Trondheim
Trondheim is a beautiful historic city. It nestles among hills and forests on the Trondheimsfjord. Founded in 997, it was Norway's first capital city. Today, Trondheim is a living, working city, which contains a blend of the historic and the modern.
The city shows a mixture of architectures, including districts of traditional timber building. Visitors will enjoy wandering around the compact city centre and the revitalised harbour area. The River Nidelven meanders around the city's squares, parks and historic buildings. Nidaros Cathedral and the Archbishop's Palace, for example, played an important role in Norwegian history. The city also contains numerous museums, including the Ringve museum of musical instruments, the science museum, and the national museum of decorative arts.
Central to the life of the city is the University. Fifteen per cent of Trondheim's population of 150.000 people are students. This student population and the city's economy, based on a mixture of traditional industries, tourism and high-tech enterprise, make Trondheim a vibrant place well-served by shops, restaurants and hotels.
The Gløshaugen campus of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology is located within walking distance of the city centre overlooking the River Nidelven, the Nidaros Cathedral and downtown residential areas. The campus is one of the main University locations, with buildings dating back to the early days of the University as well as modern facilities for education and research. Besides university departments, several research institutes and spin-offs are located on campus or in close reach. The location offers libraries, over 40 lecture theatres, laboratories and social facilities, such as cafeterias and restaurants.
Trondheim's climate enjoys the warming influence of the Gulf Stream. In Summer, work and recreation can extend late into the long evenings.
The coast, forests and the Sylane, Trollheim and Dovre mountain ranges are within easy traveling distance, offering hiking trails, salmon fishing and many other opportunities for rural relaxation and sightseeing. A coastal steamer, which calls at Trondheim, provides an enjoyable and scenic way of traveling between Bergen, to the south of Trondheim, and Kirkenes, to the north. Get more informatiom for your vacation in Norway on our vacation tips page.
Attractions in Trondheim
Nidarosdomen
The Nidarosdomen, Nidaros Cathedral, is one of Scandinavia's largest buildings from the Middle Ages, erected over the grave of St.Olav. Work on it commenced in 1070, but the oldest parts still standing are from the 12th century. Destroyed by fire on several occasions, it was rebuilt each time, mostly in the Gothic style, though the oldest parts around the transept are in the Roman style. The west wall, the main front of the Church, is decorated with three rows of statues, biblical motives, Norwegian kings and bishops. Richly ornamented in stone. Magnificent stained glass windows.
Munkholmen
Benedictine monks built a monastery on Munkholmen, the Munks' Island, early in the 11th century, probably one of the first two monasteries in Scandinavia. In 1658 it was converted into a prison fort, later becoming a customs house. Its most famous inmate was the Danish Count Peder Griffenfeld, who spent 18 years as a convict on the island. Today this is a popular recreational resort, with good bathing and a restaurant.
Bakklandet
Bakklandet is a scenic quarter east of the river Nidelven. Here, along narrow alleys, you will find unique wooden houses. The distance from the central downtown area is short, just pass the "Gamle Bybro", the old town's bridge. Buildings in Bakklandet where first erected in the middle of the 17th century, but most of it got destroyed in 1718 when the swedish general Armfeldt laid siege to the city. The quarters where rebuild quickly, and in 1776 one could see 160 houses and 14 warehouses towards the river. Mostly sailors, fishermen, and craftsmen were living here.
Today, Bakklandet is known for its coffee bars and small speciality shops.
Ringve Museum
Ringve Museum is the norwegian national museum for music and musical instruments, and has collections from all over the world. The museum is located at Ringve Manor in Lade, a norwegian farm of the 18th century.
Sverresborg Museum
This open-air museum houses over 60 buildings from Trondheim and the Trøndelag region. It is located in a scenic environment around the ruins of the medieval castle of King Sverre. You will find the recreation of an old town as well as farm's, a church, and parts of an old school. The museum has own departments devoted to coastal culture and the indigenous sami people.
Bymarka
Bymarka is Trondheim's own recreation area. Only a short tram ride from downtown Trondheim, it is the town's most important cross country skiing area in winter. In summer, you can go for a short hike or biking trip. You can enjoy the fantastic summer light overlooking the Trondheim fjord.
Boat Trips
Norway is a costal country and in many parts of the country you can as easily travel by boat as by train or bus. From Trondheim there are local high speed crafts travelling the fjord and the islands outside the fjord, and there is also a long distanse route to Kristiansund about 300 km southwards along the cost(3.5 hours). For a map of all high speed craft routes from Trondheim, see Fosen Trafikklag. Just click on the red lines to get the timetable for each journey. Several of these routes are nice for a one day journey at sea with stops at islands along the routes.
Weather
The current weather situation in Trondheim (click for a forecast):
Another source for the current weather conditions at Trondheim's airport.