Trondheim City Guide

The War Sailor Monument was erected in 1981 to commemorate all war sailors during the First and Second World War. The title war sailor was used for people who traveled on merchant ships, often in convoy with military or civilian supplies to one of the warring parties. The Norwegian merchant fleet came early under allied control because the Norwegian exile government in London requisitioned all Norwegian ships under a new joint state shipping company. The Norwegian captains were not enticed to return to an occupied country, but continued to sail under the Norwegian flag to contribute to the liberation of Europe. 4134 Norwegians and about 60,000 allies lost their lives at sea. The strain of sailing under the constant threat of being sunk by enemy bombers, torpedo boats, and submarines was probably indescribable. Many war sailors therefore suffered long-term effects from the stresses. The surviving women and children also suffered great strains. The families not only lost their loved one, but also their source of income during difficult times. Close your eyes for a little minute. Try to imagine the nightmare it must have been when enemy bombers flew over the boats. The sculpture was made by Kristofer Leirdal.

Olav Tryggvasson was Norway's king from 995 to 1000 and is considered the city's founder. The monument is 18 meters high, and the sculpture where Olav is enthroned at the top is wearing a sword and the severed head of Tor the God. It will symbolize the end of the pagan era in Norway and the start of the Christianization of society. Olav Tryggvasson was formerly a Viking chief and sources link him to many Viking voyages, including a voyage where he traveled as a Viking to England with 93 ships. He plundered his way from Sandwich, through Ipswich, to Maldon. He later attacked London with 94 ships, and the English king finally made a peace treaty with Olav and his men. In Norway, the then king, Håkon Sigurdsson Ladejarl, was treacherously killed by his own people, and Olav took over as king when he returned. He was married to the Danish princess Tyra Haraldsdatter. Her father was Harald Bluetooth. Olav Tryggvasson died in a naval battle in the year 999, only approx. 40 years old. The monument to Olav Tryggvasson was designed by the sculptor Wilhelm Rasmussen and was erected in the Market Square in Trondheim in 1921.

The old city bridge crosses the Nidelva river between Bakklandet and Kjøpmannsgata. The bridge was built in 1681 and is a well-known landmark in Trondheim. It has gone through several restorations and was open to car traffic right up until 2014. Today, the bridge is only used as a pedestrian and cycle path. The bridge goes by the name "Lykkens portal" after Trondheim's well-known city song "Nidelven - quiet and beautiful you are". Houses were built on each side of the bridge which were used as toll houses or guardhouses. In the 18th and 19th centuries, all goods brought into the city were taxed. At the entrance from Kjøpmannsgata, the one axis house still stands. It was first used to house the guard forces. Later it functioned as a dike master's residence, i.e. a residence for an officer in the engineering corps. The dike master lived here until 1968, when the home was taken over by a nursery school.

Peter Wessel Tordenskiold was an admiral in the Danish-Norwegian fleet and born in Trondheim in 1690. His father was a loyal man and was both a merchant, councilor and ship owner. He had a total of 18 children. Peter hired his father's boat at an early age and as a 15-year-old he served on several slave ships before starting the sea cadet school in Copenhagen. The path was then short to the navy, where he quickly rose through the ranks, and he eventually became an admiral. Peter was known to be a very good sailor and is often described as brave, quick-witted and cunning. As commander-in-chief, he led the fleet to several victories against the Swedes and is credited with having sunk the entire Swedish fleet in Gothenburg. This also strongly contributed to the fact that the Swedish king Karl XII gave up the attempt to conquer Norway. Perhaps he was a little too bold at times. He died in Germany in 1720, only 30 years old, after losing a duel in which a rapier was used.

