The capital of Norway is the name of the capital. Oslo, Norway - everything about the city with photos, attractions and maps of Oslo

Form of government a constitutional monarchy Area, km 2 385 186 Population, people 5 006 000 Population growth, per year 0,34% average life expectancy 80 Population density, people/km2 12,7 Official language Norwegian Currency Norwegian krone International telephone code +47 Internet zone .no Time Zones +1

brief information

Norway, due to the fact that the polar day lasts from May to July, is sometimes called the “Land of the Midnight Sun”. This, of course, is a mysterious and somewhat even romantic name, but it does not evoke a strong desire to come to this country. However, Norway is not only the “Land of the Midnight Sun”. First of all, Norway is Viking, with amazingly beautiful fjords, some of which are included in the list World Heritage UNESCO, and, of course, prestigious ski resorts.

Geography of Norway

Norway is located in the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. Norway borders Finland and Russia in the northeast, and Sweden in the east. Norway is washed in the northeast by the Barents Sea, in the southwest by the North Sea, and in the west by the Norwegian Sea. The Skagerrak Strait separates Norway from Denmark.

The total territory of Norway, including the islands of Spitsbergen, Jan Mayen and Bear in the Arctic Ocean, is 385,186 square kilometers.

A significant part of Norway's territory is occupied by mountains. The highest of them are Mount Gallhöppigen (2469 m) and Mount Glittertinn (2452 m).

There are a lot of rivers in Norway, the longest of which are Glomma (604 km), Logen (359 km), and Otra (245 km).

Norway is sometimes called the "lake region". This is not surprising, given that it has several hundred lakes. The largest of them are Mjøsa, Røsvatn, Femunn, and Hornindalsvatnet.

Capital

The capital of Norway is Oslo, which is now home to more than 620 thousand people. It is believed that Oslo was founded in 1048 by the Norwegian king Harald III.

Official language of Norway

The official language in Norway is Norwegian, which consists of two dialects (Bokmål and Nynorsk). Most often, Norwegians speak Bukol, but for some reason Nynorsk is popular among Norwegian Internet users.

Religion

More than 80% of Norwegians are Lutherans (Protestants), belonging to the Church of Norway. However, only about 5% of Norwegians go to church every week. In addition, 1.69% of Norway's inhabitants are Muslim, and 1.1% are Catholic.

Government of Norway

Norway is a constitutional monarchy in which the head of state, according to the Constitution of 1814, is the King.

Executive power in Norway belongs to the King, and legislative power belongs to the local unicameral parliament - the Storting (169 deputies).

Main political parties in Norway - the liberal-conservative "Progress Party", the social democratic "Norwegian Workers' Party", the "Christian Democratic Party" and the "Social Left Party".

Climate and weather

Norway is located at the same latitude as Alaska and Siberia, but this Scandinavian country has a much milder climate. At the end of June - at the beginning of August in Norway the weather is warm and the days are long. At this time, the average air temperature reaches +25-30C, and the average sea temperature - +18C.

The warmest and most stable weather is always observed on south coast Norway. However, even in northern Norway in summer the air temperature can exceed +25C. However, in central regions and in northern Norway the weather changes frequently.

In winter, most of Norway tends to turn into a snowy paradise. In winter in Norway, the air temperature can even drop to -40C.

Sea in Norway

Norway is washed in the northeast by the Barents Sea, in the southwest by the North Sea, and in the west by the Norwegian Sea. The Skagerrak Strait separates Norway from Denmark. General coastline Norway is 25,148 km.

Average sea temperature in Oslo:

January – +4C
- February - +3C
- March - +3C
- April - +6C
- May - +11C
- June - +14C
- July - +17C
- August – +18С
- September - +15C
- October - +12C
- November - +9C
- December - +5C

A real gem of Norway - Norwegian fjords. The most beautiful of them are Naeroyfjord, Sognefjord, Geirangerfjord, Hardangerfjord, Lysefjord, and Aurlandsfjord.

Rivers and lakes

Norway has a lot of rivers, the longest of which are Glomma in the east (604 km), Logen in the southeast (359 km), and Otra in Sørland (245 km). The largest Norwegian lakes are Mjøsa, Røsvatn, Femunn, and Hornindalsvatnet.

Many tourists come to Norway to go fishing. Salmon, trout, whitefish, pike, perch and grayling abound in Norwegian rivers and lakes.

History of Norway

Archaeologists have proven that people lived on the territory of modern Norway back in the 10th millennium BC. But real story Norway began during the Viking Age, whose cruelty is still legendary on the coast of Great Britain, for example.

Between 800 and 1066, the Norse Vikings became known throughout Europe as brave warriors, ruthless invaders, cunning traders and inquisitive seafarers. The history of the Vikings ended in 1066, when the Norwegian king Harald III died in England. After him, Olaf III became king of Norway. It was under Olaf III that Christianity began to spread rapidly in Norway.

