Lesser known facts about this inhumane punishment
Norwegians call Sognefjord the "King of the Fjords," and no wonder! This is a truly majestic fjord, the largest and deepest in the country. At its widest, Sognefjord is almost 5 km (3 mi) across, and the near-vertical cliff walls reach as high as 1,307 m (4,288 ft).
From Sognefjord, you can also explore Nærøyfjorden, a narrower though no less spectacular fjord, seen here from the summit of Mount Bakkanosi.
Make an effort to see Jostedalsbreen. This colossal ice sheet located in Jostedalsbreen National Park is the largest glacier in continental Europe. But it's in danger of melting! As glaciers shrink across the globe due to climate change, some scientists predict that Norway's giant glaciers, Jostedalsbreen included, will all but have disappeared within 80 years, according to Norway Today.
Preikestolen, or Pulpit Rock, requires an strenuous hike to reach, but the effort really is worth it. This is one of Norway's most spectacular visitor attractions, a flat-topped cliff rising 604 m (1,982 ft) above Lysefjorden.
Stavanger is worth a couple of days' exploration. The city's core is largely composed of 18th- and 19th-century wooden houses, and retains an appealing yesteryear character. The city is also a useful base from which to visit the aforementioned Pulpit Rock.
Norway's oldest cathedral stands as a unique architectural heirloom. Consecrated to Saint Svitun (Swithun) in 1125, the ancient building has been in continuous use for the last seven centuries. Interior highlights include the baptismal font, estimated to be from around the year 1300.
The third largest city north of the Arctic Circle anywhere in the world (following Murmansk and Norilsk, both in Russia), Tromsø is a much visited winter destination, with brave souls ignoring the bitter cold and near-24-hour darkness to witness spectacular displays of the northern lights. More earthly distractions include Polaria, the world's northernmost aquarium, and the fascinating Polar Museum.
The string of islands cradle a number of small communities, among them the picturesque fishing village of Å, situated on the island of Moskenesøya.
You could spend a week in Oslo and not see everything this attractive Nordic city has to offer. One of the Norwegian capital's most distinctive buildings is city hall (pictured). It's here that the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony takes place every December.
Still welcoming visitors is the Historical Museum. The country's largest prehistoric and medieval archaeological collections are held here, artifacts that include astonishing Viking-era treasures like this gold bracelet decorated with animal-style motifs.
Oslo's Viking Museum has been operating for over 90 years, serving as a gathering place for Norway's most important cultural heritage. The Oseberg Ship (pictured), excavated from the largest known ship burial in the world and the only known complete Viking vessel, has taken pride of place among other similar 9th-century ships. The ancient watercraft and other Viking-age exhibits are now set to be rehoused in a new state-of-the-art facility called the Museum of the Viking Age, which will open in 2026. The present museum has now closed.
The museum's ever-expanding Viking exhibition is exemplified by this rare and well-preserved piece of armor known as the Gjermundbu helmet, thought to have been worn by a powerful and wealthy chieftain anywhere between 950 and 975 CE.
Another boat in the museum is the Ra II (pictured), a vessel built of reeds according to Heyerdahl's perception of an ancient Egyptian seagoing boat.
Oslo's world-class seafaring heritage museums are clustered on the Bygdoy Peninsula. These include the Fram Museum and the Norwegian Maritime Museum, and the proposed new Museum of the Viking Age. Also found here is the the popular Kon-Tiki Museum.
Bergen, the country's second-largest city, is sometimes referred to as the capital of fjord Norway. Surrounded by soaring peaks, it's also known as the "city of seven mountains." The colorful Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf (pictured) features a row of colorful former merchants' houses the original occupants of which would have belonged to the Hanseatic League, a medieval commercial and defensive confederation. The city's engaging Hanseatic Museum explains more.
Anybody interested in music history should make a pilgrimage to Troldhaugen, the former home and workspace of Norwegian composer and pianist Edvard Grieg (1843–1907).
Frogner Park is informally known as the Vigeland Sculpture Park for the permanent sculpture installation featuring over 200 pieces carved out of granite, bronze, and wrought iron that surprise and delight visitors for their cursive and sometimes grotesque characteristics. They are the work of one man, Gustav Vigeland (1869–1943), who incidentally was the designer of the Nobel Peace Prize medal.
Oslo's cultural clout extends to Akershus Fortress, a medieval castle built in the late 13th century as a royal retreat. It stands over Oslofjord and commands fine views over the city and harbor.
