Norway has many distinguishable landmarks, such as monuments, buildings, as well as natural phenomena that have made it onto the UNSECO list of World Heritage Sites.
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| The West side of the Nidaros Cathedral. The rows of the saints standing on the front are very impressive, and the structure is nothing less than magnificent. |
The Nidarosdomen Cathedral, or simply Nidaros, is considered the most important church of Norway, and is the country's national sanctuary. It is located in Trondheim, and is a popular destination for pilgrims from all over Northern Europe, but also from around the world - each year it receives around 400,000 tourists from all around. It was built over the grave of St Olav, Norway's patron saint.
The official pilgrimages started from around 1050 until the Reformation, and the tradition has been revived in 1997, when the pilgrim way was opened. The Pilgrims' Way, or Pilgrims' Route, is the popular name for the road between Oslo and the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, and was reopened as a pilgrimage tour in the summer of 1997.
Work on the Cathedral started in 1070, but some of the oldest parts of it have been in existence from the middle of the twelfth century. The cathedral suffered several fires, in 1327 and 1531. In 1708 it burned down completely apart for the stone walls, and was not completely rebuilt until the early 1900s. As fortune, or perhaps God, would have it, it was struck by lightning in 1719. After this supernatural catastrophe as it were, it was ravaged by fire once more. Indeed, the cathedral has suffered such horrible blows throughout its relatively short lifespan, that you have to wonder whether some higher force wants it destroyed.
Consequently, the restoration was rather slow and arduous. Major rebuilding and restoration of the cathedral started in 1869, and was first led by architect Heinrich Ernst Schirmer, and almost completed by Christian Christie. It was finally officially completed in 2001, but its maintenance is a continuous process.
The Cathedral, as all cathedrals, began hosting coronation ceremonies very early on. Around 1400 the first coronations took place in Nidaros, but were discontinued after the Reformation, when the union with Denmark was made solid. They again resumed with coronations after the national independence was achieved, in 1814. In fact, it was written down in the constitution of 1814 that the Trondheim Cathedral was to be the 'coronation church of the realm.' The last and final coronation was performed in 1906, and after this, monarchs have decided to receive only official blessings in the church.
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| The Oscarsborg Fortress, located in the Oslo fjord, as seen from the south-east side, |
The Oscarsborg Fortress is a coastal fortress, located in the Oslofjord, near the small city of Drobak. The fortress was military territory until 2003, after which time it was made into an open resort island. The fortress became famous during World War II, when the German heavy cruiser Blucher was sunk off its coast, on April 9, 1940, in defense from the Germans' attack. The guns and the torpedo worked perfectly, and the Norwegians thus managed to save their King and government from being taken prisoners by the enemy.
After the last weapons systems were deactivated and all weapons put out of use, the fortress became a civilian resort, and a tourist attraction, open to all visitors. The scenic surroundings are commonly used for conferences and excursions, and the place is now perfect for families and all those interested in nature, culture and history. Guided tours are often organized, and during the summer season the open areas around the fortress are used for theater, opera and concerts. There's also an art gallery, with several exhibitions, a Spa, and a few places with good food.
One of the major attractions of coming to Norway for many are its fjords. Indeed, the fjords have become such a recognizable landmark of Norway, that many people identify Norway's nature with the fjords. We will list only the major fjords, the ones that attract the most tourists - as you know, these are the ones that have the usual effect of making your eyeballs drop out of their sockets when you see them for the first time.
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| This is only a small part of the Sognefjord, seen at dusk, but very beautiful. |
The Sognefjord is located in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, in Western Norway, and is the longest fjord in Norway, and the second longest fjord in the world. From its mouth, in the vicinity of Bergen, it stretches about 205 km (127 mi) inland, all the way to the small village of Skjolden. It is about 350 kilometers northwest of Oslo.
The maximum depth of Sognefjord is 1,308 below sea level, and the greatest depths are found more inland. The average width of the fjord is about 4 and a half kilometers, and the cliffs that surround the fjord (which give the fjords their grandeur) often rise to over 1000 m.
The beauty and the sheer scale of the fjord have made it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Norway, and the profits from tourism support much of the local economy in the summer season. Also well-known is the Rallarvegen, located in the area, which is the most popular bicycling route in Norway.
A part of the Sognefjord called the Naeroyfjord, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. It was also rated by National Geographic as the 'world number one natural heritage site', alongside Geirangerfjord. It is really an independent fjord, about 17 kilometers in length, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations.
There are many towns and settlements on the fjord and its branches, among which are Sogndal, Hoyanger, Vik i Sogn, Laerdal, Gaupne, Ardal, Gudvangen, Flam and Balestrand. From the village of Flam the famous Flamsbana railway climbs 864 meters up to Myrdal, and this in only 20 km, which makes it the steepest railway in the world
Nordfjord is a fjord in the county of Sogn og Fjordane in Western Norway. It is 110 kilometers long and stretches from the Jostedalsbreen Glacier toward the ocean. The Nordfjord is also a traditional district, comprising the municipalities of Selje, Vagsoy, Bremanger, Eid, Hornindal, Stryn and Gloppen.
