Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Norwegian Parliament
(Stortinget)
Constructed from 1861 to 1866, it's
richly decorated with works by con-
temporary Norwegian artists.
Continue west along Karl Johans Gate, pass-
ing many of the monuments covered on
“Walking Tour 2: In the Footsteps of Ibsen &
Munch” (see below). Eventually you'll reach
Drammensveien 1, the:
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Royal Palace (Slottet)
This is the residence of the king of
Norway and his family. The public is
permitted access only to the park.
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF IBSEN &
WALKING TOUR 2
MUNCH
Start:
National Theater.
Finish:
National Gallery.
Time:
2 hours.
Best Time:
Any day when it's not raining.
Worst Times:
Rush hours (weekdays 7-9am and 5-7pm).
The tour begins at Stortingsgaten 15, just
off Karl Johans Gate near the Students'
Grove in Oslo's center, site of the:
1
Nationaltheatret
Study your map in front of the Henrik
Ibsen statue at the theater, where
many of his plays were first performed
and are still presented. The Norwegian
National Theater (
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81-50-08-11
),
inaugurated in 1899, is one of the
most beautiful in Europe.
Facing the statue of Ibsen, continue up
Stortingsgaten toward the Royal Palace
(Slottet). Cut left at the next intersection
and walk along Ruselokkveien. On the right,
the Vika Shopping Terraces, an unattractive
row of modern storefronts tacked onto an
elegant 1880 Victorian terrace, used to be
among Oslo's grandest apartments. During
World War II it was the Nazi headquarters.
Turn right onto Arbinsgate and walk to the
end of the street until you reach Dram-
mensveien. At Arbinsgate 1 is the:
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Ibsen Museum
In the first building on the left, at the
corner of Arbinsgate and Dram-
mensveien, you'll see an Omega store,
but look for the blue plaque on the
building. Ibsen lived here from 1895
until his death in 1906. He often sat in
the window, with a light casting a glow
over his white hair. People lined up in
the street below to look at him. The
great Italian actress Eleanora Duse
came here to bid him a final
adieu,
but
he was too ill to see her. She stood out-
side in the snow and blew him kisses.
The king of Norway used to give
Ibsen a key to enter the private gar-
dens surrounding the Royal Palace.
Everybody has that privilege today.
Turn right on Drammensveien and continue
back to the National Theater. Take Karl
Johans Gate, on the left side of the theater,
and walk east. On your left at Karl Johans
Gate 47, you'll pass the:
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University of Oslo
Aula, the Great Hall of the university,
is decorated with murals by Edvard
Munch. The hall is open to the public
only from June 20 to August 20, daily
from 10am to 3pm. For information,
call
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22-85-95-55.
Continue along this complex to the end,
turning right onto Dronnings Mauds Gate,
which quickly becomes Lokkeveien. At the
first building on the right, you come to:
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Ibsen's private apartment
Look for the blue plaque marking the
building. The playwright lived here
from 1891 to 1895. When his wife
complained that she didn't like the
address, even though it was one of
Oslo's most elegant, they moved.
Ibsen wrote two plays while living
here.
