Trondheim

• By admin
• June 14, 2016
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Known as the gateway to the North, Trondheim was a really enjoyable stop on our route and not just because it was sunny for almost all of our 24 hour stay. The town centre has a charming old sector, The Bakklandet, with beautiful buildings, especially along the wharves, where multi coloured old warehouses, built on stilts, line the water front.  At the square with the towering monument to King Olav (the founding father and the St Olav of Norway’s national saint) the town becomes more modern with contemporary architecture, lots of shops and cafes and a lively buzz.  It has a thriving university and a wonderfully vibrant atmosphere. The cyclists take no prisoners and rapidly we learnt to walk close to the building fronts as anywhere else, even the designated pavements were hazardous. Graeme, on seeing his first barbershop for some weeks, booked in for a haircut and a trim for his newly grown beard. He came out looking very neat and manicured.

Trondheim’s resplendent Nidaros Cathedral provides the city’s central tourist attraction, and is considered ‘the’ cathedral church of Norway being the place where monarchs are crowned. The original stone church was built in 1035 over the burial place of King (Saint) Olav. It did feel quite spiritual and was very beautiful.

Returning to our van we crossed the old town bridge and walked along the river front in the warm sunshine. Leaving the overnight parking place there were several vans vying for our space, each feeling they had a right to it.  Graeme, doing his united nations bit, translated between the Norwegian and French van drivers and eventually peace and understanding triumphed and we were on our way to the Arctic.