Nordfjord is the sixth longest fjord in Norway and it encompasses the coastline of Stadhavet and the glacier Jostedalsbreen, the biggest glacier in continental Europe. A part of the Nordfjord is also Europe's deepest lake, the Hornindalsvatnet, at 514 meters.
The area has many scenic attractions, among which are the lakes and waterfalls, the fjord and the ocean, and the blue glaciers. The glaciers are known to lend a distinct greenish color to the surrounding rivers and lakes, which makes the scene breathtaking. There is all-year downhill skiing in the municipality of Stryn, and popular activities include walking, bicycling, glacier walking, fishing, horse riding and boat touring
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| This is only one of the waterfalls in Gerangerfjord, which abounds in beautiful scenery. |
Another fjord that made it to UNESCO's World Heritage list (what a surprise). Geirangerfjord is nicely located in the county of More og Romsdal in Western Norway. It is about 15 kilometers long, and is one of the most visited fjords in Norway, a lot of which has to do with the fact that it has several of the most stunning waterfalls you can hope to see - the Brudesloret, also known as the Bridal Veil, the De syv sostrene, or Seven Sisters, and the Suitor, also called the Wooer.
Beside the stunning natural beauties, there are also superb feats of engineering, such as the Trollstigen, a mountain road which goes around the steep mountain sides, beside the waterfalls. The road is so narrow at certain points that you cannot not be afraid but also fascinated at the same time by its design.
About halfway between Trollstigen and the Valldal center there is a wonderful system of whirlpools, on the sides of a deep gorge, known as the Gudbrandsjuvet Gorge. It is about 5 meters wide and 20 meters deep, so be sure to check it out.
There is also the Herdalssetra, a very private group of 30 old farmhouses, and is one of the largest communal alpine farm centers for goat farming in Norway. The tradition of alpine farming in these areas goes back at least 300 years.
If you're a photographer, or simply looking for a great shot of the fjord from a high point, then position yourself on the Flydalsjuvet, which gives a great view over Geiranger and the Geirangerfjord. Many of the photos you see on traveling brochures for Norway are taken from this very position.
Things to do when you're in Geirangerfjord? There's fishing, rafting, canoe trips and cruises around the fjord. There's also summer skiing in Stryn, Norway's biggest summer ski center.
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| Preikestolen - a lovely nature spot |
Lyswfjord is located in Forsand municipality, Rogaland county. The name Lysefjord, or Lysefjorden, means light fjord, and comes from the light color of the granite rocks on the sides of the fjord. It measures 42 kilometers (about 23 miles) and is distinguished by rocky walls falling vertically sometimes more than 1000 meters into the water.
The area around the fjord is very inhospitable, so there are not many settlements, only two small villages, Forsand and Lysebotn, located at opposite ends of the fjord.
One of the greatest natural attractions in Norway is located in Lysefjord, and that is the Preikestolen, (shown on the photo) variously known as the Pulpit Rock or Preacher's Pulpit. It is a massive cliff, falling down 604 meters above Lysefjord, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations, especially for hikers. People mostly come here to enjoy the view, but if you're looking to commit suicide, this is the perfect place. There is no fence, and there's no chance you'll survive the half-mile jump. Plus your body will never be found, so don't worry about funeral expenses.
The beauties of Lysefjord have entered popular lore - Victor Hugo visited the place and wrote about it in the Toilers of the Sea. He said he admired the scenery, and that the Lysefjord was the most terrifying of all ocean reefs. The fact that BASE jumpers are legally allowed to jump here is testimony enough of the lofty heights of its cliffs.
Hardangerfjord is located in the county of Hordaland, and is the third largest fjord in the world, and the second largest in Norway. It is about 180 kilometers long, and its maximum depth is over 800 meters, near the village of Norheimsund, around the middle of the fjord. The Hardangerfjord area is known for summer skiing at the Folgefonna glacier, and also for the beautiful fruit tree blossoming in spring.
Gamlebyen (Old Town) is one of the most enchanting places in Norway you can visit. It is perhaps the best preserved fortress town in Scandinavia, with wonderful timber houses, moats, gates and a drawbridge. It was built in 1663 and was used as trade center connecting southern Norway with mainland Europe. Its primary use, however, was as a military defense against Swedish attacks. Nowadays, you can go for pleasant walks inside the wall perimeters, which consist mainly of grassy embankments, and give no hint of their former military glory. The narrow cobbled streets are wonderfully quaint and are perfect for a nice stroll between the beautiful 17th century buildings lining them on the sides.
Some of the finest and best preserved old buildings in town are the old convict prison (Salveriet, built in 1731), the stone storehouse (1674-91) which is the oldest building in Gamlebyen and is now a ceramics showroom, and also Balaklava (from 1783) a historic building. You should definitely check out the Fredrikstad Museum (tel. 69 30 46 00; ticket prices range from Nkr10-40). There are temporary exhibitions in the downstairs area, different scale models of the Old Town on the first floor, and a military museum on the top floor.