You are now on "Bakklandet", Trondheim's first suburb. Today, the area has merged with the city centre. It was not until 1847 that Bakklandet was incorporated into the city. Ancient history can be found here in both old factory buildings and homes, but today adapted to our modern world. There has been a lot of activity here since the Middle Ages, among other things there was a brickworks here that produced bricks. Later, both shipyards and many other industries were established. Today you see the old factory buildings as shops, restaurants, offices and homes. Here there was a teeming life in the old days. There were wharves and trading activities all along the river, and behind were all the homes for craftsmen, small merchants and other working people. Bakklandet has been set on fire and burned down twice, first by Swedish troops in 1658 when they besieged the city, and later in 1718 when Norwegian forces set fire to the area as part of the defense of Trondheim. Today, Bakklandet is a popular area for both tourists and locals. Here it is brimming with creativity, trade and good meeting places.

The Archbishop's Palace is a stone castle complex built in the early 13th century, and has served as the residence of archbishops, sheriffs, and has also been used as a warehouse. Today, the oldest part, the Nordfløya with its massive stone staircase, is used as a banquet hall for important receptions and dinners. In 1556, the Archbishop's Palace became the residence of the sheriff and was therefore called the King's Farm. Between 1614 and 1625, major renovations were carried out to transform it into a Renaissance castle. The buildings have been exposed to several fires, and in August 1983 parts of the complex were destroyed, leading to the loss of irreplaceable cultural relics and historical material. Two large wooden buildings, the Southern and Eastern Storage Buildings, burned to the ground. For over 800 years, the Archbishop's Palace has been a meeting place for powerful men and a venue for important meetings and grand parties. Now, the building hosts exhibitions of several national treasures, including the coronation regalia of King Haakon and Queen Maud.

The Viking Leiv Eiriksson stands determined and looks out over the fjord here in Trondheim harbour, ready to discover and conquer new lands. Leiv set out from Trondheim harbor on his historic journey to North America in the year 1000. He thus probably became the first European to set foot on American soil, specifically Newfoundland on the east coast of Canada. He himself gave the country the name Vinland, which can mean "the land of the grasslands". Leiv was born in Iceland in the year 973 and was the son of Eirik Raude. The father became an outlaw in Iceland and had to flee. Leiv was then raised in Iceland by a knowledgeable man named Tyrke. Here he learned both language, runic writing, knowledge of nature and how to handle weapons. All this was knowledge Leiv took advantage of on his travels. Some will probably still claim that Christopher Columbus discovered America, and American school children still learn that. Later research shows that this is wrong, at least this is a widespread opinion here in Norway. Several dated finds in Newfoundland support this. Leiv Eriksson died in the year 1020, aged 50. The statue you see here is a copy of a similar statue that stands in Seattle and was made by August Werner.

Hjalmar Andersen, or Hjallis as he was popularly called, was one of the best and most popular skaters of all time. He was born in Nordland in 1923, but grew up in Trondheim. He debuted as a skater after the war and showed incredible talent. He quickly joined the Norwegian national team and received silver in the EC as early as 1948. Then it went blow after blow with big titles and world records. He won all the NM, EC and WC three years in a row in the years 1950 – 1952, and not only that, he won three Olympic golds in Oslo in 1952. During that period he was, so to speak, unbeatable at 10,000 meters and won 50 races in a row! Beat that! Hjallis was also a skilled cyclist and rower, and ended his active sports career as a rower. He received several awards for his efforts and received Egeberg's Honorary Award for outstanding efforts in two sports. After his career, he published several books and was a frequent and popular TV guest where good stories came on a conveyor belt. Hjallis was undoubtedly one of Norway's most popular athletes of all time. He left this world in 2013 and was buried at the state's expense.

Stiftsgården is the Nordic region's largest wooden palace or palace, built in the years 1774-78, and then in 1906. The building is Trondheim's official royal residence, but is also open to tourists in the summer season. Visitors can enjoy the interior and the centuries-old decorations. The building was built for the Danish-Norwegian noblewoman Cecilie Christine von Schøller. She inherited a substantial amount from her late husband which financed the construction of the diocesan farm. She later moved to Copenhagen and received several noble commissions. In the year 1800, the Stiftsgården was taken over by the state and used partly as a residence for the Stift Samtman, and partly as a residence for the royals. From 1906, the palace with its 140 rooms has exclusively been Trondheim's official royal residence. The 4,000 sq.m. The large Stiftsgården has been the center of a number of royal events, including four coronations and two royal blessings from 1818 to 1991.

