The history of Clarion Hotel Ernst
The founder, - the German Ernst Probsthahn, had his hotel-background from the famous Victoria hotel in Oslo, and realised the need for a modern and fashionable hotel in Kristiansand. The new steamship-connection to Newcastle, Hamburg, Gothenborg, Copenhagen and Oslo, brought ever more visitors to town.
In rented housings in Rosenkildes hus, at the corner of Markensgate and Østre Strandgate, he started to rent out rooms. But, when the municipal government descided that the Western Harbour was going to be the main port, Probsthahn descided that the future was down there. He bought the two-story wooden building at the corner of Rådhusgaten and Vestre Strandgate from one of Norways Constitutional founders, Eidsvollsmann Hegermann, and rebuilt it to a very luxsurious hotel. On the 1.st of May 1858, Ernst's Hotel finally opened their doors.