In the 12th century, Norway captured part of British Isles, Iceland and Greenland. This was the time of greatest prosperity for the Norwegian kingdom. However, the country was greatly weakened by competition from the Hanseatic League and the plague epidemic.

In 1380, Norway and Denmark entered into an alliance and became one country. The union of these states lasted for more than four centuries.

In 1814, Norway became part of Sweden under the Treaty of Kiel. However, Norway did not submit to this and the Swedes invaded its territory. In the end, Norway agreed to be part of Sweden if they were left with the constitution.

Nationalism grew throughout the 19th century in Norway, leading to the 1905 referendum. According to the results of this referendum, Norway became an independent state.

During the First World War, Norway remained neutral. During World War II, Norway also declared its neutrality, but it was still occupied by German troops (for Germany this was a strategic step).

After the end of World War II, Norway suddenly forgot about its neutrality and became one of the founders of the NATO military bloc.

Norwegian culture

The culture of Norway differs markedly from the cultures of other European nations. The fact is that this Scandinavian country is located far from such European cultural centers as Florence, Rome and Paris. However, tourists will be pleasantly impressed by Norwegian culture.

Many Norwegian cities host music, dance and folk festivals every year. The most popular of them is the international cultural festival in Bergen (music, dance, theater).

It cannot be said that the Norwegians made a huge contribution to world culture, but the fact that it was significant is undeniable. The most famous Norwegians are polar explorers Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen, composers Varg Vikernes and Edvard Grieg, artist Edvard Munch, writers and playwrights Henrik Ibsen and Knut Hamsun, as well as traveler Thor Heyerdahl.

Norwegian cuisine

The main products of Norwegian cuisine are fish, meat, potatoes and other vegetables, and cheese. Norway's favorite traditional snack is pölse (potato cake with sausage).

Fenalår - dried lamb
- Fårikål - stewed lamb with cabbage
- Pinnekjøtt - salted ribs
- Roast wild elk or deer
- Kjøttkaker – fried beef meatballs
- Laks og eggerøre – omelette with smoked salmon
- Lutefisk – baked cod
- Rømmegrøt - sour cream porridge
- Multekrem – cloudberry cream for dessert

The traditional alcoholic drink in Norway is Aquavit, which is usually 40% ABV. The production of aquavita in Scandinavia began in the 15th century.

Sights of Norway

Norwegians have always been distinguished by the fact that they are very careful about their history. Therefore, we advise tourists to Norway to definitely see:

North Cape

Norwegian fjords

Changing of the guard ceremony at the Royal Palace in Oslo

Wooden quarter Briggen in Bergen

Sculpture Park in Oslo

Ski jump Holmenkolle

Snow hotel in Kirkenes

Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim

Viking ships at the maritime museum in Oslo

National History Museum in Oslo

Cities and resorts

The largest Norwegian cities are Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, and Stavanger.

Norway is famous for its magnificent ski resorts. Every winter, various ski championships are held in Norway. The top ten best ski resorts in Norway include, in our opinion, the following:

1. Trysil (Trisil)
2. Hemsedal (Hemsedal)
3. Hafjell
4. Geilo (Geilo)
5. Tryvann
6. Norefjell
7. Oppdal
8. Hovden
9. Kvitfjell
10. Kongsberg

Souvenirs/shopping

We advise tourists from Norway to bring a real Norwegian wool sweater, toy trolls, modern dishes, wooden kitchen utensils, silverware, ceramics, dried lamb, brown goat cheese, and Norwegian vodka - aquavit.

Office hours

Stores are open:

Mon-Wed and Fri: 09:00-17.00/18:00
Thu: 09:00-20.00
Sat: 10:00-18.00
Supermarkets are usually open Mon-Fri from 09:00 to 20:00, and on Sat from 10:00 to 18:00.

Banks:
Mon-Fri - 08:00-15.30

Most hotels, restaurants, and large stores accept major international credit cards.

City Oslo is the capital of Norway is the oldest of the Northern European capitals. It was founded as a trading settlement in 1048 by King Harald III of Norway. After the death of this king in the battle for the English throne, the 3-century Viking era ended.These brave and cruel seafaring warriors began their campaigns at the end of the 8th century. The reason was banal: there was not enough fertile land in the homeland, the population was growing, and the kings wanted wealth. They did not find any other way to solve their problems than robbing their neighbors.At first, the Vikings terrified neighboring countries, but over time the geography of their invasions expanded. They ravaged Paris, Hamburg, made their mark in Lisbon, regularly attacked England, settled Iceland, and in 986 viking ship swam to the shores North America, predating Christopher Columbus's caravel by 500 years.The Vikings were willingly taken into service by the Russian princes, under whose command the Slavic-Varangian squads went on campaigns against Constantinople. In turn, the Byzantine emperors also resorted to the services of these mercenaries. So Harald III and his soldiers managed to fight both for and against the rulers of Constantinople, amassing a considerable fortune, which later helped him take possession of the Norwegian crown. He married the daughter of Yaroslav the Wise, Elizabeth, to whom he dedicated poems.

