Oslo is the capital and largest city of Norway. The population of the city proper is approximately 593,000 (as of July 2010); the population of the Greater Oslo Metropolitan Region is appropximately 1,300,000. The city proper has an area of 175 square miles (454 square kilometers). The city center of Oslo is situated at the end of the Oslofjord, from where the city sprawls out both to the north and to the south on both sides of the fjord, giving the city area more or less the shape of a U.

Brief History

According to the Norse sagas, Oslo was founded around 1049 by King Harald III, and became the royal residence about 1300. During the following century the community flourished as a trading center and port. After Oslo was destroyed by fire in 1624, it was rebuilt by Christian IV of Denmark and Norway and renamed Christiania in his honor.

Christiania became the official capital of Norway after the dissolution of the union with Denmark in 1814. King Karl Johan started building the Royal Palace in 1825, but financial difficulties delayed the project and the palace was not completed until 1848. By then, Oscar I was the king of Norway and Sweden. From 1814, sessions of Parliament were held in the halls of Katedralskolen, and from 1854 in the University banquet room. The present Parliament building on Karl Johan Street was completed in 1866.

Starting in 1877, the city name was written as Kristiania, and in 1925 the city retook its original name -- Oslo. The city enjoyed an artistic and economic renaissance during the 19th century. During World War II, Oslo was occupied by German forces and suffered some damage. In 1952 the Winter Olympic Games were held here.

Economy

Oslo is the largest city, leading seaport, and principal commercial, manufacturing, and cultural center of Norway. Major products include ships, electric and electronic equipment, chemicals, textiles, processed food, wood and metal items, machinery, and printed materials. Government activities and tourism are also important to the city's economy.

Government

The City of Oslo is represented in the Storting by seventeen members of Parliament. The city itself has had a parliamentary system of government since 1986. The supreme authority of the city is the City Council, which currently has 59 seats. Representatives are popularly elected every four years. The council's executive branch consists of a head of government and six commissioners holding ministerial positions. Each of the commissiners needs the confidence of the City Council, and each of them can be voted out of office.

Parliament Building

Sites and Attractions

Oslo is noted for its many museums, parks, and public statues. In the city are the University of Oslo (1811), which includes museums of paleontology, ethnography, and mineralogy; colleges of architecture, theology, veterinary medicine, fine arts, and music; the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters (1857); the Norwegian Nobel Institute, which helps select the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize; and the National Archives. In addition to the sites highlighted below, other points of interest include the National Gallery, which contains collections of European, especially Norwegian, art; the Oslo Museum of Decorative Art; the Norwegian Folk Museum; the Munch Museum, with paintings by the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch; the Kon-Tiki Museum, with exhibits relating to the voyages of Thor Heyerdahl; Akershus Fortress; the royal palace; and the Storting (Parliament) building.

The Oslo City Museum (Oslo Bymuseum) is housed in the historic and distinguished Frogner Manor. The museum's models, objects, photographs and paintings give an overall idea of the city's growth and development, its trade, culture and street life down through the thousand-year history of Oslo. It also provides historical town walks under a series of scheduled "Know Your City" events.

Oslo City Museum

Oslo is richly decorated with sculptures, but the greatest impression is provided by Vigeland Park, where the sculptural results of Gustav Vigeland's extensive work are presented. The park encompasses a total of 212 sculptures made by the sculptor, including "The Little Red Head" and "The Monolith."

Vigeland Park

The Viking Ship Museum offers excellent opportunities to learn about the Vikings, their era, and especially their seagoing vessels. Several Viking ships are on display here, including the 24-meter Gokstad. The largest preserved Norse Viking ship on display anywhere in the world, the Gokstad, has a thirty ton displacement and was probably used on overseas trade.

Viking Ship Museum

See Also

King Christian IV
Denmark
King Karl Johan
World War II
Nobel Peace Prize
Gustav Vigeland

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This page was last updated on January 01, 2019.