Oslo Sights: Buildings and structures

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• The Opera house, close to the central station (T-Jernbanetorget, all trams and buses to Jernbanetorget or Oslo S), is Norway's first entry into the top league of modern architecture. Awarded the 2008 prize for best cultural building at the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona, its appearance is stunning. Shaped as a glacier or a ship, the amazing building seems to float by the inlet Bjørvika, giving a stunning impression. Do visit the cheap pub at the theatre boat Innvik, close to the Opera house, for the very best views. Also, climb the building on the marble slopes (summer only) for a unique Oslo view. Shame, however, with the main highway passing close to it. It will be moved underground in 2011. Get to the Opera by footbridge from the seaside exit of Oslo central station, next to the Airport Express train terminal.

Royal Palace

• The Royal Palace (T-Nationaltheateret, tram 13-19 to Slottsparken), www.kongehuset.no. Located at the end of KarlJohans gate, the city's main avenue. Tours inside the palace are arranged in summertime, this year from June 21. The tickets for the tour must be bought in advance from a post office. If there are vacant spots in a tour, they sell the remaining tickets at the Palace itself to people waiting in line who don't already have tickets. Don't count on getting tickets on the spot unless you are quite ahead in the line since a lot of people buy them at the post offices. There are about 2 tours in English on weekdays.

University in Oslo

• The University of Oslo is between the Royal Palace and Stortinget on the Karl Johans gate. The building is currently only housing the Faculty of Law, the rest of the university is situated at Blindern. Periodicly concerts will be arranged in the "Aula" housing 11 of Edward Munch pictures.

• Oslo Cathedral (tram 11-17-18 or bus 37 to Stortorget, between T-Jernbanetorget and Stortinget) is none too impressive, but dominates parts of the down town scene. For the time being (2006-2009), it is undergoing refurbishment, and is wrapped in plastic making it look like a concrete plant.

• Kirkeristen, the old bazaar surrounding the church, is now used by artisans and craftsmen, and holds a couple of cafes and restaurants.

Oslo Cathedral

• Oslo's City Hall (Rådhuset) (T-Nationaltheateret, tram 12 to Rådhusplassen, bus 70-74 to Vika) is located by the waterfront, with Fritdjof Nansensplass on the inland side. It's open to the public, with a spectacular main hall featuring huge murals with typical Nordic socialist themes. There are also some displays of historical artifacts in the side rooms upstairs. This is where the Nobel Peace Prize is presented to it's winner every year. Although there is no public lift, disadvantaged visitors only have to ask and they can then use the staff lift.

• Akershus festning (Tram 12 to Rådhusplassen, bus 60 to Bankplassen) is a medieval castle and fortress built in 1299, located close to the city center. There are several excellent viewpoints to the Oslofjord and surrounding areas. The stone walls create an exciting atmosphere, and you are free to roam around in tight passages and staircases. There are two museums here, both related to Norwegian military history.

View of Bygdøy

Akershus

• Holmenkollen, the ski jump located on the west side of Oslo (T-bane 1 towards Frognerseteren), is now being rebuilt for the World Ski Championships in 2011. It was first opened in 1892, has been re-built many times since then, but was torn down in October 2008. It had more than 1 million visitors every year, and was one of the biggest tourist attractions in Norway. There is also the oldest ski museum in the world, opened in 1923. Walking and mountain bike riding are popular activities here during the summer.

• Stortinget (The Norwegian parliament) is located on the main street, Karl Johans gate, in the city center (T-Bane, any line, Stortinget station, exit Egertorget). It has free guided tours in English and Norwegian lasting about 45 minutes, which assemble outside the back door of the Parliament (on Akersgata). There is a limit of 30 people per tour, so it is advisable to be there at least 10 minutes prior to the start of a tour.

• Architecture in Oslo may at first seem dull. Unlike for instance its Swedish counterpart, Stockholm, downtown Oslo has only scattered monumental buildings where in particular the Parliament-Palace axis (upper part of Karl Johan Street) has a certain Parisian grandeur. The charm of Oslo can also be found in the affluent inner-city suburbs of for instance Frogner and Fagerborg as well as above St.Hanshaugen park. Northern Europe has a distinct wooden house tradition. Wooden houses are not allowed downtown, but these charming houses can be found in large numbers in villa suburbs such as Bygdøy and Holmenkollen, or former workers' areas such as Rodeløkka, Kampen, Vålerenga, Damstredet or Telthusbakken.

• World Architecture Festival
• www.kongehuset.no