Viking ships and Fridtjof Nansen's Fram

In memory of those ancient times, the Norwegians opened a museum on the Bygdejuns Peninsula in 1926, where they housed Viking burial ships found on the coast Oslofjord during archaeological excavations. Gokstad, the most ancient of them, dates back to the 8th century. The exhibition also presents other items found in the burials: carts, sleds, buckets, wooden jewelry - everything that brave warriors took with them forever when setting off on their journey to Odin.

On the same museum peninsula Bygdejuns there is another ship - the famous Fram, the brainchild of Fridtjof Nansen. The great polar explorer designed it specifically for the Arctic, in particular for long-term drift in multi-year ice. This ship made two trips to North Pole, the first - under the leadership of Nansen, the second - Sverdrup. The Fram also made a voyage to the South Pole, which was conquered by another famous traveler and scientist, Roald Amundsen. Rightfully proud of his polar research Norway, photo the ship "Fram" is one of its calling cards.

Akershus Fortress and Royal Palace

Oslo became the capital 250 years after its foundation with the light hand of King Hakon V the Saint, who built the first stone structure on its territory - the Akershus fortress. It withstood the siege of the Swedish army with honor in 1308, but two centuries later, ironically, it burned to the ground due to a lightning strike. On the site of the ashes, a new complex was built, consisting of a fortress and a castle.

In 1624 there was another fire, but this time all the wooden buildings in Oslo were destroyed in the flames. By order of Christian IV, near Akershus the city was rebuilt in stone. But from that moment on, the capital of Norway was renamed Christiania; in 1877, the letter “X” in the name changed to “K”. And only in 1925 the name given at birth was returned to the city.

And the Akershus fortress either fell into decay or was reborn. Since 1811 there was a prison in it, then there was a museum. During World War II, the fortress was desecrated by the presence of the Gestapo. After restoration, a museum of the Norwegian Resistance opened in it.

The main street of Oslo is named after King Charles XIV Johan, the birth of Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, a brilliant Napoleonic military leader who made a dizzying career from private to marshal. When the emperor’s mercy gave way to anger, Jean-Baptiste went into voluntary “exile”, becoming the adopted heir to the Swedish and Norwegian thrones. In 1818, the dashing Frenchman received the crown and the name Charles XIV Johan.

7 years later, Bernadotte began the construction of the Royal Palace in Christiania, which was intended as a summer residence. Due to financial problems, construction progressed sluggishly, and the provincial status of the main city of Norway did not help speed it up. As a result, Karl Johan died without seeing his new palace.

Now here is the residence of the current king Harold V, the third representative of the Glucksburg dynasty.

Cathedrals and churches of the capital of Norway

On Karl Johan Street there is Cathedral Lutheran Diocese of Oslo. Its current version is the third in a row. The first building was founded in the 12th century by Earl Sigurd I the Crusader in honor of the heavenly patron saint of Oslo, Saint Hallvard. This cathedral was the main capital's temple for almost 5 centuries; coronations, royal weddings and funerals were held here.

After the city was transferred to the Akerushus fortress in 1624, St. Hallward's Cathedral fell into disrepair, and in the center of Christiania, near market square in 1639 a new one was built in the Baroque style, named after the Holy Trinity. But 50 years later, this cathedral burns to the ground. In its place, a new one was erected, which, with some changes, has survived to this day.

The main church of the Catholic diocese of the Norwegian capital is St. Olav's Cathedral, built in 1856 in the neo-Gothic style. IN different years he was given gifts famous people: in honor of the consecration of the cathedral, Queen Josephine presented a copy of the Sistine Madonna; in 1857, Pope Pius IX presented a marble tabernacle. In 1989, another pontiff, John Paul II, donated the relics of St. Olaf to the temple.

Acra Church, built in Romanesque style in 1080, is the oldest in Oslo.

It is located on the site of a former silver mine, which gave rise to the legend. According to it, countless treasures are hidden deep under the temple, which their formidable guardian will never give to people. troll.

Norwegian Parliament and Town Hall in Oslo

Royal power in Norway is limited by the Storting (parliament), whose roots go back to the early Middle Ages, when tings (meetings of Norwegian clans) were held. At these meetings, kings were elected, criminals were tried, and treaties were concluded.

Now the bicameral Storting makes laws, adopts the country's budget and controls the work of the government. His residence is located in a building built in 1866 beautiful building eclectic style on Karl Johan Street. The author of the lion statues at the entrance was Gubrand, sentenced to death, who was recruited to work due to a shortage of sculptors. The parliamentarians liked the lions so much that they pardoned their creator.

Another iconic place Oslo – city hall, which was built intermittently from 1933 to 1950. Its building is an organic mixture of classicism, functionalism and romanticism. The severity of the brown brick facade is harmoniously combined with the interior design in the traditions of Norwegian national art

Every year on December 10, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony takes place in the town hall.

