Page 631 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe
P. 631
NOR W A Y 629
To the north, Sognefjord, at 206 has been home to the
km (128 miles) long and 1,308 Norwegian Crown jewels
m (4,291 ft) deep, is the deepest and the modest but
and longest fjord in the world. beautiful regalia of the
King, Queen, and Crown
P Troldhaugen Prince, which are on
Troldhaugveien 65, Paradis. Tel 55 92 display in a side chapel.
29 92. Open May–Sep: daily; Jan–Apr: Another reminder of
Mon–Fri. & 7 8 - = Trondheim’s medieval past
∑ troldhaugen.com is provided by the wharves
alongside the harbor and
4 Trondheim the narrow streets that
wind between brightly
* 180,000. k g £ @ n Nordre painted warehouses.
Gate 11 (73 80 76 60). _ St. Olav Although the buildings
Festival (Jul). ∑ trondheim.com you see today only date
back to the 18th century,
Called Nidaros (which means the the layout of the area is
mouth of the River Nid) until the much as it was in earlier Tromsø’s modern concrete and glass Arctic Cathedral
16th century, Trondheim has times when fishing and
benefited from having a good timber were the main source Due to the high latitude, the
harbor and being situated in a of the town’s wealth. sun remains above the horizon
wide and fertile valley. Founded Other attractions of the city from May 21 to July 21, and the
in AD 997, the city was for many include Scandinavia’s largest sky often glows red throughout
centuries the political and wooden building, the Stifts the night. Tromsø is also a
religious capital of Norway, with gården, built between 1774 good place to view the
the earliest Parliament (or Ting) and 1778 as a private home. Northern Lights.
being held here. This period saw Today. it serves as the king’s Since Tromsø is a compact
the construction of Trondheim’s official residence in Trondheim. town, it is possible to stroll
most beautiful building – and The Nordenfjeldske Kunst through the center, which sits
one of Norway’s architectural industri museum (Decorative upon a small hilly island
highlights – the Nidaros Arts Museum) houses an reached by a bridge, in around
Cathedral, begun around 1077. extensive collection of furniture, 15 minutes. The major sight
Until the Reformation in the tapestries, ceramics, silver, and here is the striking white
16th century, the cathedral glassware from the 16th to the Ishavskatedralen (Arctic
attracted pilgrims from all over 20th century, including a fine Cathedral). The cathedral is
Scandinavia. Notable features of collection of Art Nouveau intended to represent the
this colossal building include the pieces, plus contemporary type of tent used by the Sami,
Gothic-style great arched nave arts, crafts, and design. the region’s indigenous semi-
and a magnificent stained-glass nomadic people. Tromsø’s
rose window above the entrance E Nordenfjeldske Polarmuseet (Polar Museum)
– the work of Gabriel Kjelland in Kunstindustrimuseum documents the history of the
1930. Since 1988, the cathedral Munkegaten 5. Tel 73 80 89 50. local economy – seal trapping
Open Jun–Aug: daily; Sep–May: played a big part until the
Tue–Sun. Closed some public hols. 1950s – and polar expeditions,
& = 8 7 ∑ nkim.no
in particular the voyages
undertaken by Norwegian
5 Tromsø explorer Roald Amundsen.
Tromsø is a famous starting
* 74,000. k g @ n Kirkegata 2 point for Arctic expeditions,
(77 61 00 00). _ Northern Lights and Amundsen made his last
Festival (Jan). expedition from here to the
Arctic ice cap, where he died in
Situated inside the Arctic circle, 1928. Visitors should not miss
Tromsø, the so-called capital the opportunity to take the
of North Norway, is a lively cable car (Fjellheisen) up the
university town. There are mountain behind the city to
not many specific sights and get a real sense of the setting
attractions in the town itself, of this polar town.
but its fine mountain and fjord
setting makes it well worth a E Polarmuseet
visit. The most spectacular time Søndre Tollbugata 11. Tel 77 62 33 60.
Detail from the facade of Nidaros to stay is in the summer, during Open daily. Closed public hols. &
Cathedral, Trondheim the period of the “midnight sun.” = ∑ visitnorway.com
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