Trondheim

Die nach norwegischen Maßstäben große Stadt Trondheim hat sich den Charme und die Intimität einer Kleinstadt bewahrt. Nach einem katastrophalen Brand, der 1681 fast alle Stadthäuser zerstörte, wurden die neuen Straßen verbreitert, um ein Übergreifen des Feuers auf andere Gebäude zu verhindern. Einige der engen Gassen und Straßen, von denen viele aus dem Mittelalter stammen, existieren noch heute und bilden einen starken Kontrast zu den breiten Boulevards aus dem 17. Jahrhundert. Selbst heute noch gehört Trondheim zu den Städten in Europa mit typischen Holzhäusern: Im Stadtzentrum finden sich viele besondere Holzhäuser, von denen einige noch aus den 18. Jahrhundert stammen.

Trondheim hat sich als Handelszentrum für Zentralnorwegen stark positioniert. Die NTNU (die Technische-Naturwissenschaftliche Universität Norwegens) ist die international bekannte Universität von Trondheim. Die zahlreichen Forschungsgemeinschaften sorgen dafür, dass Trondheim Innovations-, Wissenschafts- und Wirtschaftsstandort ist und bleibt. Die Studenten verleihen dieser tausend Jahre alten Stadt ein jugendliches Flair. Obwohl Trondheim keine besonders große Metropole ist, kann sich die Stadt aufgrund ihrer Lage und Möglichkeiten mit den wichtigsten Städten Europas messen lassen.

Sat at the heart of central Norway’s coastline on the Trondheim Fjord, Trondheim is one of the country’s oldest cities. Founded by King Olav Tryggvason in 997, it was the Viking capital until 1217.

A few generations later, King Olav II was killed while trying to convert his pagan countrymen to Christianity. Those still loyal to him brought his body to Trondheim to bury.

Legend has it that soon after, strange things started happening. A spring sprang from his grave, an eclipse obscured the sun, and when Olav’s body was dug up months after the burial, his beard and nails had grown. He was deemed a saint, and Nidaros Cathedral was built over his tomb.

The passing centuries saw the city grow rich through trade. But Trondheim also faced significant setbacks, including numerous fires and the switch of power to Bergen when the Hanseatic League made it their main port.

During World War II, Trondheim was occupied by Nazi Germany from the first day of the war until the last. Attempts by British and French forces to liberate the city were unsuccessful. Sadly, Trondheim was the first city in Norway where Jews suffered mass arrests.

In 1942, within a month, every member of the Jewish community had been detained and deported to concentration camps. To honour their memory, you will see brass Stolpesteine – ‘stumbling stones’ – embedded in pavements throughout the city.

Modern Trondheim is known for its forward-thinking attitude. It has been dubbed Norway’s ‘technology capital’ thanks to the international student population from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology campus, and tech start-ups choosing the city as their base.

Sitting comfortably alongside this modernity is Nidaros Cathedral. Traditional blessings and the coronations of all Norway’s monarchs still take place here, in the heart of the city.

Trondheim’s weather is notoriously fickle, often fluctuating between rain, sun and wind several times a day.

“Every month in Trondheim has its charm but I prefer May because of the green and the flowers and December because of its winter charm,” says local guide, Siri Forsnes.

Musician and host Bjørn Fjeldvær agrees: “The winter market held before Christmas is like walking in a Christmas card.” The darker months, when the Northern Lights sparkle against the long nights and snow is a regular visitor, lend the city a snow-globe appeal.

In the summer months, from late May to late July, the city is a little too south for the full Midnight Sun but it still gets more than 20 hours of daylight in mid-June, with the sun rising just after 3am and setting around 11.30pm.