Trondheim Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Trondheim

Trondheim was the first capital of Norway. It is the place where kings are consecrated. It is idyllically located on the river Nidelva within easy access to the sea. It has been the home of saints and warriors. It is called Trondheim. "Trond" is a "good place." "Heim" means "home." It is not too big a stretch to say "Trondheim" is a "good home."

Olav Tryggvason, better known as Olav I, founded the good home in 997. He called it Kaupangen, meaning "Trading Place." He only ruled for three years but he had established the capital of Norway. A capital for the age of the Vikings until 1217.

The city has been ravaged by fires in its history. Invasions by Sweden from time to time were a grim accompaniment to the fires. The fire of 1681 led to a total reconstruction of the town as directed by General Johan Caspar von Cicignon, a military engineer originally from Luxembourg.

The old city center is not hard to explore on foot. Start with the old Town Square. Olav I's statue, erected in 1921 by Wilhem Rasmussen, is atop a 58 foot column overseeing the square.

Nidaros cathedral is close by. It is the final resting place of Saint Olav (King Olav II) and the traditional site for royal coronations. The Archbishop's Palace is a treasure trove of archeological history. It also has the crown jewels of Norway.

A brief walk from the cathedral is the district of Bakklandet, a neighborhood of Hanseatic houses and narrow streets. It can be reached by walking over the Old Town Bridge. The bridge leads to Bakklandet and Kristianstet Fortress.

Our Lady's Church (Var Frue Kirke), was erected around 1200. It has been damaged and restored many times. The list of churches goes on. There are museums, including the Maritime museum of the days of sail. And there's shopping, hiking, skiing (in season), Midsummer festival and the annual celebratory wake of King Olav I.

Trondheim started as a good place to trade and became a good home over a thousand years ago. It still is.