Trondheim is a vibrant city located in central Norway. Known for its rich history and stunning scenery, Trondheim is a great destination for travelers of all ages. Trondheim is the oldest of Norway’s major cities, and its rich cultural heritage can still be traced in and around the city center. It’s a scenic city on the southern shore of the Trondheimsfjord, which is the third longest in Norway. Even if the size is modest, a lot is going on in Trondheim. Music, arts, culture, alternative politics, nightlife, and student life.
The city center is roughly the area inside the meandering Nidelva. The marvelous Nidaros Cathedral, the second-largest church of Northern Europe and the only Gothic cathedral in Norway, towers over the city centre. Legend has it that it was built over the grave of St Olav, Norway’s patron saint. Regarded as a national treasure, it has been the site of the coronations of Norway’s kings. In 1958, Olav V chose to receive benediction there as did the current king, Harald V, in 1991. The cathedral has been under restoration since 1860 and as the only state church in Norway, obtains grants directly from the parliament through the state budget.
The city celebrated its 1000th anniversary in 1997 but contrary to popular belief Trondheim was not so much of a center for the Vikings as it was founded at the end of the Viking Age. However, it was the religious center of northern Europe during the Middle Ages and a vital hub for North Atlantic trade, giving it plenty of characteristic mansions and harbor houses. From 1152 until the Protestant Reformation, Trondheim (or Nidaros as it was called) was the seat of the Archbishopric of Norway (present-day Norway plus Iceland, Orkney, and Shetland). The ancient name Nidaros reads “mouth of river Nid”. For centuries, Trondheim was the northernmost mercantile city in Europe, giving it a special “edge-of-the-world” feeling. This also resulted in a more outgoing international culture than many other Scandinavian cities at the time. The inhabitants like to call their city the historical, religious, and technological capital of Norway.