Lillehammer is synonymous with winter sport activities. The town nestles in the country's Gudbrandsdalen region and in fact is one of Norway's best-known year-round tourist destinations. But it's for snow that Lillehammer is celebrated for (it hosted the 1994 Winter Olympics). Besides skiing, enthusiasts can indulge in skating, curling, and sleigh rides, and follow nearly 500 km (310 mi) of Nordic cross-country ski trails.
Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906) spent his last years living in an Oslo apartment, which is now a house museum. It's located at the aptly named Henrik Ibsens Gate, close to the Royal Palace. The address is marked by artwork of Ibsen quotes permanently embedded in the pavement.
Equaling Sognefjord for breathtaking grandeur, Geirangerfjord is one of Norway's most popular visitor destinations. The whole region is spectacular in its scenic outlook.
One of the best views of Geirangerfjord is from the summit of Dalsnibba. At 1,495 m (4,904 ft), the views of the surrounding mountains and the gash of water below is simply inspiring. Note the winding Eagle's Road in the picture, an edge-of-your-seat route comprising no less than 11 hairpin bends.
Alternatively, let the train take the strain. There are numerous rail lines running through the country. One of the most picturesque is the service linking Oslo with Bergen (pictured).
And here's one to tick off the "must do" list. The famous Flåmsbana (Flåm Railway) in southern Norway is one of the most breathtaking railways in Europe. It's also the steepest of any non-funicular track.
Sources: (Norway Today) (University of Oslo) (Nordics.Info)
See also: What's to see within the Arctic Circle?
Driving in Norway is a hugely rewarding experience for the many scenic highways etched across the nation. But there's one route you should definitely turn on to, the incredible Atlantic Ocean Road. It's only 8 km (5 mi) long, serving a chain of tiny islands that form an archipelago in Eide and Averøy, in More og Rømsdal. It has gained a reputation as one of the most spectacular stretches of coastal highway in the world.
With so much to admire above, why would you want to venture underground? Well, here's one good reason—Troll Church (Trollkirka). Not your average place of worship, but instead a magnificent marble and limestone cave replete with tumbling waterfall. It's hidden in the mountains north of the main road between Moen in Fræna and Eide.
Looking to get off the beaten track? Head over to Jotunheimen, the largest Alpine region on the Norwegian high plateau. Set within a national park, all the highest mountains in Norway are found here, surrounded by lakes and rivers and imbedded with glaciers and waterfalls. The wildlife population numbers herds of free-roaming reindeer. Pictured is the Besseggen Ridge, a popular hiking destination.
At 2,469 m (8,100 ft) above sea level, Galdhøpiggen is the highest mountain in Norway, Scandinavia, and Northern Europe. Pictured is the view back across Jotunheimen from the summit.
It helps if you have a head for heights when you venture out onto Trolltunga Odda, or "Troll Tongue." This awesome rock formation sticks out horizontally from the mouth of a mountain 1,100 m (3,600 ft) above Ringedalsvatnet, an ice blue lake located near the Folgefonna glacier. To reach the tongue you'll need to embark on an arduous 27-km (17 mi) round-trip from the village of Skjeggedal.
No trip to Norway is complete without reaching North Cape, the northernmost point in Europe. It's a challenging journey during the winter months, and most people prefer undertaking the trip in summer, when the midnight sun hovers over the horizon to greet them.
One of the most popular destinations in Norway, Lofoten is an archipelago set within the Arctic Circle, and is what Instagram is made for. These islands number some of the best places in the world to glimpse the aurora borealis, or northern lights.
In 1947, Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl (1914–2002) led an expedition that sailed 8,000 km (5,000 mi) across the Pacific Ocean in a hand-built raft called Kon-Tiki. The vessel, crafted from balsa, mangrove wood, and split bamboo, is now on permanent display.
Norway's scenic splendor ranks among the most spectacular in the world. Blessed with numerous steep-sided fjords of phenomenal beauty that cut jagged gashes under snow-capped peaks and grand and glistening glaciers, this is a nation of exceptional visual appeal. Its proud seafaring tradition is upheld in a collection of world-class museums in cities that are regularly cited as some of the cleanest and safest on the planet. So, is Norway on your mind?
Click through and discover the land of the midnight sun.
Is Norway on your bucket list? Explore a land of enchanting beauty
Discover the land of the midnight sun
TRAVEL Scandinavia
Norway's scenic splendor ranks among the most spectacular in the world. Blessed with numerous steep-sided fjords of phenomenal beauty that cut jagged gashes under snow-capped peaks and grand and glistening glaciers, this is a nation of exceptional visual appeal. Its proud seafaring tradition is upheld in a collection of world-class museums in cities that are regularly cited as some of the cleanest and safest on the planet. So, is Norway on your mind?
Click through and discover the land of the midnight sun.