Theater life in the Norwegian capital

Available in Oslo attractions related to theatrical art. The Norwegian National Theater opened in 1899 in a building on Karl Johan Street. The most famous works of domestic and foreign playwrights (Ibsen, Bjornson, Lagerkvist, Capek, etc.) were staged on its stage.

During the occupation in 1940, the Nazis initially traditionally placed barracks in the theater building, but later began to use it for its intended purpose, staging plays by German authors there.

The opera house in the Norwegian capital was built at the beginning of the 21st century. It is located on the shores of the Oslofjord, its architectural appearance is amazing. It seems that the building smoothly goes into the water; this illusion is created by the roof, which descends at an angle to the ground.The interior design is no less original: the hall is shaped like a horseshoe, lined with oak panels and has excellent acoustics.

The theater's power supply is partially provided solar panels, located on its southern façade.

The homeland of the Vikings and trolls, glorified in ancient sagas, but which became independent only in the last century, is dynamically moving forward. The leader in the Human Development Index for 10 years is Norway, reviews they are absolutely right about it as the most comfortable country.

They are considered one of the most prosperous in the world. Their level of development and social security can be the envy of many states on the planet. Therefore in this article we'll talk about a country called Norway, whose name translated from Old Norse means “road to the north.” The state is located in western region Scandinavia, also absorbed many neighboring small islands and the Spitsbergen archipelago. We will also find out what the area of Norway is and the population.

Geographical features

The territory of the state stretches in a narrow strip along the coast in the northwest. The widest part of the country is only 420 kilometers. Also, the Norwegians own all the rocks and islands located in its territorial waters. The area of Norway is 3850186 square meters. km. At the same time, the water surface occupies only 5%.

Neighbours

In the east and southeast, Norway neighbors Sweden (the length of the border is 1630 km), Russia (the crossing area is 196 km) and Finland (736 km). In the south Norway is washed North Sea, in the northwest - Norwegian, and in the northeast - Barents.

Locals

The area and population of Norway are insignificant. The country has a population of only 5,245,041 people as of 2015. According to this indicator, the state is one of the smallest. As for the population density, it is equal to 16 people per square kilometer. At the same time, the distribution of people is very uneven. Almost half of the citizens live near the Oslofjord and Trondheimsfjord, on a rather narrow coastal strip. Another 20% of the population lives in the southern part of the country.

78% of people live in cities, of which a fifth live near the capital. It is important to note that the area of Norway provides for the name urban area of such a settlement where more than two hundred people permanently live. In addition, houses should be no more than 50 meters apart from each other.

In terms of gender and age, the country is very employable, since the majority of people are aged between 16 and 67 years. 90% of the population are Norwegians, and the largest national minority are those from Arab countries, of which there are hundreds of thousands of people. Also living are the Sami (about 40 thousand people), Kvens, Swedes, Gypsies, Russians and others.

Regions

The area of Norway is divided into 19 counties, which in turn are united into five large-scale regions:

Northern Norway (Noor-Norge):

Nordland;

Finnmark.

Central Norway (Trøndelag):

Nord-Trøndelag;

Sør-Trøndelag.

Western Norway (Vestland):

Rogaland;

Hordaland;

Sogn og Fjurane;
- Møre o Romsdal.

Eastern Norway (Ostland):

Oppland;
- Headmark;

Telemark;

Vestfold;

Buskerud;

Estfall;

Akershus;

Southern Norway (Sørland):

West-Agder;

Aust-Agder.

In turn, the county is divided into communes, of which there are 432 in the state.

Economic life

Norway, whose territory excluding Spitsbergen and the island of Jan Mayen is 385,186 km2, is one of the largest oil and gas producers in Europe. The country obtains most of its required energy from hydropower, which in turn enables it to export the lion's share of petroleum products. Compared to other European powers, Norway has very low inflation and unemployment rates (both 3%).

The northern country is also rich in quite significant deposits of copper, zinc, titanium, nickel, silver, granite, marble, iron, and has an impressive forest area. In addition, Norway is the largest producer of magnesium and aluminum in the Old World.

Also the leading European supplier of saltpeter, urea and fertilizers is the Norwegian company Norsk Hydro.

In fact, the entire area of Norway is involved in the economic sector. Mechanical engineering is also quite developed in the state, which specializes in the production of machines for the oil and gas industry. Shipbuilding plays a significant role, since Norway is a maritime power with a powerful fishing fleet.

Speaking about agriculture, one cannot help but note the fact that its share in the country’s economy has largely decreased significantly due to the development of the industrial sector. It is also worth understanding that the development of farmland in Norway is very difficult due to the harsh climate. Therefore, even the allocation of significant subsidies by the government does not help to fully revive agriculture, in which livestock farming is in the first position, providing 80% of the total production of the state’s rural workers. In this regard, Norway is forced to purchase a variety of grain crops and many other products from other countries, with which it is not able to fully provide itself.