Our Lady's Church is a stone church that was built in about 1200. Besides Nidaros Cathedral and Lade Church, this is the only church from medieval Trondheim that has survived to this day. From the 15th century onwards, the church has been referred to as Our Lady's Church. The church has been ravaged by fire several times, but has been rebuilt each time. The church has an original inscription in the wall which states that the church was given to Saint Mary and is referred to as the younger Mary church. The tower you see was completed in 1742 and at the time had a flat roof with a viewing pavilion. Both the exterior and interior are characterized by the over 800 years of history that the building represents, but both the art, sculptures and interior testify to the strong significance the church had for the local population. Around the church there was originally a cemetery, but the town grew and pushed closer to the church. The last burial took place in 1830 and the cemetery was closed a few years later. Today, the area is laid out as a park where some of the old supports are still intact. In the basement, there are still several elaborate burial vaults that are referred to as Trondheim's catacombs.

King Haakon VII was Norway's first king in 600 years after the liberation from Denmark in 1814 and the dissolution of the union from Sweden in 1905. He was born on 3 August 1872 outside Copenhagen. His name was originally Prince Carl, and he was the second eldest son of the then King Frederik and Queen Louise of Denmark. In 1905, the Danish prince Carl was offered the Norwegian crown and took the name Haakon VII after a referendum. He was married to Queen Maud, daughter of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of Great Britain. When they arrived in Oslo in 1905, they were met with cheering crowds and ringing church bells from all over the city. The couple was officially crowned in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim on 22 June 1906 after a longer coronation journey through Norway. King Haakon VII was a popular king in both good and bad times. During the occupation of Norway during the Second World War, he accompanied the government to England where, together with the allies, he contributed greatly to the liberation of Europe. The king adopted the slogan "All for Norway" which he followed until his last breath on 21 September 1957. Only text : Artist: Stinius Fredriksen - 1972

The sculpture is colloquially known as "Torgkona", which translates to "Market Woman" or "Square Woman" in English. The model for "Go'dagen", meaning "Good Day" in a friendly and informal way, was Anna Kornelia Holm, a woman from Skjervøy in Troms. She came to Trondheim as a young girl to work as a maid. She never actually worked as a "market woman", as the nickname might suggest, although some have believed so. Instead, Anna spent much of her retirement in the square in Trondheim, or she sat on a bench by the Nidaros Cathedral. Everyone who greeted her received a cheerful "Go'dagen" ("Good Day") in response. The sculptor, Tone Thiis Schjetne, had noticed the woman who walked around greeting people. She wanted to create a study of her, and in 1957 Anna Holm posed as a model for her. Many recognize this woman, as the artist has succeeded in making her a universal figure. Just give it a try. Say hello to the "Market Woman", and you might get a cheerful "Good Day" back. Artist: Tone Thiis Schjetne - 1983

Prime Minister Johan Nygaardsvold, nicknamed "The Old Man", was born in 1879 in Hommelvik near Trondheim. He was a Labor Party politician and Prime Minister of Norway from 1935 to 1945. He emigrated to the United States aged just 23 and worked as a railway worker, but returned to Norway just five years later. As a representative of the Labor Party, he somewhat reluctantly took on several positions and was elected to the Storting in 1915. A few years later, after much persuasion, he became Minister of Agriculture in 1928. When Norway was occupied in 1940, he refused to capitulate to German supremacy. He led the government together with the royal family in a dramatic escape through Norway with the German soldiers hot on their heels. They eventually made it safely to port in England with help from Churchill. In England, he and King Haakon VII were responsible for coordinating the Norwegian resistance. Together with the Allies, Norway and Europe were liberated in 1945. Johan Nygaardsvold received an honorary salary from the state after his political career until his death in Trondheim in 1952.

