Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
While Oslo is the smallest of the Scandinavian capitals, this brisk little city
offers more sightseeing thrills than you might expect. As an added bonus,
you'll be inspired by a city that simply has its act together.
Sights of the Viking spirit—past and present—tell an exciting story. Prowl
through the remains of ancient Viking ships, and marvel at more peaceful but
equally gutsy modern boats (the Kon-Tiki, Ra, and Fram ). Dive into the tradi-
tional folk culture at the Norwegian open-air folk museum, and get stirred up
by the country's heroic spirit at the Norwegian Resistance Museum.
For a look at modern Oslo, tour the striking City Hall, take a peek at
sculptor Gustav Vigeland's people-pillars, climb the newly rebuilt Holmen-
kollen Ski Jump, walk all over the Opera House, and then celebrate the
world's greatest peacemakers at the Nobel Peace Center.
Situated at the head of a 60-mile-long fjord, surrounded by forests, and
populated by more than a half-million people, Oslo is Norway's cultural hub.
For 300 years (1624-1924), the city was called Christiania, after Danish King
Christian IV. With independence, it reverted to the Old Norse name of Oslo.
As an important port facing the Continent, Oslo has been one of Norway's
main cities for a thousand years and the de facto capital since around 1300.
Still, Oslo has always been small by European standards; in 1800, Oslo had
10,000 people, while cities such as Paris and London had 50 times as many.
Today the city sprawls out from its historic core to encompass over a mil-
lion people in its metropolitan area, about one in five Norwegians. Oslo's port
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