City Oslo is the capital of Norway is the oldest of the Northern European capitals. It was founded as a trading settlement in 1048 by King Harald III of Norway. After the death of this king in the battle for the English throne, the 3-century Viking era ended.These brave and cruel seafaring warriors began their campaigns at the end of the 8th century. The reason was banal: there was not enough fertile land in the homeland, the population was growing, and the kings wanted wealth. They did not find any other way to solve their problems than robbing their neighbors.At first, the Vikings terrified neighboring countries, but over time the geography of their invasions expanded. They ravaged Paris, Hamburg, made their mark in Lisbon, regularly attacked England, settled Iceland, and in 986 viking ship sailed to the shores of North America, 500 years ahead of Christopher Columbus's caravel.The Vikings were willingly taken into service by the Russian princes, under whose command the Slavic-Varangian squads went on campaigns against Constantinople. In turn, the Byzantine emperors also resorted to the services of these mercenaries. So Harald III and his soldiers managed to fight both for and against the rulers of Constantinople, amassing a considerable fortune, which later helped him take possession of the Norwegian crown. He married the daughter of Yaroslav the Wise, Elizabeth, to whom he dedicated poems.

Viking ships and Fridtjof Nansen's Fram

On the same museum peninsula Bygdejuns there is another ship - the famous Fram, the brainchild of Fridtjof Nansen. The great polar explorer designed it specifically for the Arctic, in particular for long-term drift in multi-year ice. This ship made two trips to the North Pole, the first under the leadership of Nansen, the second under Sverdrup. The Fram also made a voyage to the South Pole, which was conquered by another famous traveler and scientist, Roald Amundsen. Rightfully proud of his polar research Norway, photo the ship "Fram" is one of its calling cards.

Akershus Fortress and Royal Palace

Now here is the residence of the current king Harold V, the third representative of the Glucksburg dynasty.

Cathedrals and churches of the capital of Norway

On Karl Johan Street is the Cathedral of the Lutheran Diocese of Oslo. Its current version is the third in a row. The first building was founded in the 12th century by Earl Sigurd I the Crusader in honor of the heavenly patron saint of Oslo, Saint Hallvard. This cathedral was the main capital's temple for almost 5 centuries; coronations, royal weddings and funerals were held here.

After the city was transferred to the Akerushus fortress in 1624, St. Hallvard's Cathedral fell into disrepair, and in the center of Christiania, near the market square, a new one was built in the Baroque style in 1639, named after the Holy Trinity. But 50 years later, this cathedral burns to the ground. In its place, a new one was erected, which, with some changes, has survived to this day.

The main church of the Catholic diocese of the Norwegian capital is St. Olav's Cathedral, built in 1856 in the neo-Gothic style. Over the years, famous people presented it with gifts: in honor of the consecration of the cathedral, Queen Josephine presented a copy of the Sistine Madonna; in 1857, Pope Pius IX presented a marble tabernacle. In 1989, another pontiff, John Paul II, donated the relics of St. Olaf to the temple.

Acra Church, built in Romanesque style in 1080, is the oldest in Oslo.

Norwegian Parliament and Town Hall in Oslo

Now the bicameral Storting makes laws, adopts the country's budget and controls the work of the government. His residence is located in a beautiful eclectic building built in 1866 on Karl Johan Street. The author of the lion statues at the entrance was Gubrand, sentenced to death, who was recruited to work due to a shortage of sculptors. The parliamentarians liked the lions so much that they pardoned their creator.

Another iconic place in Oslo is the City Hall, which was built intermittently from 1933 to 1950. Its building is an organic mixture of classicism, functionalism and romanticism. The severity of the brown brick facade is harmoniously combined with the interior design in the traditions of Norwegian national art

Every year on December 10, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony takes place in the town hall.

Theater life in the Norwegian capital

During the occupation in 1940, the Nazis initially traditionally placed barracks in the theater building, but later began to use it for its intended purpose, staging plays by German authors there.

The theater's energy supply is partially provided by solar panels located on its southern façade.

- capital of Vikings and trolls
The capital of Norway, which celebrated its millennium in 2000. A large international city in which natural areas are carefully preserved; it is often referred to as a nature reserve for walkers and cyclists. Located in the Östland region, deep in the fjord of the same name, on the shores of three bays: Björkvik, Pipervik and Frogner. Oslo is surrounded by hilly terrain with mountain peaks, covered with forests. There are a number of museums in the city, including some very unusual ones.

Of the architectural monuments, the Akershus Fortress (1300) is of greatest interest. Royal Palace(1848) and the Houses of Parliament. During the summer, Oslo hosts a number of colorful festivals.
The capital of Norway is located in picturesque place, at the beginning of the Oslofjord, which is 15-30 km wide at the entrance and about 102 km long. This calm city, so unlike other modern megacities with their crazy pace of life, rich in history and always friendly, is a real find for the modern tourist. The ancient Viking stronghold still boasts the surrounding forests and fjord, offering visitors all kinds of recreation. Local attractions are very interesting and original, so travelers do not regret spending time getting to know them. And for those who like to go to a club with friends at dusk, Oslo will be doubly interesting, since this city is a recognized leisure center and nightlife Scandinavia.