Arve Tellefsen is a violinist from Trondheim, born in 1936. He showed early talent and started playing at the age of six at Trondhjem's music school. He gradually progressed through the degrees until he completed his education at the Conservatory of Music in Copenhagen. During a long solo career, he has played with several of the world's leading orchestras and conductors. He has released several records and received many awards, including five Spellemann awards. His warm and popular appearance was not only expressed through his music, but also as a popular TV guest on many channels. He was long known as a "mother-in-law's dream" and "Norway's most desirable bachelor", but that was until he married Kristin Slørdahl in 2005.

Rockheim, meaning "Home of Rock" in Norwegian, is the National Museum of Popular Music in Norway. It is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing Norwegian popular music from the 1950s to the present day. At Rockheim, visitors can experience a "time tunnel," which is an expansive journey through recent Norwegian music and cultural history, occupying over 1,320 square meters. This interactive journey takes visitors from the rise of youth culture in the 1950s to the diverse digital media landscape of today. The exhibition highlights Norwegian bands, artists, and the industry within the cultural context of each decade. Additionally, Rockheim boasts its own performance stage and conference hall, as well as what may be the most exciting museum shop in Norway for music enthusiasts. On the top floor of the museum, there is a panoramic restaurant. Here, visitors can reflect on their experiences and enjoy a good meal, all while taking in the view over the beautiful city.

Cissi Pera Klein was a Norwegian-Jewish girl from Trondheim who became one of the victims of the terrifying Holocaust. In the winter of 1942, she was arrested at school and sent to Oslo, where she and her family were detained. A few months later they were deported to Auschwitz by boat and train. Upon arrival at the infamous camp, Cissi was brutally sent to the gas chamber and killed at just 13 years old. In 1942, a systematic persecution began, with the arrest of all Norwegian Jews. During 1942 and 1943, a total of 773 Norwegian Jews were deported to German death camps. The largest deportation took place on 26 November 1942 when a total of 529 Jews were transported out of the country on the ship DS Donau. Most of the Norwegian Jews were sent to the Auschwitz death camp; where only 38 of them survived. With this, the Jews made up more than half of all Norwegians who were killed in German camps during the war. Cissi is remembered every year as one of the victims of the holocaust and had her own street named after her.

Nidaros Cathedral is Norway's original archbishop's church and one of the Nordic countries' largest medieval churches. For almost a thousand years, people have come to Nidaros Cathedral with their lives, their longings and their hopes. The Nidaros Cathedral was built on the spot where Olav the Saint's body was buried after the battle at Stiklestad. The church has a long and exciting building history from when it was begun in 1070 right up to the present day. Both architecturally, historically and artistically, the cathedral can compare with similar magnificent buildings in Europe. Today, tourists from all over the world make a pilgrimage to Nidaros Cathedral, which is Trondheim's biggest tourist attraction. Haakon VII was crowned in Nidaros Cathedral in 1906. Later, the church was used for the signing of both King Olav V and King Harald V. Church services are still held here, and then there is free entry. Beyond that, Nidaros Cathedral is open every single day. Tickets can be bought at the Visitor Center where there is also a small cafe and shop.

