140,000 inhabitants
Area: 342 km2
Brief City History
Nidaros, now Trondheim, was Norway’s first capital and is situated at the mouth of the River
Nid. Fertile communities lined the shores of the long, wide Trondheims Fjord and agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting provided excellent living standards. Popularly elected chieftains governed the area, and it was the port of departure for Viking expeditions. Many a Viking ship was dragged onto the sandy banks of the river Nid for trade or festivities after an expedition. The chieftain’s men were the finest of men. Leif Eriksson completed his military service here before returning home to Greenland (then part of Norwegian territory). Torfinn Karlsefni also docked here, after the long expedition to Leif Eriksson’s home in Vinland (Newfoundland). He brought home timber from “the new country” which he sold to a merchant from Bremen. The first ever export of North American goods to Europe took place here around 1000 AD. By this time the people had already defeated all of Norway’s local chieftains in great sea battles and Norway was unified in 872 AD. Nidaros remained the capital until Hakon Hakonsson moved to Bergen in 1217. During these years, Trondheim developed into Norway’s religious center. It began with the death of St. Olav at the battle of Stiklestad in 1030. Pilgrims came from far and wide to be healed at St. Olav’s shrine in
Nidaros. In the 11th century, a church was built over the holy shrine of St.
Olav, and it remained one of Europe’s most important places of pilgrimage until the Reformation. The Nidaros Cathedral is now of great national and cultural importance in Norway, and it’s one of northern Europe’s greatest Gothic memorials. It also houses the crown jewels.
The Museum of Music History at Ringve is another unique place, which is well worth visiting in
Trondheim. Victoria Bachke, a Russian artist who fled from the Revolution in St. Petersburg and married in
Trondheim, collected music instruments from a large number of countries. This resulted in a rare collection of items from all over the world and from different eras in the history of music.
Trondheim is a town of wooden building such as Singsaker Student Hall and Stiftsgarden Palace, the second largest wooden building in Scandinavia. The harbor building along the River Nid and the Town Bridge are also well worth a visit.
TRONDHEIM TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE
Address: Munkegata 19, Tel.: 73 92 94 00, Fax: 73 51 53 00
The Tourist Information Office is centrally located, with attractive premises on Market Square. The personnel have in-depth knowledge of Trondheim and its surroundings and are happy to help with accommodation, foreign exchange, car rental, and whatever else you might need. You can also buy tickets for various excursions.
Opening Hours:
May 18-June 6 & August 16-August 29: Monday-Friday 8.30am-6pm, Saturdays and Sundays 10am-4pm
June 7-June 27 & August 9-August 15: Monday-Friday 8.30am-8pm, Saturdays and Sundays: 10am-6pm
June 28-August 8: Monday-Friday 8.30am-10pm, Saturdays and Sundays 10am-8pm
August 30-May 15: Monday-Friday: 9am-4pm, Saturday and Sunday closed
MUSEUMS AND SIGHTS
Below is a selection of attractions in
Trondheim.
Nidaros Cathedral
Address: Kongsgardsgt. 2, Tel.: 73 53 84 80
Norway’s national sanctuary, built over the grave of St.
Olav. Construction started in 1070, but the oldest parts still in existence are from the middle of the 12th century. Ravaged by fire on several occasions, it was rebuilt each time – mainly in the Gothic style, but the oldest parts around the transept are in the Roman style. The west wall is the main façade of the church. The axis of the wall shows the crucified Christ in judgment; at the top, Christ enthroned in glory. This is an indication that the church was dedicated to Christ in medieval times, and was called “Kristkirken”, the Church of Christ. It is richly ornamented in stone, with magnificent stained glass windows from the 20th century.
Opening Hours:
May 1-June 19: Monday-Friday 9am-3pm, Saturdays 9am-2pm, Sundays 1pm-4pm
June 20-August 20: Monday-Friday 9am-6pm*, Saturdays 9am-2pm, Sundays 1pm-4pm
August 21-September 14: Monday-Friday 9am-3pm**, Saturdays 9am-2pm, Sundays 1pm-4pm
September 15-April 30: Monday-Fridays 12pm-2.30pm, Saturdays 11.30am-2pm, Sundays 1pm-3pm
*No guided tours after 5.30pm
**No guided tours after 2pm
June 20-August 20: Guided tours in English at 11am, 2pm and 4pm. Evening mass at 5.45pm. The mass includes a great deal of music and is intended especially for travelers visiting
Trondheim.
Organ recital every Saturday all year at 1pm. From June 20-August 20 also on Monday-Friday at 1pm. No guided tours during church activities.
From July 28-August 5 the cathedral may be closed periodically due to preparations for the St. Olavs Festival.
The Tower
Opening Hours:
June 20-August 20: Ascent every half-hour.