Oslo is the oldest capital of Northern Europe - was founded by Harald Hardrod. It was from here that, a thousand years ago, the ancient Normans set out on sharp-nosed boats on trade and conquest expeditions. And the same city witnessed the end of the Viking Age when its founder, Harald IV, lost the Battle of Stamford Bridge in England in 1066.
At the end of the 13th century, Oslo became the official residence of the Norwegian kings and the capital of the state. The city continued to flourish until the mid-14th century, when the plague, the scourge of medieval Europe, came to its streets. As a result of the epidemic in the capital, most of the population died. Weakened Norway hastened to conclude an alliance with Denmark, which lasted 400 years.

In 1624, the city was almost completely destroyed as a result of a huge fire. King Gustav Christian IV gave the order to rebuild ancient capital again. This time - in stone. But the restored city was renamed Christiania - after the name of the monarch. In 1814, Christiania was again proclaimed the capital of Norway, but the state itself went to Sweden. An attempt to achieve independence was thwarted by the invasion of neighbors. But the separation of Norway did happen, in 1905, and in a completely peaceful way. The Norwegians voted for the monarchy, inviting Prince Charles of Denmark to the throne of the state. The new ruler took the name Haakon, and named his newborn son Olaf, emphasizing respect for the history of the country, for the glorious time of the Vikings. The city returned its former name, Oslo, only in 1925.

Although the history of the Norwegian capital goes back more than a thousand years, there are practically no preserved buildings of the 19th century, much less the 14th-18th centuries. An exception is the Akershus fortress, built around 1300 and for a long time the residence of kings. Akershus is a complex consisting of the fortress itself and the castle. They are located on the eastern shore of Pipervik Bay, where minor remains of the Old Town remain. The fortress underwent partial reconstruction in XV-XVI centuries. It offers a magnificent view of the city, the Aker Brygge embankment and the bay. Akershus Castle is a structure that can amaze even seasoned travelers.

The gloomy dungeons with small dark chambers are perfectly preserved here. They contain kept women” and imprisoned representatives of the medieval nobility. In great contrast to these “stone bags” are the upper floors: luxurious, with spacious halls and large, bright rooms. The decoration of the castle speaks not only of the wealth of its former owners, but also of their subtle artistic taste. In addition, the building has a chapel, which still, like many centuries ago, houses the relics of the legendary kings Haakon VII and Olaf. This room is still used today for events with the participation of monarchs. Following tradition, the guards walk around the castle every 15-20 minutes, arousing keen interest among a large number of tourists who came to see the museum located within the walls of the fortress. During World War II, the Nazis used Akershus as a prison and execution site. Now there is a Museum of the Resistance.

In the fortress building, a model of Christiania is displayed as one of the exhibits, so everyone can imagine what the city was like several centuries ago.
Modern Oslo extends over 453 square meters. km, its population is 495 thousand people. The capital is built on both sides of the Akerselv River, which flows into Björkvik Bay in the area of the East Railway Station. Together with the suburbs and satellite cities of Asker, Sandvika, Estre-Bærum, Hollerud and others, it formed the Greater Oslo agglomeration with a population of more than 700 thousand people. Thus, every sixth citizen of the state is a resident of the capital.

The main street of the city - Karl-Juhansgate - stretches from the railway station to the Royal Palace. It resembles an anthill: crowds of tourists roam here, you can meet various musicians, traders of all nationalities. This shopping and pedestrian street has been carefully restored and turned into an area of popular restaurants, fashionable shops and artists' studios. Karl-Johansgate abuts the Royal Palace, so everyone can admire how the changing of the guard takes place here at noon. Built in the style of classicism, this palace is a kind of hybrid between the White House and Russian noble estates.
The Parliament building (Storting), built in 1886, is also located on Karl-Johansgat. Adjacent to it is the National Theater, built in 1891 - 1899. It is interesting that this building with a hall in the Rococo style was created specifically to stage Ibsen's plays. The entire business part of the city is concentrated between Karl-Johansgate and the port. In general, you can easily walk around the center of the Norwegian capital in about two hours and still see a lot of interesting things.
Despite the fact that Oslo is The largest city in Norway, it continues to be a surprisingly calm place. It is very easy to navigate here, and the absence of traffic jams familiar to city dwellers on its roads makes visitors even more surprised. The fact is that car roads in Oslo are laid underground, and on the streets of the city pedestrians, cyclists and roller skaters are the rightful owners.

