Many consider city tourism a cliché. Especially in capitals, and especially in European ones. I mean, where’s the adventure in landing right in the urbanization, where everything is arranged and (under certain conditions) safe? Personally, I don’t separate tourism from travel and nomadic wander, as has been fashionable lately. I am convinced that a person can find something to enjoy anywhere, as long as they have the right attitude. So, here is the European North. Some time ago I was in Helsinki on business, recently I walked around Stockholm and Copenhagen. It’s time for Oslo.
The Vigelands Sculpture Park invariably appears at one of the leading spots in the top rankings of attractions in the Norwegian capital. It bears the name of the author of the huge number of stone and bronze statues and bas-reliefs, which took nearly 40 years of his life. The author is Gustav Vigeland, and his life and work took place in the first half of the 20th century. The park is a very pleasant place in the warm season, when everything is green, and if a person decides to explore the sculptural compositions in detail, they can spend quite a while there.
There are also several special museums in the Oslo Top Rankings, which I will briefly highlight here, as I plan to dedicate separate articles to them. Norway is very proud of the artist Edvard Munch, who, like Mr. Vigeland, was extremely productive in his artistic career. His works can be seen in the Munch Museum and in the National Museum, which would be more correct to call the National Gallery. Its entrance is literally hidden behind the Nobel Center and looks quite unremarkable if you don’t pay attention to the details.
One such detail is the small restaurant, nestled under a grassy canopy and with tables and chairs that are works of art in themselves. The Munch Museum was supposed to resemble the Greek letter Lambda, but I personally didn’t understand from which direction. In the photo below you will find it in the company of the Oslo Ferris Wheel, a small piece of the fjord and a larger one of the roof of the Opera House, which all tourists do not miss to walk on. I don’t know what this roof is like in winter, they probably offer sledges or at least nylons for whooshing down.
On the other side of the Munch, there are more selfie spots, such as the so-called Barcode – a group of narrow and tall buildings (not tall enough to be called skyscrapers) with a contemporary design and the adjacent Acrobat Bridge. The spaces between the blocks offer a slightly futuristic feel, and the fjord banks are shaped like wooden grill-steps descending to the water. What I liked the most was how they built the ocean in between some of the buildings, almost like a private pool.
The transition from modern urbanization to historical splendor is subtle. Suddenly, buildings like the Theater, the Parliament, and the Royal Palace itself start to appear. To be honest, the Norwegian Royal Palace is quite modest compared to most of its European counterparts. It is separated from the surrounding capital by a park that is smaller than most other city parks, and the space in front of the entrance is empty, with a single lone horseman on a pedestal. This simplicity may be a desired effect, but it is certainly surprising.
On the other hand, other parts of Oslo are busier than you might expect. Almost all the city parks have some kind of noisy event going on, and the area around the City Hall is packed with people. Forget about street parking in the center. If you move away from the innermost part of the fjord, where most of the coastal boat tours depart, you will find that it is already difficult to see the water. The ocean is practically hidden under hundreds, even thousands of boats that I have no idea how they get in and out of this gigantic “parking lot.”
This is the view when you head to the Bygdoy peninsula to meet several others of Oslo’s top attractions. Among them is the National Open-Air Folk Museum, which presents historic houses, farm buildings and other rom different regions of the country, plus an exceptional wooden church. The larger buildings are home to ethnographic exhibitions with interior and household items, clothing, crafts, etc. Quite logically, the predominant building material is wood, and most barns and stables look exactly like the Evil Witch’s house on chicken legs.
On the same peninsula, you will also find the group of ocean-related museums – Fram, Kon-Tiki and the Maritime Museum. The first two are specialized, dedicated to polar research and the expeditions of Thor Heyerdahl, respectively. If you have more time, you can spend a whole day in them alone, touring the ships and simulators in Fram or watching the original video recordings of Mr. Heyerdahl’s voyages. Even if you are not a fan of sea voyages, you will still enjoy it.
Finally, I suggest taking a look at the Akershus Fortress, which is the only thing left of Oslo’s older history, more precisely from the 14th century. A bit of thick walls, terraces decorated with cannons, wonderful views of the fjord and, most importantly, long opening hours and free admission. In May, the fortress is the scene of a large medieval festival, which unfortunately opens at 12 noon, closes at 6 pm and is not free at all.
More stories from Oslo coming soon.
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