Trondheim

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TRONDHEIM

 

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The iconic photo of​​ Trondheim

 

 

 

 

THE TOWN

 

 

Trondheim is the third largest city in Norway in terms of population, after Oslo the capital and Bergen. It is roughly in the middle of Norway when you look at a map,​​ at ... 63 degrees north latitude, yes.

As our friend Wiki explains in detail (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trondheim), the city is very old. It was founded by the​​ viking king Olaf Tryggvason in 997 (it was then called 'Nidaros'). Today, Olaf stands at the top of a column erected on the central square of Trondheim (the 'Torg' square). The city is located at the mouth of the river 'Nidelva', on the coast of a very wide fjord, the 'trondheimsfjord'.

 

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Gamle brua

 

 

 

WHAT TO DO IN​​ Trondheim?

 

 

Downtown

 

Concretely, the city center is pleasant to visit. Around the central square 'Torg' you will find shopping streets, pedestrian areas, shopping malls with the usual big​​ brands, cafes and restaurants.​​ Baklandet​​ is an older, more authentic neighborhood, with cobbled streets and series of colorful wooden houses that give a particular charm to the city center.​​ Nidaros Cathedral, very gray, very austere, has an impressive facade including multiple statues. This is one of the major monuments of Norway, so do not miss it! The most​​ iconic​​ pictures of the city are the colored buildings on stilts along the​​ Nidelva River. They are actually old warehouses, used as storage for various materials at the time when Trondheim was a very active port. They have been recently renovated, maintained and transformed into very popular apartments.

Along the river, not far from the station is a wharf exclusively reserved for the​​ old wooden boats​​ that enthusiasts​​ repair (build?). A small hook by this corner a little out of time will make you a nice and authentic break away from the hustle and bustle of the shopping streets.

 

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The king's house in​​ Trondheim...that​​ changes from​​ Versailles no?!

 

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Cathedral​​ Nidaros

 

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The​​ 'Midtbyrunden​​ tur'​​ : tour of sentrum

 

It is nice to wander around downtown Trondheim, pass​​ Torg Square​​ to​​ Solsiden​​ Shopping Center for a shopping​​ escape, then pace​​ Baklandet​​ and the​​ old shipyard. Recently, the city has created a tourist circuit that will make you discover the city differently by making you pass through other districts and emblematic sites. This is the​​ 'midtbyrunden tur'. As the name suggests, it makes the tour​​ of the city center, quite simple! It is within 6 km. Depending on your mood, it takes roughly 2 hours to quietly explore it. The advantage of this tour is that it will take you through the port and the newly built pedestrian paths along the fjord.

Web page describing the tour in detail:​​ https://www.trondheim.no/midtbyrunden

 

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Midtbyrunden

 

 

Museum​​ 'Vitensenteret'

 

The​​ Vitensenteret Museum​​ is a center of 'scientific discoveries'. It is located in the city center, not far from the central square Torg. It is installed in an old building, which gives it a certain charm, a certain originality. The museum consists of a series of pieces devoted to specific scientific themes: mechanics, electricity, forces, human body ... The museum is totally 'experimental': each theme is put forward by a series facilities that visitors are invited to handle, kinds of small practical workshops.

Well, as scientists ourselves, we are necessarily a little (lot) biased, may be more demanding than others ... So, our feeling is not extremely positive​​ about that museum. ..Themes are well addressed. The small experiments set up are relevant and illustrate the problems​​ rather​​ well. Science is respected. No worries​​ for​​ that. Our reserved feeling is​​ related​​ to two things: 1. Firstly, the facilities are old-fashioned and deserve a thorough renovation;​​ 2. The absence of real pedagogy ... And this is what disturbs us the most: as say,​​ the​​ small experiments are rather well chosen and make it possible to illustrate the scientific subjects. On the other hand, there is no real​​ pedagogical explanation. Everything is very succinct and deserves a little more work ... Some additional explanatory panels, a few illustrations in addition would help a lot! In the present state, if you want to come out of this museum by having learned something (the whole purpose of this kind of museum?),​​ well…​​ you must have a​​ certain​​ scientific background​​ before hand, considering the little information available ... Otherwise,​​ yes,​​ you can go, press all buttons, push all the controllers, pedal and pull the strings, it always works with children! Although it is the public targeted​​ at first, it is a pity​​ children​​ come out​​ from there​​ with very little information ...

If​​ we​​ recommend? mmmmmm... (you feel the enthusiasm ?!)…ok, yes, maybe..​​ IF: you are with children, AND on a rainy day when you wonder what you can do to​​ set free​​ your monsters (then, with​​ 50 other families with​​ equal​​ monsters!). We​​ have seen far​​ better.