In the northern part of the bay, behind the port, there is another local attraction - the Town Hall building, built in 1933-1950. This brick structure is decorated with sculpture on the outside and beautiful wall paintings on historical themes inside. And in the western part of the bay is Aker Brigge, a modern complex of company offices, shops, and restaurants. This is the kingdom of modern buildings made of stone and glass, a respectable and solid part of the city. Huge glass arrays give the buildings soaring above the pavement an amazing lightness and transparency. There are a large number of fish restaurants located on this embankment. Enterprising owners adapted moored yachts and schooners for them, properly converting them. But once upon a time it was just an ordinary port with dirty docks. From those times, a very small number of buildings have survived, and even those have been greatly altered.
Next to the station stands an unusual modern building, which has become one of the symbols of today's Oslo. Exactly this high building throughout Scandinavia - the mirror hotel "Radisson SAS Plaza".
In the northwestern part of the city is the Olympic ski jumping hill, Holmenkollen, which is often called the “ski mecca” of Norway. On one Sunday in March, the country's largest annual ski jumping competition is held here.

In winter, it arouses genuine interest among both city guests and the local population. (It’s not for nothing that they say that Norwegians are born with skis on their feet!) On weekends, it seems as if the whole of Oslo, including old people and kids, gets on skis and goes to Holmenkollen. But even in summer the number of vacationers here does not decrease. The fact is that in the bowl where skiers land, in the warm season there is... a wonderful swimming pool! And nearby, on the site, weddings are often celebrated, concerts are held and performances attract spectators.
Not far from the ski jump there is a unique Museum of the History of Skiing. It contains a wide variety of snowmobile equipment. Next to ancient skis and poles of a “respectable” age (4000 years old - no joke!) are the skis of Amundsen himself, the conqueror of the South Pole. And at a distance, modern high-tech vehicles, which are difficult to name even skis, look contemptuously at their distant, unsightly ancestors.
A little further from Holmenkollen there is a television tower that is open to the public. From its top to good weather The view opens up to be absolutely fantastic: a panorama of more than 30,000 km unfolds before the next curious tourist. That is, you can see not only the city and a piece of Norway itself, but also Lake Mjøsa and part of Sweden.

And in the center of the capital, not far from the old university building, there is Historical Museum, which is also called the Museum of National Antiquities. Unique archaeological exhibits are exhibited here, telling about the ancient and early medieval history of Norway. After leaving this building and walking quite a bit, tourists find themselves at National Gallery. It was created in 1837 with the participation of the famous painter and graphic artist Yu. K. Dahl. In addition to his own paintings, here you can see paintings from various schools of the 19th and 20th centuries: the works of the realist K. Krogh, A. Tiedemann, the landscape painter H. Gude and many other famous artists. And a separate museum was established for the works of one of the classics of Norwegian expressionism, E. Munch. It boasts a collection of paintings and drawings
totaling more than 5,000 units, donated to the city by various celebrities. But Munch’s most famous painting, “The Scream,” was nevertheless moved in 1994 to the National Gallery.

Right there, in the center of Oslo, there is another museum, which all tourists coming to the city must visit. This is the Museum of Applied Arts, offering to get acquainted with the works of folk craftsmen of the past: cast and forged metal products, turned wooden figured vessels, samples of weaving, embroidery, woven lace, knitted products. People often come here local residents, which is not surprising, since Norway has preserved many cultural traditions. In the country you can often see handmade folk costumes at weddings and various holidays. They are as integral a part of the life of the local population as traditional folk dances, songs and fairy tales, in which trolls always appear.
As for the Heni-Unstad cultural center, located in Hävikodden, it is a museum of modern art, where performances by fashionable directors and exhibitions of abstract artists take place. The center was founded by Norwegian figure skater Sonja Henie. By the way, not far from it is the famous Bishlet stadium, where major figure skating competitions take place - Norwegians love skating no less than skiing.

In general, there are really a lot of attractions in the city. For example, there are three unique museums on the Bygdejuns Peninsula. The oldest of them is the Viking Ship Museum. It contains amazing finds of archaeologists: those same ancient elegant keel ships on which the ancestors of modern residents of Norway sea routes around Europe and reached America, overcoming the waves of the Atlantic. Recent discoveries have proven that on these ships the Vikings reached the shores of North America several centuries before Columbus...
A little further away is the Fram Museum. The main exhibit here is the ship of the same name by Fridtjof Nansen. The keel vessel with an egg-shaped bottom was built according to the drawings of the famous polar explorer specifically for navigation in Arctic conditions. It was able to withstand compression floating ice. The museum's exhibition tells about Nansen's scientific activities, his polar explorations, and also reveals the activities of the Norwegian as an artist and political figure. In 1922, Fridtjof Nansen received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in repatriating refugees and prisoners of war after World War II. ‘ In addition, the scientist made a significant contribution to helping the famine-stricken in the Volga region. And a quarter of a century after Nansen’s journey, another Norwegian, Roald Amundsen, fulfilled the dream of his famous predecessor: he sailed to the shores on the Fram. Antarctica, after which he was the first person to reach the South Pole on skis.

