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Places in Norway (the s.c.nordic FAQ)
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The home pages for the Usenet newsgroup soc.culture.nordic
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Places in Norway

 



Subject: 6.4 

Main tourist attractions

 

6.4.1 Bergen

Bergen located about 300 km west of Oslo, on a sheltered inlet of the North Sea, it is an important port and the country's second-largest city. Warm Historical landmarks include the King Haakon's Hall (1261), St. Mary's Church (12th century), the Rosencrantz Tower (1562) and the old wooden merchant's quarters (Bryggen) at the harbour. One of the Bryggen buildings (Finnegården) houses a Hansaetic Museum, another (modern one) houses a medieval museum (Bryggens museum). The city also has a university (1948) and National Theater (1850), and it was the birthplace of the composer Edvard Grieg and the violinist Ole Bull. Fantoft stave church (built 1150) and Grieg's home Troldhaugen are located a short distance to the south of the city.

The city was founded in 1070 by King Olaf III; it became a leading trade center and Norway's capital during the 12th and 13th centuries. It joined the Hansaetic League in the 14th century, and German merchants from the league developed trade monopolies here that lasted into the 18th century. Occupied during World War II by the Germans, the city suffered heavy damage during Allied bombings.

Bergen is surrounded by mountains low enough to be climbed on foot but sufficiently high to offer a great view. There are many good paths for hikers, but there are also a cable cars going to the highest peak, mount Ulriken (606m above sea), and to Fløyen (314m) which is a bit closer to the centre.


<The following from an article by Daniel R. Juliano>

I am not sure how you are getting from Bergen to Oslo, but I would suggest the beautiful scenic train that takes you between the two if you are not flying. It stops quite often and lets you get out in the mountains and look around. It is warm up there, yet there is tons of snow. At least there was when I was there two years ago this month.

If you could get to Oystese and see the Hardanger fjord that is the most beautiful one I ever saw. But, you have to take a bus or drive there. When we were there the buses were on strike (of course) and we rented a car. Scary. You have to drive on these huge mountains with no guard rail where you are literally one foot from the edge and you have to go through huge tunnels. A police man actually pulled us over for going to slow. :)

We did take a boat tour in Bergen of the fjords which we enjoyed. My family went to see Grieg's house. They enjoyed that. They also saw the stave church. I didn't go along to those so I don't know if I should recommend them.

On most days in Bergen there is a fish market in the main part of town which is quite interesting. They sell fish that they have just caught, as well as fresh fruit, flowers, bread and handicrafts. It is closed on Sundays.

Oh, we also went on a tour of some church and of the Hansa houses. That was neat. Ok, I'll stop. Again. If you have any more specific questions, just ask.


<From: Jan Setnan>

I always recommend taking the boat from Bergen to Balestrand in the evening. Then the express ferry from Balestrand to Flåm. The trip from Bergen to Flåm will give you an impressive view of the fjords. Then you take the nighttrain flom Flåm to Oslo, arriving the next morning.

The boat from Bergen to Balestrand may be filled with tourists so you probably should reserve tickets. But the ferry from Balestrand to Flåm should give you no problems. The train tickets you should reserve beforehand. The luggage is another problem travelling from boat to boat to train. If you have several items, you could send most of it with the train from Bergen to Oslo, and only take the necessary minimum with you on the boats. The boat ticket from Bergen to Flåm is about $65.


<From: Melvin Klasse>

When I went to Bergen, in early-July 1988, the "Tourist Information Centre" (*very* close to the SAS Hotel in Bergen) had all sorts of accomodation available, from a "pension" (bed & shared bathroom & NO-breakfast) to "tourist-class" hotels.

 

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Norway - >>


6.4.2 Oslo

Oslo lies at the head of Oslo Fjord, about 97 km from the open sea. The city first occupied the small Åkershus Peninsula, where a fortress was built in 1300. Oslo was founded about 1050 to the east of the present city. Early in the 17th century fire destroyed the town, mostly built of wood. King Christian IV ordered the city to be rebuilt on the Åkershus Peninsula below the fortress, which could protect it. The new city was laid out on a square plan and was named Christiania after its founder (the name Oslo was readopted in 1925).

