber from the woodlands in Tveit and Birkenes were floated down the Tovdal River.

The logs were floated from the river mouth to the seaports in Grovika, Lyngholmen and Kuholmen outermost in the Topdal Fjord where Dutch ships would wait, ready to ­transport timber to the continent. While the forests of Western Europe were largely deforested, the Norwegian woodlands lay more or less pristine.

In The Middle Ages the processing of timber was carried out by axe. It was time-con­ suming and hard labour. Thus it was a big step forward when the water-powered head saws came to Norway in the late 1500s. Now far bigger volumes of processed timber could be delivered more rapidly.

In 1639, feudal overlord Palle Rosenkrantz was granted permission by the King to build a sawmill in the waterfall at Boen, and it was ready for use two years later. However, it was no coincidence that the sawmill was erected simultaneously as Kristiansand was founded.

The exportation of timber in the Kristiansand Fjord before the founding of the town was superior to the rest of the county. Trade with the Netherlands, Scotland, and Denmark was thus among the premises for the creation and growth of the town. The Tovdal River was thus a contributory factor in the founding and growth of Kristiansand.

The buildings by the waterfall around 1910.

BOEN GÅRD 1520-2020, where past meets future

NEW HISTORY IS MADE AT BOEN GÅRD

Three historical buildings have been ­renovated in 2020 and shaped for the future. The original use of the buildings ceased several generations ago. The abandoned buildings have undergone a renaissance and can now welcome ­visitors from far and near.

TRESKELÅVEN

The building’s design is spectacular, and it is situated just off the riverbank. Here you find six en-suite rooms, as well as a spacious lounge and kitchen.

KORNMAGASINET

Behind thick timber walls you find eight en-suite rooms, a spacious lounge and kitchen.

ISHUSET

This unique building, which was the estate’s “refrigerator” back in the days, has been transformed in a radical manner.

Now Ishuset caters to meetings and events.

Old building techniques in combination with ­m odern ­a rchitectonic solutions and design influence the ­buildings. The project is partially funded by Innovasjon Norge and Kulturminnefondet.

Boen Gård is WELL PRESERVED

Buildings have come and gone throughout the times.

Today, the estate consists of eleven buildings. The gazebo is the oldest building on the property, presumably erected in the late 1600s.

The manor house was built between 1809 and 1813, in the tradition of the Southern Norwegian classicist style.

The main wing is a two-storey nogged bay work, while the side wings at the back are one-storey structures with high foundation walls. The main house sports a slightly arched hip roof, and the entire construction has drop siding, dominated by sash windows.

The symmetrical façade consists of an entrance door with four windows on each side, as well as a vertical window above the door, which originally had a wide arch as its finishing touch. The arch was removed around 1900.

Architect: Christian Wilhelm von Fangen.

The building was listed in 1923.

THE INTERIORS have been recreated

The main building at Boen was built as a manor house, a so-called “lystgård” in Norwegian. Today’s interior aims to convey the meaning of the word “lyst” – namely as a place for joy, laughter, and festivities.

When the restoration commenced in 2010, the interior showed signs of various styles and fashions acquired throughout the house’s nearly 200 year-old history.

After an extensive process in collaboration with the directorate for Cultural Heritage Management and skilled craftsmen, the original interior’s distinctive character was uncovered. The walls, the floors, and the ceilings have reclaimed their original surfaces. The colour range is typical of the period, and some colours originate from the construction period between 1809 and 1813. The owners throughout the generations have left their mark on the building. Items, furniture, and photos have been restored, and tell stories from the olden days at Boen.

Today, ancestors of the Hegermann-family often visit Boen and hand over heirlooms from that period. The heirlooms are present all around the house, and help convey what life at Boen was like at the time.

An abundance of PARKS AND OUTDOOR AREAS

When the Hegermann family sold Boen to Johan G. Olsen in 1940, all associated lands were already sold.

What was left was the manor house itself, along with the industry buildings by the waterfall, the fishing rights, as well as the garden and the infield. Today, the estate covers a surface area of 180 acres.

The majority of the estate is available for guests and the general public. The estate is under constant m ­ aintenance, and new measures of improvement are regularly carried out.