 

PRACTICAL POINT​​ -​​ Vitensenteret Museum

Address: Kongens gate 1, 7011 Trondheim

Transportation:​​ by​​ foot! it is in the center 😉

Recommendation: if with children and​​ on​​ a rainy day ...

Price: 95 NOK, family (2 adults, 2 children): NOK 330

Opening​​ hours: 10: 00-16: 00/17: 00

Site:​​ https://www.vitensenteret.com/

 

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Museum​​ Vitensenteret

 

 

Museum​​ 'Ringve'

 

The​​ Ringve Museum​​ is the Trondheim Music Museum. It is located in an old building (recently renovated due to fire) surrounded by a botanical garden, which gives it a special charm. The museum offers an impressive collection of musical instruments of all ages and origins. The instruments are presented in different pieces, in chronological order. The whole is well emphasized and the visit pleasant. The museum has a good reputation in Norway and is part of the 'must do'.

Since​​ you are at the Ringve, you can also walk in the botanical garden of the museum, it is​​ lovely. And to get back to Trondheim city center: on the way out of​​ the museum,​​ target​​ the coast of the fjord through the residential area of the 'Lade', you will come across the popular​​ 'Ladestien'​​ trail.​​ Go left to the west. The trail will take you gently towards the​​ city​​ center along the coast ;-)​​ (https://www.trondheim.no/ladestien)

 

PRACTICAL POINT​​ -​​ Ringve Museum

Address: Lade Allé 60, 7041 Trondheim

Transport: from the city center: bus 3 and 4 direction Lade, stop Ringve!

Recommendation: to do!

Price: <15 years free, adult 120 NOK

Opening​​ hours: 10: 00-17: 00 every day

Site:​​ http://ringve.no/

 

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Ringve

 

 

Museum​​ 'Rockheim'

 

Rockheim​​ is​​ a rather recent museum in Trondheim. A unique building, recognizable from far, with a kind of excrescence at its summit, illuminated at night, quite unique…​​ It is the museum of the history of 'popular' music in Norway. It is rather well done. On 3 floors you pass through the history of the recent music of the country. It is modern, well organized, with many interactive points and archives.

Interest is, however, especially for Norwegians, or Scandinavians, who can travel through their musical history and recall the past hits. For foreigners ... interest is limited. The museum, however, allows us to grasp a part of​​ the​​ Norwegian culture, which is always enriching.

 

PRACTICAL POINT​​ - Rockheim Museum

Address: Brattørkaia 14, 7010 Trondheim

Transport: 5min walk from the central station, by the footbridge

Recommendation: If you are Norwegian: to do !, if not: to do IF you are​​ passionate about music…

Price: <15 years free, adult NOK 130

Opening​​ hours: 11: 00-18: 00 Tuesday-Sunday

Site:​​ https://rockheim.no/

 

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Rockheim

 

 

Museum​​ 'Sverresborg'

 

The Sverresborg Museum is a​​ mainly​​ 'outdoor' museum with many traditional Norwegian houses built / rebuilt​​ into​​ a small village to illustrate the evolution of traditional local habitat and past village life. It is well done, with a small town center pleasant to​​ walk through. Many houses have been​​ furnished​​ to illustrate the layout of living rooms, or into​​ post office, dentist, pharmacy ... A part of the site is arranged a little differently, with green spaces and farms. Animations are organized in summer (with animals and actors in costumes​​ - the actors, not the animals). There is also a small, more traditional museum inside the main building which offers a collection of historical objects illustrating the history of the country. The whole is rather well done and nice to visit.

 

PRACTICAL POINT​​ - Sverresborg Museum

Address: Sverresborg Alle 13, 7020 Trondheim

Transport: a little out of the way ... go by car or take bus 18 to the city center (Dronningens gate), direction 'Havstad', stop Folkemuseum.

Recommendation: to do!

Price: <15 years old free, adult NOK 115

Opening​​ hours: 10: 00-17: 00 every da

Site:​​ http://sverresborg.no/

 

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Sverresborg

 

 

Bymarka

 

Bymarka corresponds to the wooded hills to the west of Trondheim city center. It is an immense forest,​​ floored​​ with blueberries. Many trails run through the area: hiking in summer, cross-country skiing in winter! Bymarka is extremely popular for the inhabitants of Trondheim, it is the privileged​​ weekend​​ trip. At the​​ limit​​ of the forest, on the edge of the city, many small glacial lakes (Lianvatnet, Haukvatnet, Hestsjøen ...) offer pleasant and easy walks or ice skating spots​​ in winter.

The nice thing to do to get to Bymarka is to take the​​ tram​​ that leaves from downtown and goes up to​​ Lian.

 

PRACTICAL POINT​​ - Bymarka

Address: on the west side of the city, on the edge of the Byåsen district

Transport: take the tram 'Gråkallbanen' for Lian! (from St Olavs gate)

Recommendation: not to be missed!

