Trondheim

 A walk around Trondheim

Trondheim the third largest city in Norway with just over 200k people.  

Trondheim is also similar to Canterbury because in the Norway constitution this is where the King of Norway is crowned. We visited a museum that has the Crown Jewels on display.  No photo….not allowed but impressive.

We stayed in a council park-up

The park-up is basically a council park holding 80 Motorhomes, right in the centre of town. 60 with electrical power, so the first night we were on gas and battery power.

The walk around

The canal view

The Maritime Museum

Wall mural

Market stalls with the best view.

View to The Old Bridge 

Iconic Norwegian buildings on the waterfront. So pretty.

Nidaros Cathedrol (Trondheim Cathedral)

The cathedral is smaller than the ones we have seen in England but has (I think) more intricate details. Very beautiful! A definite must see.  

Nidaros Cathedral was built from the year 1070 above the grave site of King Olav Haraldsson who was killed in 1030 and canonised and enshrined on 1031.  It is the world’s northernmost Gothic cathedral and Norway’s national shrine. 

First view

Signposted so you know you have arrived - 0 KM til Nidaros 

The West front entrance … note the intricate carvings and the large central flower (rosette) type window design … wait till you see that from the inside.

 

Inside close up view of the Rosette window and some of the exposed organ pipes.  There are over 900 pipes for the organ in the cathedral, some are in view and others are inside the walls.  It has a very gothic look to it.

WOW old, from the 14th century in the crypt area below the cathedral.  It was very prestigious to be buried within the cathedral.

Also on the site is the Archbishop’s Palace, which houses a museum and where you can view the coronation regalia of Norway.  Photos were not allowed of the crowns and regalia.  In the museum you could take photos.

Drive to Trondheim

 An Amazing Drive

What a magic drive from Gaupne to Trondheim.  Started with a drive along the fjord at sea level, with a road that had lots of parts that are one car wide with strategically placed wider passing areas and no straight bits.  Then into switch backs as we climb to about 1300 meters high with awesome views back over the fjord.  

Next the road went across the top of the mountain with snowy fields and at points people skying.  You don’t see people skying beside the road in Oz. Lastly it was a long slow drive down, starting up in the mountains and driving down along a long lake, slowly dropping altitude all the while.  Passed another Stave building with a stone sculpture, which we found out later was called Sagasoyla in Norwegian or The Saga Column.  Check out the pictures for just how high it is. 

Finally arriving in Trondheim seven hours later with fuel stops, quite a number of viewing stops and a 20min stop for lunch. 

The Drive down the fjord 

It was an amazing drive.  It felt like we experienced all four seasons in just 7 hours, starting with bright sunshine and rolling green hills and sparkling rivers, changing to windy tundras with sparse vegetation, which again changed to full snow and ice covered lakes.  Just a bit daunting wondering if it was going to get worse.  Then heading down again to green fields and easy driving highways and into Norway’s 3rd largest city, Trondheim.

Grass roofed houses are very common in the rural areas.

Now across the Mountain …

Structure - Saga Column

A good read; is the history of how Column began, Norway’s federation, and its connection with Idsvold in Queensland and the Archer brothers.  Give you something to research. 

Link

Link#2

Borgund Stave Church

Stave Church Day

Friday, 2nd June, 2023

Travelled from Voss to Gaupne today, via the Borgund Stave Church, so there was a bit of back tracking today…..but not much!

Current day light hours

Borgund Stave Church

The timber for this church was felled during the winter of 1180 and the building erected soon after.  The black colour is from tar and coal mix.  The building is a building in a building to keep it good.  Well it’s been there for more then 1,000 years, I expect they know what they’re doing.

Coating on the Timbers

The Bell Tower

The new Borgund Church

Just for Fun

Tunnels

We were in the longest tunnel so far today, 24km in one tunnel, there was also a 14km, a 13km and lots of shorter ones.  We also did a ferry crossing, Norway is very interesting to drive…..adds to the fun of driving. 

Inside the 24 km tunnel they have side pull in areas large enough for double rig trucks.

On the ferry 

Some Pictures from the drive.

Ponte Loftesnes Bridge, Sogndal

Tvindefossen

 Tvinde Camping

Stopped at a small road side camp for the night.  The camp site has its own little waterfall…. Well not that little.   The waterfall is called tvindefossen.