Although the Norwegian metropolis of Oslo is a modern city it continues to be inspired by the lively spirit of its past traders, fighting men and seafarers. The unique capital city of the Vikings is full of both culture and sport, including a royal castle, various museums, ancient churches and world famous sporting events. It has nine hundred years of history.

The conference rooms of the city’s government are decorated with frescos and paintings by Munch, Krogh, Revold and Rolfsen and each year on the tenth of December, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony takes place.

West of the harbour basin is Akerbrygge, a city quarter that was created on the site of a former shipyard and which features some unusual architecture where glass, metal and red brick dominates as in the style of London’s Docklands.

The Norsk Sjøfartsmuseum features the long history of Norwegian navigation. Various figureheads are exhibited and it is no surprise that most of them are female as seafarers have always chosen to be protected by goddesses! In the Kontiki Museum, the filigree balsa river boat is on display. Thor Heyderdal sailed across the Pacific for one hundred and one days in the Kontiki, from Peru to Polynesia.

This city is a royal residence and a cultural capital of Europe and is the oldest of Scandinavia’s capital cities and the greenest metropolis on the European continent. A place of joie de vivre, independence and a colourful past!