Day 6 - Trondheim

A thousand years ago Trondheim was the capital of Norway during the Viking Age. It remained the capital until 1217. It is has lost its former political role but Trondheim is still considered by many Norwegians as the historical, cultural and religious capital.

By 8 am  the Koningsdam  is welcomed here by a boat of the Navy who  baptizes the Koningsdam with a water spray. We run to the buffet on the Lido deck as the city calls us. This time  I have also mapped out a walk. For this, the conditions are optimal. Everything is within walking distance of the ship and the weather is beautiful. A blue sky, occasional clouds and an ideal 15 ° to warm up our muscles.

Trondheim is a modern city but has managed to retain its historical charm. The old town is an island formed between the river Nidelva and the Trondheim Fjord.

We begin our walk in the center of the city, on the marketplace where there is the statue of Olav Tryggvason. He founded the city in 997 as a trading post. He tried to Christianize Norway in  the 10th century but failed.  Only 30 years later, Christianity got a foothold in Norway.

Just down the street is the Royal Palace, the Stifsgarden. This is the largest wooden house in Scandinavia. It was built around 1770 as a residence and is now one of the official residences of the Norwegian royal family.

Behind the corner is the beautiful Our Lady church from the 13th century. We walk further to the main building of Trondheim, the Nidaros cathedral. It was the successor of Olaf Tryggvason, Olaf Haraldson who continued the efforts to convert Norwegians to Christianity. He also did not succeed. He died on July 29, 1030 in Stiklestad (100 kilometers outside Trondheim) and his body was transferred to Trondheim to be buried on the bank of the river. When his body a year later was dug up by order of the bishop, it showed no signs of decomposition, his face had not changed and nails and hair had grown. This was considered at the time as a sign of holiness. Olaf was canonized in 1164. He remains the patron saint of Norway. His cousin Olaf Kyrre built a large stone church on the site where the body of the saint had been: the Nidaros cathedral.

The remains of the saint were transferred to this cathedral. The cathedral was built in 1070 and is the most important Gothic building in Norway. Since 1814, the kings are crowned here, as is the current king, Harald V in 1991.

Next to the cathedral is the Archbishop's Palace. You can find here the crown jewels among others. From the palace, we walk along the water to the Gamle Bybrua, the old city bridge. It was built in 1861. We walk over the bridge to the Bakklandet, the old working-class neighborhood of the city. The houses along the narrow streets have been beautifully restored into shops and cafes. It's fun to wander around in the sun. Along the waterfront are the yards. Although these colored warehouses are dating back to the 18th century, they were built keeping  medieval architecture in mind.

Then it's time for lunch on board. Now that many passengers are still ashore, it's a little less busy in the Lido Market. From our balcony we have a beautiful view of the Munkholmen, where Benedictine monks at the beginning of the 11th century built a monastery, one of the first in Norway. Before that it served as an execution ground.

In the late afternoon the Koningsdam throws of the bowlines. While we enjoy our dinner in the restaurant, followed by a show with Tony Bond and Petrina Johnson and a set on the Billboard Board, Koningsdam continues its journey further north. Trondheim is called the gateway to the north. North of Trondheim is an area where the Arctic Circle marks the border with the land of the midnight sun. Tonight at 11.55 pm  the sun officially sets for the last time, although it will remain light. Tomorrow at 5.27 am we cross the Arctic Circle ...