The most popular museum built on the peninsula is called Kon-Tiki. Unlike all other collections owned by the state, this exhibition is private property famous traveler and explorer Thor Heyerdahl. Here you can see the Kon-Tiki balsa raft, on which a fearless navigator and his crew crossed the waters from Peru to Polynesia in 1947. Thus, he confirmed his theory about the initial settlement of the Polynesian islands by settlers from America. In addition, the museum exhibits the papyrus boat "Ra", on which Heyerdahl crossed Atlantic Ocean. He was able to do this twice in 1969 and 1970, reaching from Africa to the islands Central America. His "Ra" and "Ra-2" confirmed the possibility of the ancient Egyptians visiting America. This Norwegian ethnographer and archaeologist, a national hero of the country, donated many other exhibits dedicated to his travels to the museum.

But the largest and most significant museum on the peninsula is the Norwegian Folk Museum. Here you can get acquainted with the culture and way of life of the country's population. Its branch is the Museum under open air. It provides an opportunity to admire unique log buildings: log buildings from old peasant estates were brought here from all over Norway. In addition, this unique exhibition includes restored unique riveted wooden churches. They are considered one of the oldest wooden structures on earth. We can say that these buildings have one foot in the Viking era and the other in the era of early Christianity (11th century).
On the island of Bigdones, closest to Oslo, there is another attraction - the summer residence of the royal family with adjacent farms. This place is often called the “island of millionaires” because the land on it costs thousands of dollars. The king and his family freely socialize with their subjects during their morning jogs in the park. In general, the monarchs of Norway are sometimes able to surprise even local population: For example, at the height of the energy crisis in the 1970s, the father of the current king, an avid skier, did not consider it reprehensible to go for a winter Sunday walk on the tram.

There are a lot of interesting things to do in the vicinity of Oslo, for example, the island of Griesholmen, located 10 minutes away by ferry. Tourist groups rarely come here, so you can simply wander around the island in silence and watch the local wildlife. Namely, for rabbits. We can say that they are everywhere here. Even the grass looks like it was trimmed by a very responsible gardener.
Modern Oslo is the main industrial, transport and Cultural Center countries. Its engineering and metalworking enterprises account for about 1/3 of the total Norwegian production of machinery and equipment. From here, routes for all types of modern transport stretch throughout Norway and abroad. The port in Pipervik Bay handles more than 2/5 of the country's cargo turnover and provides a large share of foreign trade turnover. Long years " air gates The capital and the entire state was Forneby Airport, located on the peninsula of the same name. Now plays an important role in international transport new airport Gardemon.

In the eastern part of the city, Estkante, most industrial enterprises are concentrated. In the western part of Oslo, Vestkant, mansions were built for the richest part of the city's population. There are also parks here. Vigeland is a sea of greenery and ponds with ducks. The shady alleys of the park have long become a favorite place for city residents to relax, walk and picnic. The Vigeland Museum located nearby will help you get a more comprehensive idea of the park.

Frogner Park is especially famous with its gigantic sculptural ensemble created by the famous Norwegian self-taught sculptor Gustav Vigeland. The ensemble impresses even people far from art: in this amazing open-air park, about 1Ysichi sculptures created at the beginning of the last century are exhibited. Vigeland managed to convince the city authorities to allocate a large area and assume all the costs of the project. The sculptor worked for almost 43 years to realize his plan. He left behind a creation that became a symbol of the city, combining naturalism and symbolism with a realistic interpretation of human life. Vigeland sculptures show life path which every person goes through from birth to death. But besides this, the sculptor managed to convey the feelings experienced by each representative of one generation. On numerous postcards and souvenirs that tourists buy as souvenirs of Oslo, most often only one of thousands of other figures is depicted - a sculpture of a crying, angry boy. The central exhibit in the park is a monolithic column - the city's most famous landmark. It was installed in the park in 1928. Work on the sculpture itself took 14 years. The monolith from which the column was carved was knocked out of the rock near Iddefjord in 1922.

Initially, its weight was 470 tons, but after processing the colossal piece of granite “lost weight” to 270 tons. Four years later, in September 1926, this stone Gargantua began its journey to the capital. He arrived at his destination only in February 1927. Vigeland was in a hurry to complete the gigantic composition, so he did not stop working even in winter, when the air temperature was 20 degrees below zero. The sculptor’s efforts were not in vain: his brainchild - an obelisk made of intertwined bodies - is considered the largest granite sculpture in the world and constantly attracts tourists. And around the column there are numerous images of the 60-year-old artist himself and his young lover.

After wandering around this open-air museum amid lush greenery, visitors often head to Tusenfryd amusement park - a smaller copy of Copenhagen's Tivoli amusement park, a sort of Norwegian Disneyland.
Time flies by. And it’s time to say goodbye to good-natured and smiling Oslo, a city where everyone can find joy to their taste. Having waved goodbye to a large and not at all scary troll standing on the main street, we set off for the navel. And, looking out the airplane window, we once again mentally say goodbye to the capital of Norway. And Oslo, having seen us off, returns to ordinary life. When evening comes, he quietly dozes over his fjord, going over and remembering the events of yesterday and what happened a thousand years ago...