The story of Det Lille Hotel is a story that is woven together with Risør's own exciting history. From the first Dutch ships docking at the sheltered harbor in the 16th century to today's lively coastal town, this place has seen generations come and go – traders, sailors, artists and travelers in search of peace and inspiration.
In the 16th century, Risør was not a permanent settlement, but an important trading post known as "Øster Risøer", where Dutch merchants came to buy timber and lumber. The forests in the interior provided abundant access to this sought-after building material, and the place gradually grew as a hub for shipping and trade.
When Risør was granted town status in 1723, it flourished as one of Norway's most important maritime towns. In the 19th century, the town had a large fleet of sailing ships, and the shipyards in the area were busy building and maintaining ships.
On October 17, 1861, a massive fire broke out in the center of Risør, and the fire spread quickly and raged through the town's wooden buildings. The town was largely destroyed, and several hundred buildings burned down, including both residential buildings and businesses. Many lost their homes, and the fire had an enormous economic and social impact on the town.
After the fire, extensive reconstruction was initiated, and the town was planned and rebuilt, with a focus on better fire protection. This led to Risør today having a well-preserved and characteristic wooden building structure, and the town fire in 1861 became an important historical turning point in Risør's development.
In the decades after the town fire, Risør faced another challenge that would change the town's character forever. The technological revolution that brought the transition from sail to steam at sea marked the beginning of the end for Risør's heyday as a seafaring town.
Where sailing ships had once been the town's pride and most important source of income, they were gradually replaced by steamships, which required completely different port facilities and expertise.
This upheaval in the shipping industry gradually led to the disappearance of the enormous wealth that the sailing ship era had created. Many shipowners and shipbuilders had to give up or move, and the town's economic foundation was significantly weakened. Risør, once among Norway's richest maritime towns, had to find new ways to survive and prosper.
Det Lille Hotel was founded with the goal of preserving Risør's unique historic wooden house environment. The initiative was started by dentist couple Oddvar and Barbro Halvorsen, who, with a passion for historical buildings and maritime antiques, began restoring the building in Storgata, formerly known as Søstrene Gislesens Hotell. This building had been a place of accommodation since the 19th century, and in 1993 they opened their first suite, named by national newspaper Dagens Næringsliv as Norway's smallest hotel. The hotel's philosophy was and still is that guests should "live like a Risør citizen".
Gradually, several historic buildings in Risør were restored as part of the hotel, including the "Vatican" in Buvika from 1750, a former vacation spot for one of Risør's most powerful businessmen and today a protected cultural monument.
In 2023, Det Lille Hotel opened a new hotel section in Risør's old customs house from 1864. Here, guests can experience exclusive surroundings in the 9 gorgeous boutique hotel rooms' interiors, which are decorated in a modern and bright Scandinavian style.
The customs house, which once controlled the bustling trade, has now been given a new lease of life with hotel rooms and a fine restaurant in the old expedition hall. The former customs offices have become nine elegant rooms overlooking the approach and the harbor, where sailing ships once lined up waiting to unload and load goods.
The hotel's efforts to preserve Risør's history have been recognized with the Olavsrosa award from Norwegian Cultural Heritage, and in 2018 it was included in De Historiske – an exclusive collection of Norway's most unique historic hotels and restaurants. In 2022, the hotel was purchased by the Bertelsen family, who continue the tradition of creating an authentic and historical experience for their guests.
We hope to welcome you to Risør and Det Lille Hotel in the near future, and we're sure you'll enjoy your stay in our beautiful little town.
With best wishes,
The Bertelsen family and all the staff at Det Lille Hotel