You are now standing in front of the sculpture of King Olav V, who was Norway's king from 1957 to 1991. He was a very popular king and always had a funny story in store. He always stood on the people's side and when the oil crisis paralyzed Norway he left the limousine in the garage. King Olav took the tram like all other ordinary people. He was the son of King Haakon VII and Queen Maud, and was baptized Alexander Edward Christian Frederik and was Prince of Denmark. When his father was crowned king after the dissolution of the union with Sweden in 1905, the Prince was only two years old and was named Crown Prince Olav. The crown prince was then the first Norwegian heir to the throne to grow up in Norway since the Middle Ages. He became interested in sports early on and was an active sailor for over 70 years. The highlight of his sports career was when he won Olympic gold in Amsterdam in 1928. The following year, Crown Prince Olav married Princess Märtha of Sweden and they had three children together. The king and his family have always stood strong in Norway. The slogan for the Norwegian kings has been "All for Norway". Popularity, warmth and empathy in good times and vigor in bad times are descriptions that contribute to the fact that the Norwegian people not only stand behind our own king, but also look up to and admire him. Just in case you are lucky enough to meet the king, he will be addressed as "Your Majesty".

You are on "Hospitalsløkkan". In front of you is the Hospital Church, which, with its characteristic tower and roof, stands out well in the old town buildings in the area. It was built in 1705 and then replaced a dilapidated medieval church on the same site, and it again replaced a Marian church that was built in the 12th century. The church has been associated with Trondhjem's hospital, which is located on the other side of the park. In its time, this was the first church with an octagonal ground plan in Norway. Inside the church are the pulpit and altarpiece from the 1640s and stood in the old medieval church. The altarpiece's dramatic main motif, the crucifixion of Jesus, was painted by hospital priest Gustav Adolf Lammers in 1830. He was a great preacher, and a not inconsiderable painter and architect. Lammers later became the model for Henrik Ibsen's uncompromising priest Brand. The hospital church is owned by Stiftelsen Trondhjems Hospital. The hospital has had responsibility for its own church since the Middle Ages. Today, the activities in the Hospital church are part of the offer from the Cathedral and Our Lady congregations.

On this beautiful ridge, you can savor the view of the picturesque city of Trondheim, breathe in the fresh sea air, and embark on a unique journey through history. Kristiansten Fortress was built following the great city fire of Trondheim in 1681. At that time, King Christian V ordered the drafting of a new urban and fortification plan, in which the role of Kristiansten Fortress was to prevent enemies from firing down into the city. The fortress proved to be an effective guardian until it was decommissioned in 1816. The tower that sits atop the fortress, where the main artillery was positioned, is called the Donjon, which is also the most important building. From the roof, a lookout could observe most of the city and the fortress's immediate surroundings. The Swedes besieged the city in 1718, but they failed to capture the fortress. Just over a thousand soldiers held their ground until the Swedes capitulated and returned home. This was the only time combat took place there. But like most things, there's another side to this story. During World War II, 28 Norwegian resistance fighters tragically lost their lives by execution at this very site. After the war, several convicted war criminals were also executed here. Today, the historic area is open daily for everyone to explore.

We find ourselves in the heart of Munkegata, nestled between the Nidaros Cathedral, a prominent church built over the burial site of Norway's patron saint, King Olav II, and Ravnkloa, a renowned fish market by the fjord. This is one of a few streets in Norway that embodies the distinct character of an avenue. Originally planned as the city's primary artery, Munkegata was a central feature in the urban blueprint of 1681 designed by the well-known city planner, Cicignon. An avenue, characterized by a wide road with trees or greenery lining each side, is designed to guide one's gaze towards a significant building - in Trondheim's case, this is the Nidaros Cathedral. Munkegata, which translates to 'Monk's Street', was named in homage to the monks, or canons, associated with the Cathedral, and those living on Munkholmen, a small islet north of Trondheim. A canon was in the Roman Catholic Church the designation for priests connected to a cathedral. Every summer, Munkegata comes alive with a bustling market set within its historical surroundings. Known as "Martnan", this vibrant festival holds long-standing traditions that date back to the medieval era! It's fair to say that the "Martnan" might feature a fair amount of beer consumption. Legend has it that the German monks in the 1600s followed a diet consisting solely of beer! While we can't say for certain if the monks of the Nidaros Cathedral or Munkholmen shared such a diet, it's safe to assume they had a clear avenue between them if they did indulge in a similar lifestyle.

