Day 22: Trondheim - small big city

After breakfast at the café (we upgraded from 'Brød' to 'Godt Brød'), we made our way to the accommodation. It is located in an old part of Trondheim, near the canal in a red-painted wooden house. We are basically staying in the attic room and not only sharing the apartment with the host, but also with an extremely fluffy cat.

After a short break and shower, we set off to explore the city. Although Trondheim is Norway's third largest city, it does not feel like a big city, except maybe for the main roads. Step into a side street and you are in a pretty town with old wooden houses lining a canal spanned by bridges.

Our first destination was the Nidaros Cathedral in the center. Over the years, it has experienced many fires, alterations, and even the Reformation, transforming it from the seat of the Norwegian archdiocese to an ordinary Lutheran church. It was later fully restored and partially rebuilt as a national sanctuary with the burial site of Saint Olaf.

The exterior of the building is adorned with countless stone sculptures depicting figures from the Bible and Norwegian history, as well as angels, demons, and other creatures. The overall appearance is reminiscent of English cathedrals, as Westminster Abbey served as a model during the restoration. The interior, however, is less grand, but the newly installed stained glass windows are beautiful, and the old tombstones on display in the crypt are truly fascinating.

After a short walk through the cathedral cemetery, we headed towards the Bakklandet district, crossing the beautiful old 'Gamle Bybro' bridge, the Old Town Bridge. Here, there are many colorful old wooden houses reflecting in the water of the Nidelva river.

After a stroll through Bakklandet with its many cafés (by the way, student discounts are available everywhere here) and the bicycle lift, our path led us back across the next bridge, over the market square, and to the Stiftsgården. This is one of the largest wooden buildings in Scandinavia, built at the end of the 18th century as a city residence for a very independent lady councilor, and today serves as the official residence of the Norwegian king in Trondheim - who is, by the way, crowned almost next door in the Nidaros Cathedral.

After a visit to the supermarket, we made our way back home, where we had meatballs with pasta/mashed potatoes and salad for dinner. We spent the evening reading and relaxing - tomorrow we will continue our journey southward.

Wishing you a good night from Trondheim!