Exploring Oslo - Norway - page 115

IN FROGNER
Skoytemuseet (Ice-Skating Museum) In the land of skaters and
skiers, it seems appropriate to have a museum devoted to ice-skating. This
museum tells the story of many fascinating competitions on ice. You'll learn
about the heroes of the speed-skating world, including Axel Paulsen
(1855-1938) and Oscar Mathisen (1888-1954), along with their participation
in world championships. Kids and adults alike should delight in seeing the first
skates ever made in Norway—bone was used—to the most advanced high-tech
skates of today. Opened in 1914, this museum displays artifacts illustrating
“major moments” in speed and figure skating. Allot about 30 minutes here.
At the Frogner Stadium, Middelthunsgate 26. & 22-43-49-20. Admission 20NOK ($2.85) adults, 10NOK
($1.40) children. Tues and Thurs 10am-2pm; Sun 11am-2pm. Tram: 12.
Vigelandsparken The lifetime work of Gustav Vigeland, Norway's
greatest sculptor, is on display in this 30-hectare (75-acre) park. The artist
worked on the park for a total of 4 decades but died only 1 year before his life-
time achievement could be completed. In all, the park contains 227 monumen-
tal Vigeland sculptures, mostly devoted to the theme of mankind's destiny.
The chief treasure here is the Vigeland Monolith , a 16m (52-ft.)
sculpture composed of 121 colossal figures, all amazingly carved into one piece
of stone. The monolith is easy to spot, as it rises on top of the highest hill in the
park. Summer lovers often visit it at night, as it's floodlit and somehow seems
even more dramatic at that time. A circle of circular steps envelops the statue.
On the steps leading up to the monolith are 36 groups of other figures carved
in stone by the great artist. The column itself, with its writhing figures, is said
to symbolize the struggle of life, which is one of the main themes running
through Vigeland's work.
The “best of the rest” of the sculptures lie along a paved axis stretching for
1km ( 1 ⁄ 2 mile). These sculptures depict Vigeland's interpretation of life beginning
at birth and ending in death. The most famous of these statues, which you'll
quickly recognize since it is one of the most reproduced pieces of art in Oslo, is
“The Angry Boy” (Sinnataggen) . Based on a sketch Vigeland made in
London in 1901, it shows a kid stomping his feet and scrunching his face in
anger. Of course, we don't know why he's so furious.
Frogner Park, Nobelsgate 32. & 23-49-37-00. Free admission to park; museum 45NOK ($6.40) adults,
25NOK ($3.55) children. Park daily 24 hr. Museum June-Sept Tues-Sun 11am-5pm; Oct-May Tues-Sun
noon-4pm. Tram: 12.
ON BYGDØY
Located south of the city, the peninsula is reached by commuter ferry (summer
only) leaving from Pier 3, facing the Rådhuset (Town Hall). Departures during
the day are every 40 minutes before 11am and every 20 minutes after 11am, and
a one-way fare costs 20NOK ($2.85). The no. 30 bus from the National The-
ater also runs to Bygdøy. The museums lie only a short walk from the bus stops
on Bygdøy.
Frammuseet This museum contains the sturdy polar exploration ship
Fram, which Fridtjof Nansen sailed across the Arctic (1893-96). The vessel was
later used by the famed Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, the first man to
reach the South Pole (1911). You'll spend about 20 minutes here.
Bygdøynesveien. & 23-28-29-50. Admission 30NOK ($4.25) adults, 15NOK ($2.15) children. Mar-Apr daily
11am-3:45pm; May 1-15 and Sept daily 10am-4:45pm; May 16-June 15 daily 9am-5:45pm; June 16-Aug
daily 9am-6:45pm; Oct daily 10am-5:45pm; Nov-Dec daily 11am-3:45pm; Jan 2-Feb Mon-Fri

Kids