The city remained small until the 19th century; in 1814, it's population was only 11,200. That year, Norway was separated from Denmark and was joined into Sweden by a personal union. Christiania became the national capital and started to grow. The Royal Palace was built, and the Storting (Parliament) and government offices were established. By 1910, the population had already reached 225,000.

Today Oslo is a well-planned city with wide, straight streets. Government offices and the central business district are focused on Karl Johansgate, which is the main street in Oslo. By the harbour is the two-towered City Hall (completed 1950), the city's most famous landmark, facing the fjord and the downtown area.

Oslo is also the cultural heart of Norway. The university, which was founded in 1811, is the largest in the country. The city also contains the National Theater, the Bygdøy folk museum with a large collection of traditional buildings, and a museum of excavated Viking ships. On Holmenkollen, a mountain overlooking the city, is a famous ski jump, the site of many winter sports competitions. Frogner Park contains the statuary of Gustav Vigeland.


<From: Ken Ewing>

I spent a week in Oslo in July, 1989. I don't know what you might be interested in, but here's a rundown of stuff that I did (please forgive any misspellings...I don't have my travel info in front of me. :-)

Back in Oslo: Other general tips:  

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6.4.3 Trondheim

Trondheim, a city on the west central coast of Norway, is situated about 400 km north of Oslo. The city is the site of the Technical University of Norway (1900) and the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences (1760). Histoical landmarks include the impressive Nidaros Cathedral (started in 1075, finished c. 1320, burned badly six times, restauration started in 1869), where several Norse kings and Kings of independent Norway have been crowned. The cathedral, built from Norwegian blue soapstone and white marble, contains the tomb of St. King Olaf II (Saint Olaf), which made it an important centre of pilgrimage in the middle ages.

Founded as Kaupangr by King Olav Tryggvason in 997, Trondheim was an archbishopric from 1152 until the Reformation (1537). The city was an important administrative and commercial center during the 12th and 13th centuries, but its importance later diminished.

Erkebispegården, the archbishop's house by the cathedral survives from the middle ages. Stiftsgården is a long wooden building with a rococo interior. Folkemuseum has a collection of traditional houses and a stave church. The fortified island of Munkholmen just off the city can be reached by a boat.

 

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6.4.4 Hurtigruta

Anne Lise Falck <falck@cs.odu.edu> wrote:

I have one particular thing in mind: you should take the time to travel with `Hurtigruta` or Coastal Line as they say in English. It is a beautiful boatride from Bergen to Kirkenes by the Russian border in the north. You have the possibility of stopping in different cities along the coast if you want to, and I believe that the whole trip takes about a week or two.


Mike Jittlov adds:

IMHO, it's the finest boat cruise in the world. You might consider a variety of travel (it seems to invite adventure and wonderful meetings): take the train from Oslo toward Bergen, but just before that switch trains at Myrdal, winding down the steep gorge to Flåm, and take the ferry through the spectacular fjord (either to Bergen, or a bus to the city); treat yourself to a day or two in Bergen (wonderful fish & rolls at the harborside market), then board the Hurtigruten northbound; the route through the Lofoten Islands is breathtaking, and incredibly healing for spirit and body (weather permitting, the steamer takes a sidetrip into the Trollfjord, and plays Grieg's "Hall of the Mountain King" over loudspeakers); continue to Tromsø, then to Nordkapp (incredibly touristy at the northernmost point of Europe - but the contrast can be wild), every village and stop along the way enticing you to stop and explore and learn and enjoy; take the plane to Trondheim, and then the train back to Oslo (with a sidetrip to Hell, a beautiful fjord-town with a unique stamp for your passport ;) -- check out postcards and the free tourist brochures for places that excite your interest. Ask for directions and advice -- everyone is helpful, gracious, and honest; most speak English, and will help you with your Norwegian.

The Hurtigruta has also a home page on WWW (both in English and Norwegian): <http://www.monet.no/hr/>.



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