Nå står du på historisk grunn. Akkurat her ble Norges niende konge, Olav Haraldsson, til Olav den hellige. Olav døde i slaget på Stiklestad i 1030 og ble etter sagnet gravlagt på det stedet der Nidarosdomen ble bygget. Kisten ble senere flyttet hit og åpnet året etter. Ifølge legenden så det ut som om Olav bare sov. Hår og negler hadde vokst og det strømmet god lukt fra kroppen. Mennene rundt kisten, Biskop Grimkjell, Einar Tambarskjelve og flere andre, konstaterte nå at Olav var en hellig mann. Her ved Klemenskirken ble Olav Haraldsson til Olav den hellige! Kisten ble deretter trukket med kostbare stoffer og satt over alteret i kirken. Utgravningene og funnene her ble en arkeologisk verdensnyhet. Det som skulle bli et næringsbygg viste seg altså å være historisk grunn i særklasse. Gradvis viste utgravningene kirker datert tilbake tidlig 1000-tall, alter, skjeletter og noe materiale fra annen bebyggelse, som kunne dateres til 900 tallet. Funnene viser at den opprinnelige kirken var en Klemenskirke. Alteret der Olav den Hellige sin kiste stod, kan besiktiges gratis alle dager fra mandag til lørdag. --------------------- Alternativ tekst (av Olav): Klemenskirken er regnet som Olav den helliges første hvilested og Trondheims eldste kirke, bygget omkring år 1015. Høyalteret i kirken er vurdert som en arkeologisk sensasjon. Kirken ligger i Krambugata, som er Trondheims eldste gate. St. Olavs skrin ble plassert på høyalteret i Klemenskirken i august 1031. Det var lenge et mysterium hvor Klemenskirken hadde ligget, men under utgravning i 2016 ble ruinene av kirken oppdaget. Riksantikvaren har uttalt at funnet av Klemenskirken er det viktigste funnet i Norge på nærmere 75 år. Klemenskirken har vært ødelagt flere ganger over en periode på 350 år. Kirken ble gjenreist etter hver ødeleggelse. Hver gang kirken ble gjenoppbygget ble det tatt med elementer fra den foregående kirken. Men etter en brann på 1300-tallet ble ikke kirken bygget opp igjen. Bare høyalteret ble stående. Arkeologene fant minst seks bygninger under kirken. Man har trodd at Trondheim ble grunnlagt i år 997, men funnene av bygningene under kirken fra midten av 900-tallet viser at byen er enda eldre. Det har vært en sammenhengende byutvikling på samme sted i over tusen år. Klemenskirken blir nå vist fram akkurat der den ble funnet. Høyalteret og restene av kirken ligger i en egen underetasje, og her er det også utstilt modeller av kirken som viser hvordan kirken gradvis ble bygget ut gjennom 350 år. Det er også utstilt vikingtidsbygg og gjenstander. Riksantikvaren har utarbeidet utstillingen, og den forvaltes av NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet.

Trondhjems Hospital is the oldest health institution in the Nordic region that is still operational. The hospital is still located where it was originally established. This area later took on the name "Hospitalsløkkan," colloquially shortened to "Løkkan," which translates to "The Meadow." On September 13, 1277, King Magnus Lagabøter put his royal seal on a document granting land for a hospital for poor men. Notably, the building was erected before the king gave his permission. This was not a hospital in today's sense, but functioned as a care institution for the poor and disabled, and as an isolation area for lepers. For the people of the Middle Ages, it was a place of mercy where the sick and poor received care. At the hospital, people were encompassed by daily religious services and the priest's prayers, and were ensured regular meals, including one liter of home-brewed beer a day. Throughout the 19th century and up to the present day, the hospital has been used as a home for the elderly and the sick, and eventually became a model institution when it comes to elderly care in Trøndelag, a region in central Norway.