Sightseeing in Trondheim

Trondheim is a big city by Norwegian standards but you can easily walk from the train station by the north end of town to the cathedral at the south end in 15 minutes. The nice thing about walking around in downtown Trondheim is that there’s an interesting mix of old and new buildings. The city is one of the oldest in Scandinavia and fortunately did not suffer from bombings during World War II, as opposed to most cities along the west coast. It has however suffered from many fires over the years, especially in the 19th century. Some parts had to be rebuilt, while others have been spared, which is why you get this mixture of old and new architecture that makes Trondheim special. Most parts of the city center look modern and the area along the river in the northern section toward the harbor is charming. This is also where many of the best restaurants are, which naturally draws a lot of people at night.

Ravnkloa and Torget Squares

The Ravnkloa Square, where you find the fish market, is a popular meeting place during the day, partly because it’s a delightful area and also since many of the popular boat tours depart from there.

The large square, Torget, with the impressive statue of the city’s founder, is a natural meeting place and also where you’ll find the Tourist Information Center. Not far from here is one of the city’s other major landmarks, Stiftsgården, which is the largest wooden palace in Scandinavia. It was built in the late 18th century and is still home to the royal family when they visit Trondheim. There are guided tours of Stiftsgården every hour on the hour in the high-season.

Bakklandet and the Harbor

To find the real jewel of the city you’ll have to cross the river Nidelva over to a part of town known as Bakklandet, an old working-class area with charming wooden buildings. You can get there by taking the Bakke Bridge from the north end of town, but the best way is to enter from the south, for example after visiting the cathedral, and walk across the bridge called Gamle Bybro. While standing on this old wooden bridge you will get one of the best views in the whole city, looking down the river toward the harbor, with Bryggene, the old fishing storehouses, on your left.

The harbor itself, near the train station, is also well worth a tour. The legacy of Leif Eriksson is commemorated here with a statue looking out over the fjord. Eriksson was a Viking who supposedly left this harbor about 1,000 years ago, sailed west across the Atlantic Ocean and disembarked at a place he named Vinland in present-day Newfoundland. It is quite possible that Eriksson discovered America 500 years before Columbus. At the harbor you will also find the Monument of Emigration. This monument, which was a gift from the United States when Trondheim celebrated its millennium, displays the names of 1,000 people who followed in the footsteps of Eriksson and emigrated west.

The Nidaros Cathedral

The grand Nidaros Cathedral at the south end of town is by far the most famous landmark in Trondheim and the most visited attraction. The cathedral is 100 m (300 feet) long, 50 m (150 feet) wide with a ceiling 21 m (60 feet) high and is the biggest building from the Middle Ages in Scandinavia. Kings and queens are traditionally still crowned here, even though it’s almost 800 years since Trondheim was the capital of Norway.

Kristiansten Fortress

One of the most significant landmarks in Trondheim is the Kristiansten Fortress, on a hill in the southeastern section of town with a magnificent view. The fortress was built in the 1680s by General Cicignon, who was also in charge of rebuilding Trondheim after a disastrous fire in 1681 that ruined large parts of the city.With its elevated location looking out over the town and surrounding area, it was the ideal place to guard and protect Trondheim from enemies. In 1718 when the Swedish army tried to conquer Norway, Kristiansten Fortress played a crucial role in defending the city as well as the country.

The Swedish king, Karl XII, had created a vast empire and sent one of his generals, Carl Gustaf Armfelt, across the border from the Swedish province Jämtland, just east of Trondheim, while the king himself entered the country from the south. Although the Norwegian troops were largely outnumbered in Trondheim, Armfelt and his men had to retreat. You can learn all about this battle, along with other interesting facts, at the fortress, although the majority of people who come here probably do it more for the view of the city and the fjord.

Munkholmen

The island of Munkholmen (the Monk’s Island) is just north of Trondheim and is a popular place to visit. In the early 11th century, one of the first monasteries in Scandinavia was built here by some Benedictine monks, which is how the island got its name. The building turned into a prison in 1658 and has also functioned as a house for customs. Munkholmen is believed to have been Trondheim’s execution ground in ancient times. Today, the main reason people come here is for the beach and the historical sights.