Norway is quite an expensive country. Separately, only skiers go to Norway. Capital of Norway – Oslo – not of great interest in terms of the excursion program. This city was badly damaged during the Second World War, after which it was rebuilt. But nevertheless, there is something to see here. Of the cultural and historical attractions, these are: the quarters of the “Old Town” around the Akershus Castle (XIV-XVI centuries) with the Museum of the Resistance, the City Hall (1933-1950), the Charles Jones and Frederiks gates, the Parliament building (1886), the Royal the palace (1825-1848), the building of the National Theater (1891-1899), the famous Frogner Park with a giant (192 figures) sculptural ensemble by Gustav Vigeland (1669-1943) and a memorial museum of this famous sculptor, constantly the crowded Aker-Brigge embankment, the Münch Museum (Edvard Munch Museum, 1963), the Historical Museum (Museum of National Antiquities), the Norwegian Maritime Museum, National Gallery (1837), Museum of Applied Arts, Museum of Sex, Norwegian Folk Museum, famous stadium “Bishlet”. The main tourist area of the capital is the peninsula Bjogde (Bigdoinesveinen), in the area of which the famous Norwegian Museum of Folk Life (“Folk Museum”) is concentrated, where more than 150 traditional buildings from all over the country are collected in the open air, a huge entertainment center “Tusenfryd”, Yule Church -Staf-Kerke (XIII century), the Viking Museum with a unique collection of the burial places of these “pirates of the Middle Ages” with real “drakkars” (VIII-iX centuries), the Fram Museum dedicated to this famous ship of Fridtjof Nansen, as well as a unique Museum “Kon-Tiki” with the legendary ships of Thor Heyerdahl.
According to Top-mba-universities, Bergen is one of the most picturesque places in the country and far surpasses the capital in terms of the number of attractions. The fame of the city was brought by the famous Hanseatic Bryggen embankment (included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List), the Bergenhus fortress (1261), the Rosenkranz tower (1546), the old Fish Market on Torget (working from the 13th century), the Aquarium – one of the best in Europe, Mariakirken (Church of the Holy Virgin Mary, XII century), Bergen Art Museum with a wonderful collection of paintings by Munch, Miro and Picasso, Edvard Grieg’s estate – Trollhaugen (“Troll Hill”) on the picturesque lakeshore, funicular “Floybanen” and hundreds of “gingerbread houses” under tiled roofs, which are the main beauty of the city. From Bergen most excursion trips begin in the “Troll Country”, to Norway ‘s longest and deepest fjord – Sognefjord, to the most beautiful Hardangerfjord, to the Jostedalsbren ice massif, to Lake Dyupsvati, to waterfalls in the Geirangerfjord and Trollveggen area, to the unique Flam – Voss railway (20 tunnels for 46 km.), as well as to the picturesque rocky peaks near Odda, Svelgen and Andalsnes.
Nidaros Cathedral
The cathedral is located in the center of Trondheim. According to Norwegian history, the cathedral stands on the spot where King Olaf Haraldson was buried, who was killed in 1030 and became Saint Olaf a few days later. The construction of the cathedral began in 1070 after the number of pilgrims visiting the saint’s tomb began to increase. The construction was completed in 1300, after which the cathedral was recognized as the most beautiful in Norway.. During its history, the cathedral burned and was plundered, but each time it was restored in its original style. Norwegian kings are still crowned and buried in it. In the cathedral, you can look at the royal jewels, or climb the tower, which offers a view of Trondheim. Particularly noteworthy are the stained glass windows, which, when properly lit, look simply amazing.
The main attractions of Northern Norway are the North Cape, the northernmost point in Europe. Here is located the tourist center “Northcaphall”, which includes the National Research Center for the Saami in Kautokeino, the Evre Anarjokka National Park, the chapel of King Oscar and St. George in Kirkenes. Tours are very popularon the ship “Hurtiruggen” from Bergen to Nordkapp, with numerous stops along the way – in the towns of Floro and Moldo, in Alesund, famous for its unified building in the “art nouveau style”, in the thousand-year-old Trondheim and in a dozen of the most picturesque places.
Sandwiched between the Swedish border and the coast of the Norwegian Sea, the narrow strip of Nordland is the land of the Arctic Circle. Tourists are interested in the monument that marks this line in the “Center of the Arctic Circle” on Saltfjellet.
An interesting excursion to the Svalbard archipelago. About half of its territory is given over to nature reserves, which are home to unique polar species of animals and the largest bird colonies in the world.
Troms – land of islands. The region’s capital, Tromsø (“Tromsø”), is one of the world’s leading centers for environmental research – it hosts the world’s northernmost university, as well as interesting cultural sites such as the Hologaland theater, Ishavskatedralen (“Arctic Cathedral”) from glass and metal, museum “Polaria”, lift to Mount Fløya.
Excursion to Sør-Trøndelag, the capital of South Trøndelag. Here are the famous cathedrals of St. Clement and Nidaros (XII century) with the tomb of St. Olaf, the Archbishop’s Palace (XII century) and the Ringve Music Museum, and on the territory of the southern outskirts of the city numerous sites of the Viking Age (VIII-XI centuries BC) were discovered. ). In the vicinity of interest are the Köngsvöld Mountain Botanical Garden in Oppdal og Orkdalen, the Rhine Abbey in Rissa, many prehistoric monuments – burial mounds, menhirs and stone circles in Eggekfammen and Thingfold, Helge’s farm in Byafossen, the ruins of the fortress in Steinviksholm (1525 BC).), rock paintings and burial mounds in Skögne, Heile, Lirvalle and Lekaoja, the national parks of Grossomoen and Börgefjell, as well as the best salmon river in the country – Namsen.
The tourist program “Norway in miniature” has gained considerable popularity. This is a journey along the Flamsbahn mountain railway. There is no such railway in the world, as it runs along very steep mountain slopes.
History in Norway
From ancient times, German-speaking Scandinavian tribes lived on the territory of present-day Norway. In the 9th century an intertribal union was organized, which became the prototype of the Norwegian state. Late 9th – early 10th c. Norwegians began to enter the Atlantic Ocean and successfully settled Iceland. Along with sea voyages, the Vikings made predatory raids on many peoples of Europe. Until the 12th century Norway owned vast territories, including Iceland and Greenland. In 1380 Norway was under the rule of the Danish king, and in 1537. it became a Danish province. In 1814, after the defeat of Denmark in the war with England, Norway was transferred to Sweden, but the Norwegians stubbornly defended their sovereignty. This country became independent only by 1905.