The well-kept outdoor areas play a significant role in the guests’ overall experience, where the infield and gardens promote recreation, play, and enjoyment. During spring and summer, meals are often served outdoors in front of the gazebo, by the river or in the tree-lined avenue.

The infield, with its trails along the river, constitute a ­substantial part of the estate. These areas were neglected for many years, but have now been cleared. Sheep graze here during the season in order to keep the vegetation down, to the guests, anglers and hikers enjoyment.

A kitchen with SUSTAINABILITY in mind

Of late, we here at Boen Gård have put a lot of time and effort in order to make our kitchen as self-sufficient as possible in regards of produce.

The garden is home to honey bees, and it also boasts a ­vegetable garden, herb garden, as well as a wide range of ­berries that are harvested from the berry shrubs.

The old orchard brings us different sorts of apples, pears and plums.

The kitchen is now 80 percent ­self-sufficient with regard to vegetables, fruit and berries. Everything is organic, of course.

Sheep and lambs graze along the river and keep the vege­tation at bay. The lambs eventually become part of the menu, along with wild salmon caught in the river by anglers who hold angling rights in the Tovdal River.

Small local suppliers, which we often have close contact with, deliver the remaining produce. All suppliers can be reached within a maximum 90-minute drive.

BOOK A TABLE at Boen Gård

Look forward to a visit to Boen Gård. Everything is set for a gastronomic experience out of the ordinary, and our dedicated team do their utmost to please their guests.

Head chef Tomasz Rochon finds ­inspiration in our lovely produce. In close collaboration with ­Maitre D’ and somme­ lier Dagfinn Galdal, they create elegant courses which reflect the origin and the distinctiveness of the produce.

The gastronomy is modern, but grounded on the classical French kitchen. The menus follow the seasons and are continuously altered. Leftover fruit and vegetables from the time of harvest are preserved and eventually become part of the menu on a later occasion.

The accompanying wines are meticulously selected, ­primarily from traditional European wine districts.

We strive to offer courses that reflect a perfect balance between food and wine.

The gazebo at Boen has seen people, years, and seasons come and go since the mid 1600s.

Parties and festivities in HISTORICAL SURROUNDINGS

Freshly ironed tablecloths, tinkling crystal glasses, and the smell of culinary perfection from the kitchen, set an atmosphere perfect for both big and small occasions.

The main house boasts a number of rooms and parlours, while the dining room is considered the main room. ­Ideally, the tables fit 20-30 guests. Larger groups are seated in the ballroom, while smaller groups are seated in the “library”.

Before and after dinner, our guests may make use of our two cosy bars and several parlours.

IN 1891, KING OSCAR II VISITED BOEN

The king was lodged in the room on the right-hand side, which has ever since been known as “The Royal Room”.

A menu with accompanying wines was served, and it encompassed the best of courses and wines of the time.

DINE LIKE A KING

Today, we offer this historical and unique menu with a modern twist to our guests at Boen Gård.

Visit the WINE CELLAR

THE POTATO CELLAR THAT BECAME A WINE CELLAR

In the summer of 2019, Boen Gård could finally open its doors to the brand new wine cellar. The cellar was presumably built during the 18th century, but has un­fortunately not been in use for many decades. Now the dust has been swept away, and new shelves, furnishings and fittings have been built from recycled materials.

While stepping into the cellar, one easily imagines ­oneself far away from Tveit and Southern Norway. The shelves behind the thick walls are stocked with fine wines mainly from European wine districts such as ­Bourgogne, ­Champagne, and German riesling …

A visit to the wine cellar where you may enjoy a glass of champagne, is the perfect way to kick off the evening, followed by dinner in the main house.

Maitre D’ and sommelier Dagfinn Galdal has great know­ ledge about wine. He does not take much convincing if guests wish to taste wines from a particular district or year.

Boen Gård, as made for WEDDINGS

Boen Gård has become a popular wedding venue. High season is from May to September. During this period, the estate is primarily reserved for wedding guests at weekends.

One would indeed think that Boen Gård was built with weddings in mind; the weddings here are as traditional and romantic as they can get.

Chalk white tablecloths, traditional china, flower ­arrange­ments, and tinkling crystal. When the champagne is served and the cheerful guests arrive, all is set for a memorable celebration of the happy couple.

