Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
while maintaining their architec-
tural integrity. After a visit here,
you can drive along Oldtidsveien
(the “highway of the ancients”),
the most concentrated collection
of archaeological monuments in
Norway. See “Fredrikstad: Nor-
way's Oldest Fortified Town” in
chapter 6.
•
Tønsberg:
On the western bank
of the Oslofjord, this is Norway's
oldest town. It was founded in
872, a year before King Harald
Fairhair united parts of Norway
and the Viking town became a
royal coronation site. Its hill
fortress is sometimes called “the
Acropolis of Norway.” Its ancient
district, Nordbyen, is filled with
well-preserved houses, and the
folk museum houses a treasure
trove of Viking-era artifacts. See
“Tønsberg: The First Settlement”
in chapter 6.
•
Bergen:
The gateway to Norway's
fjord country, this town is even
more scenic than the capital, Oslo.
It was the capital of Norway for 6
centuries and a major outpost of
the medieval Hanseatic mer-
chants. The town's biggest tourist
event is the Bergen International
Music Festival, but there are also
many year-round attractions.
Many visitors come to explore
Bergen's museums (including
Edvard Grieg's former home) as
well as its varied environs—espe-
cially fjords, mountains, and
waterfalls. See chapter 10.
•
Trondheim:
Norway's third-
largest city traces its history from
997, when the Vikings flourished.
Norway's kings are crowned at the
ancient cathedral, Nidaros Cathe-
dral. Scandinavia's largest medieval
building, the cathedral was erected
over the grave of St. Olaf (also
spelled Olav), the Viking king.
Trondheim is the popular stopover
for travelers from Oslo to destina-
tions north of the Arctic Circle.
See chapter 12.
•
Bodø:
Lying 1,305km (811 miles)
north of Oslo, this far-northern
seaport, the terminus of the Nord-
land railway, is the gateway to the
Arctic Circle, which lies just south
of this breezy town. Another
excellent place to observe the mid-
night sun from June 1 to July 13,
Bodø is the capital of Nordland.
From the center, you can also
explore the environs, filled with
glaciers and “bird islands.” Bodø
is also a gateway to the remote
Lofoten Islands. See “Bodø: Gate-
way to the North” in chapter 14.
3 The Best Festivals & Special Events
For more details on these events, see
“Norway Calendar of Events” in chap-
ter 2.
•
Bergen International Festival:
This European cultural highlight,
which takes place in late May and
early June, ranks in importance
with the Edinburgh and Salzburg
festivals. Major artists from all
over the world descend on the
small city to perform music,
drama, opera, ballet, folkloric pre-
sentations, and more. The works
of Bergen native Edvard Grieg
dominate the festival, and daily
concerts are held at his former
home, Troldhaugen. Contempo-
rary plays are also performed, but
the major focus is on the works of
Ibsen. See p. 26.
•
Molde International Jazz Festi-
val:
In this “City of Roses,” Nor-
way's oldest jazz festival is held
every summer, usually around
mid-July. Some of the best jazz
artists in the world wing in for this
event. People stay up most of the
night listening to music and