Display of the Crown Jewels
Opening Hours:
April 1-May 31 & August 21-October 31: Fridays 12pm-2pm
June 1-August 20: Monday-Thursday & Saturdays 9am-12.30pm, Sundays 1pm-4pm, Sundays closed.
Museum of Music History at Ringve
Address: Lade Alle 60, Tel.: 73 92 24 11, Fax: 73 92 04 22
The main building from the 1860s “The Old Museum”, with its rare interiors, is the setting for parts of the collection, mainly the European tradition. This building can only be visited with one of the museum guides who demonstrate the instruments and lecture on their use and importance in the history of music.
On June 1, 1999, a new, permanent exhibition opened in the former barn, “The Museum in the Barn”. This part of the museum can be enjoyed at your own leisure. Light and sound guides you through various historic stations. You will learn about the different instrument families, experience traditional instruments from all corners of the world as well as Norwegian Folk Music instruments. There are also several new instruments you can try for yourself, as well as a music room where you can listen to music.
Opening Hours:
April 1-May 16: Guided tours on Sundays through “The Old Museum” at 1.30pm.
May 18-May 31: Guided tours through “The Old Museum” daily at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm.
June 1-August 15: daily at 11am-6pm.
September 20-March 31: “The Museum in the Barn”, Sundays 12pm-3pm.
Stiftsgarden Palace
Address: The Royal Residence, Tel.: 73 52 13 11, Fax: 73 53 51 11
Stiftsgarden Palace is the largest timber mansion in Scandinavia, and was built as a private residence in 1774-1778. Today it is the official residence of Norway’s King and Queen in
Trondheim.
Opening Hours:
The Royal Residence is closed during royal visits.
June 1-June 19: Monday-Saturday 10am-3pm, Sundays 12pm-5pm
June 20-August 20: Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sundays 12pm-5pm
Guided tours on the hour every hour, with the last tour an hour before closing.
Trondelag Folk Museum/Sverresborg
Trondheim’s open-air museum with more than 60 buildings from Trondheim and surroundings. From the ruins of King Sverre’s medieval castle you’ll have an impressive view over the city and the fjord.
Around the market square in the museum’s urban history section, you’ll find buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries as well as buildings from central
Trondheim. The rural section shows the development in Trondelag building styles from the fjord to the mountains, and how people lived in the 18th and 19th centuries in the different areas. The Haltdalen Stave Church from 1170 is one of the museum’s main attractions, in addition to
Vikastua, the beautifully ornamented banquet house from
Oppdal. There is also an atmospheric restaurant – the Tavern – in a building from 1739.
The Ski Museum at Sverresborg recounts the skiing feats of the Trondelag people. It covers competitive sports and the use of skis as practical means of transport. It features the enormous collection of trophies awarded to Trondelag winners at the Winter Olympics and the world championships.
Opening Hours:
June 1-August 31: Daily 11am-6pm
Trondheim Art Gallery
Address: Bispegt. 7b, Tel.: 73 53 81 80, Fax: 73 53 81 70
The Art Gallery has a large collection of Norwegian art from about 1800 up to modern times. It houses a comprehensive collection of Danish art and has significant representation of renowned international artists. Special exhibitions are held throughout the year.
Opening Hours:
June 1-August 31: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays 10am-4pm, Thursdays 10am-6pm
September 1-May 31: Daily except Mondays from 12pm-4pm
Trondheim Art Society
Address: Bispegt. 9a, Tel.: 73 52 66 71, Fax: 73 51 22 33
Trondheim Art Society feature Norwegian and international contemporary art. It also houses a Art Shop and Café.
Opening Hours:
June 1-August 31: Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm, Saturdays and Sundays 12pm-4pm, Thursdays 10am-8pm
September 1-May 31: Tuesday-Friday 12pm-3pm, Saturdays and Sundays 12pm-4pm, Thursdays 12pm-8pm
Gamle Bybro – The Old Town Bridge
The bridge was first built on this site in 1681. At the same time, Kristiansten Fort was under construction. A sentry and excise house stood at either end of the bridge. The excise house on the west side is still standing and is in use as a kindergarten. The gridge and gates as they now stand were built in 1861 by Carl Adolf Dahl, the municipal officer in charge on public buildings and works.
Kristiansten Fort
Tel.: 73 99 58 31/32
The fort was built after the great city fire in 1681, and now stands guard over the city. It saved the city from conquest by Sweden in 1718. From the fort, there is a spectacular view over Trondheim and its surroundings, the fjord and the mountains. Under German occupation from 1940 to 1945, the fort was used as a place of execution for Norwegian members of the Resistance. A plaque has been erected in their memory.
Opening Hours: The gates of the fort are open while the flag is raised, but the building and rooms inside are open only from June-August: Monday- Friday 10am-3pm, Saturdays and Sundays 11am-3pm