Some of our guests conduct the ceremony at the estate, be it in the ballroom, in the orchard or by the gazebo in the park.

There is hardly any other place where you get more beautiful wedding photos, whether they are taken in the tree-lined avenue, by the river, or under the tree in the courtyard. The unique flickering light between the old branches on the ancient trees create beautiful colours and lively images.

POWERFUL OWNERS at Boen

Hanne Isaachsen and Diderich Hegermann married in 1816.

Dina and Didrik Hegermann ran a large household.

They had seven children, and the estate was also home to six maids, a service boy, a coachman, a herdboy, as well as a teacher and a school­ mistress.

Daniel Isaachsen bought the property in 1801 when Margaretha and Just ­Arctander’s heirs put it out for auction. Isaachsen’s first wife had died in 1789, and in 1805 he ­married Hanne Susanne Nidaros, Margaretha Arctander’s granddaughter. She was 24 years old, he was 61, and he wanted to build a new estate for his young wife.

When Isaachsen passed away in 1813, Hanne was left as a young widower.

She received a generous inheritance, including the large residence in Kristiansand and Boen with its sawmill, fishing rights and cultivated land. On a visit to Christiania in 1815 she met her future hus­band, the 51-year old Eidsvoll-hero Diderich Hegermann.

The year before Diderich had been appointed minister in the Department of the Army, and he was later appointed major general. When the couple got married in 1816, ­Diderich left his post and settled down at Boen.

His son Didrik took over in 1850. The Hegermann-family enjoyed entertaining friends and acquaintances. Occasionally they received visitors from abroad, for instance when Admiral Lesovsky and his men were invited to Boen. Amongst them was the young Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov, who would later become a world-famous composer. In 1891 King Oscar II also visited the estate. Didrik handed over the property to his son Cay in 1902, but the depression of the late 1920s took a toll on the owner. The debts were high when Cay’s son Ditlef took over in 1927, and during the 1930s the family eventually closed down the business.

Shipbroker Johan G. Olsen bought the estate in 1940. After World War II, the industry activity by the river became modernised. A new parquet factory was established in 1955.

LORDS and salmon

In the 16th century the salmon swam in shoals upriver and stood under the waterfall, before heading to its spawning sites further up the river. This so-called splendour, was the property of King Christian II. On behalf of the state, the King conferred the rights of the salmon fishery and the estate on fixed terms to some of his most prominent ­officials and received produce in return. In other words, the annual fee was roughly 10 tons of salmon and 100 cured salmons.

During the mid 19th century, Norway became a sought-after destination for wealthy Britons. Some sought the Norwegian mountains while others were passionate anglers, and the rivers of Southern Norway and the Tovdal River were naturally desirable.

Here they were lodged in luxurious accommodation at Hegermanns’s estate. The British anglers were popularly called “salmon lords” due to their noble birth. Among these noble visitors were Lord Cunlife, the director of the Bank of England, Mr. Kenley, the Scottish landowner Harold C. Wilson, and his cousin Mr. William Radcliffe. In 1924 Wilson and Radcliffe hauled in 1352 salmon during the course of two months.

For a long time, the Tovdal River was among the best salmon rivers in the country. ­However, due to acid rain the river began to suffer in the early 1900s, and the salmon stocks were eventually lost by 1970.

SALMON FISHING on historical grounds

After 30 years of no salmon stock due to acid rain, full liming of the Tovdal river and its tributaries was initiated in 1996. Through this extensive project, a new and viable salmon stock has been established.

1,2 KM OF DOUBLE-SIDED SALMON FISHING

The beat varies between rapids and pools, and the ­fishing are within close range of each other. Several spots are named after the English lords who fished here: WR Line, Stolkie, Martin’s Point. This is where you find the salmon.

Stairs lead to the fishing pier by the riverside, and there are shelters on both sides of the river. The ideal number of anglers at Boen is four to eight.

GREAT CATCH OPPORTUNITIES

The Tovdal River is not regulated by any large reservoirs.

Thus the water levels may vary heavily throughout the season. Boen Gård is located close to the river mouth, and thus you will find salmon on the beat, regardless of the water level.

