Page 12 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Great Places to Stay in Europe

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1 2 NOR WA Y

NORWAY
HERE’S SOMETHING about the pale to a still fjord. Many are
Norwegian light that makes family run – some for
T more southerly climes seem as far back as three or
flat and slightly jaded. It gives the four generations. Using our
landscape a clean, gentle quality, recommendations, you could
and makes the locations of construct an itinerary taking you
many of the hotels in this from the islands of the south, via
section particularly idyllic. Oslo, through the western fjords to
The places themselves are north of the Arctic circle, staying in
often simple clapboard unique places each night, without
houses on, say, a harbour once having to resort to one of the
front or a spit of land next many bland chain hotels.
and weather all
toughen up. You
cross the Arctic circle
between Mo-i-Rana
and Bodø, before
arriving at the biggest
settlement in Northern
Norway, the
university city of
Tromsø. By the time
you get to the
Northern Cape, and
perhaps sail out to
Spitsbergen, hotels
tend to be functional
and cosy, but not
Fairytale architecture at The Dalen at Dalen i Telemark, page 17 much more.
NORWAY REGION old town with a maritime feel. HIGHLIGHTS
BY REGION In the narrow lanes are
attractive tall, white wooden LACES ILLUSTRATED on these
ORWAY CAN be divided into houses where seamen and Pintroductory pages are by
NEastern Norway, Southern merchants once lived. no means the only highlights.
Norway, the Western fjords Ferries chugging up the coast Among our other favourites
and Northern Norway. take thousands of visitors to are Hotel Mundal in Fjaerland
the fjords in summer. Many (page 17), an imposing
Eastern Norway head for Bergen, an old trading Victorian building in a great
Some of Europe’s finest centre with restored wooden setting; Frogner House Hotel
museums can be found in houses and a lively quayside. in Oslo (page 20), a smart
Oslo, the capital of Norway, There’s a wide choice of places town hotel with style and
but the city is also stirred by to stay here, as well as in the individuality; the Kongsvold
plenty of interesting street life surrounding countryside. Fjeldstue inn in Kongsvold
and late night bars. Its 19th- The rail route between (page 18), a 17th-century inn
century boulevards are also Bergen and Oslo goes through formerly used by pilgrims;
home to a number of great scenery. This is a fine and the Sygard Grytting near
handsome hotels. journey at any time, but in Hundorp (page 18), a beauti-
winter it offers the bonus of ful hotel, open for only a
Southern Norway viewing the mountains under couple of months in summer,
This is Norway’s holidayland – snow and waterfalls frozen with a simple wooden interior
an area of flat countryside, long solid. A branch line – one of dating from the 17th century.
beaches and small islands just the steepest in the world –
off the coast. The town of plunges down to Flåm, on the FOOD AND DRINK
Kristiansand’s water-front is edge of the serene Sogne
the closest Norway has to a Fjord. In this area there are UCH NORWEGIANFOOD is
beach resort. It also has a several of the remarkable Mheavy and filling, perfect
ferry link to Copenhagen, and Norwegian stave churches. after a day’s cross-country
many small family-run hotels. skiing. Some of the best
Northern Norway traditional cooking is only
The Western Fjords Around Trondheim, north available at Christmas, when
At the southern end of the becomes far north. The special dishes like pinnekjøtt –
Western fjords is Stavanger, an landscape, driving conditions smoked mutton steamed over