ISHUSET, Norway’s coolest meeting room

Ishuset, “the ice house”, was the estate’s “refrigerator” back in the days. Naturally, the building has not been in use for countless years.

Ishuset is located a few meters from the riverbank, ­ ornmagasinet and Treskelåven. Behind the thick brick K walls, you find a unique space for meetings, conferences, and events. The room has a floor‑to‑ceiling‑height of six metres, and the old walls are intact.

The ravages of time have taken its toll on the framework, which has been carefully reconstructed and reinforced.

The room is quite something, and the atmosphere is almost sacral. One feels a sense of peace and quiet, yet a presence of previous times.

Ishuset caters to all essential needs with regard to technical equipment, furniture and lighting. The capacity varies from 20-40 people, depending on the table setup.

A comfortable stay in THE FORMER SERVANTS’ QUARTERS

Boen Gård offers accommodation in two unique apartments in the wings of the main house. The ­apartments consist of two en-suite bedrooms, along with a ­well‑equipped kitchen with a designated dining area.

The East wing served as a brewing house back in the days, while the West wing housed offices and storage rooms.

Each room is unique, as the original layout has been kept to the greatest possible extent.

The style reflects the original atmosphere of the time when the servants were lodged in these chambers. The ­interior mainly consists of restored inventory from ­previous h ­ istory, while the walls are decorated with old photographs that chronicle the Hegermann family’s daily life at Boen.

The wing apartments are especially suited for families with children. During weddings, the apartments are usually reserved for the bride and groom and their family.

Stay at TRESKELÅVEN by the riverbank

Treskelåven is located approximately 20 metres from the riverbank by Stolkie, a legendary fishing spot.

The ­building has been thoroughly renovated with new usage in mind.

It offers six en-suite bedrooms, as well as a well-equipped kitchen and a spacious lounge. The building’s inner ceiling and framework have been restored. Modern materials and architectonic solutions create a unique atmosphere that unites past and present.

A spectacular bridge made of glass and steel, which hovers above the lounge and the kitchen, connects the rooms on the second floor.

There is a formidable view from the first floor, together with access to a furnished terrace by the riverbank.

The interior is characterised by modern Scandinavian furniture and inventory.

Treskelåven is well suited for larger families and groups of friends. Our chefs and waiters are happy to arrange “private dinners” in the lounge, or outside in the ­summer months.

In the salmon season, which lasts from the 1st of June to the 1st of September, the building is reserved for anglers during the midweek-days.

Stay at KORNMAGASINET, anno 1864

Kornmagasinet was presumably built around 1860. It is located in the same area as TreskelĂĽven, the wine cellar, and Ishuset. The building has been completely renovated, shaped for new usage in 2020.

It boasts eight double en-suite rooms, as well as a large kitchen and a spacious lounge.

The inner timber walls and framework made from coarse materials have been restored. Modern building materials and design in combination with old materials, provide a unique atmosphere which combines past and present.

Kornmagasinet is perfectly suited as an arena for events and teambuilding activities. Our chefs are happy to host cooking classes, and Maitre D’ Dagfinn Galdal is more than happy to assist with wine-related activities.

Boen Gürd offers comfortable living. All the rooms ­include high-quality beds, duvets and furnishings.

DIRECTIONS

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BOEN GÅRD AS

Dønnestadveien 341, NO-4658 Tveit, Norway post@boengaard.no +47 38 99 1813 www.boengaard.no Front desk

booking@boengaard.no +47 38 99 1813

BOEN GÅRD

Dagfinn Galdal

DRIVING DISTANCES

Øystein Eidsaa +47 952 31 424 oystein@boengaard.no

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Owners

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Maitre D’ dagfinn@boengaard.no +47 478 33 000 Johan Olsen +47 913 60 807 johan@boengaard.no

Follow the road signs towards Kjevik Lufthavn and turn towards ­Dønnestad. Look for the sign for Boen Gård and take left on a gravel road and follow it for approximately 200 metres.

Tveit Dyreklinikk

Kjevik Lufthavn 8 km ­Kristiansand 20 km ­Bergen 470 km Oslo 340 km ­Stavanger 250 km