Price: free

Price​​ tram: child 25NOK, adult 50NOK

Website:​​ http://www.graakallbanen.no/

 

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Bymarka

 

 

Pirbadet​​ swimming pool

 

It is the only big pool in town. It is a large aquatic center that offers different pools, from the swimming pool to the​​ children​​ pool, to the current or wave pool, and to the jacuzzis. Different slides are also available. The originality of the center is due to the warm water pool which offers a panoramic view of the Trondheim fjord through an impressive glass surface directly overlooking the fjord. 'Jacuzzi' beds allow you to lie down and admire the snow falling on the fjord in winter. Quite unique experience! With children, it will be a guaranteed success! on the other hand, it remains​​ of​​ a substantial budget ...​​ It is​​ VERY EXPENSIVE!​​ We live in the area​​ and​​ only rarely go ...​​ a​​ pity!

 

PRACTICAL POINT​​ - Pirbadet

Address: on the harbor, Havnegata 12, 7010 Trondheim

Transport: 10 min walk from Central Station

Recommendation: to do ... but very expensive!

Price: child 0-2yrs: 60NOK, child 3-9years: 115NOK,​​ child 10-15 years: 150NOK, adult: 175NOK

Opening​​ hours: 06: 30-10: 00-18: 00/20: 00 depending on the day

Site:​​ https://www.pirbadet.no/

 

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Pirbadet

 

 

Other

 

There are many other small activities to do​​ when in Trondheim,​​ depending​​ on​​ your desires, means, time ...

- for families with children, an absolutely amazing 'indoor' playroom: Leo's Lekeland​​ https://www.leoslekeland.no/?city=trondheim

- an indoor climbing room:​​ http://trondheim-klatresenter.no/

- cinemas:​​ http://www.trondheimkino.no/

 

Around Trondheim?

So yes, Trondheim is a nice city with quite a lot to do culturally. On the other hand, the main interest of Norway lies not in its cities, but in its landscapes! then, if you are passing through the Trondheim area and if you can, do not hesitate to get out of the city! Explore the surroundings! the fields bordered by pink flowers in summer, the pristine snow of the great open spaces in winter, the fjords, the forests ... with a little luck you will meet​​ moose​​ and reindeer!

The website of the city of Trondheim lists a series of walks to be made on Trondheim and its nearest region:​​ https://www.trondheim.no/tur

But especially: check out our pages on Norway 😉

 

 

 

ACCOMMODATION

 

 

This category is quite complicated for us​​ given​​ that ... we live in Trondheim, so we do not really have any experience to​​ propose​​ about the available accommodations!

What we can say is that in general hotel rooms are​​ very​​ expensive in Norway. A minimum of 1000 NOK per night is the rule. What is a substantial budget. But the quality is there. For smaller budgets, it is probably better to test what AirBnB platform​​ offer. There are campsites, but they are all off-center and will require​​ transportation.​​ In any case, we recommend you to find accommodation in the city center. This will greatly facilitate your discovery of the city and will place you close to transport to all sights.

 

 

 

Restaurants​​ WITH​​ glutenFREE OPTIONS

 

 

What is exceptional about Norway is that information on allergies in general and on celiac disease in particular is excellent. Most people know about the disease and know what it is (I had never heard of it before I was confronted with it!). As a result, most restaurants and cafes (see all?)​​ have menus​​ with​​ allergens​​ listed in detail. Either it is done in the normal menu, or in a separate menu that you just have to ask at your arrival. It's very easy. It greatly facilitates life. So yes, some restaurants will have​​ only​​ one gluten-free dish to offer, but​​ most of them offer several and​​ do not hesitate to ask: the waiters are generally very understanding and informed, and they will often offer you other options.

So, we do not really have a specific list of restaurants to give ...

 

One tip : keep in mind that Norway is expensive, especially for food, and that restaurants​​ usually have​​ excessive​​ prices. For example: the standard dish that is found on almost all menus is the hamburger (... well yes ...).​​ Be prepared​​ to pay easily in the 200-250​​ NOK for a simple burger ...yep...

The big chains of restaurants / fast foods found throughout the country are the international McDo and Burger King, and the local Egon, Pepe's Pizza and Jordbær. All offer specifically gluten-free dishes, or gluten-free versions of their main dishes (including hamburger and pizza). We have had the opportunity to test these several times and have never had a problem of cross contamination. Gluten-free protocols in the kitchens​​ seem to be respected.

 

 

 

IN SUMMARY

 

 

 

GLUTEN​​ FREE LOGISTICS

It's easy to live gluten-free in Norway: virtually every restaurant offers gluten-free options. And all the supermarkets, even the small supermarkets, have gluten-free rays. The leading brands sold in Norway are Schär, Semper and Toro, all offering breads, biscuits, pasta.

 

 

 

INTERNET​​ LINKS

The website of the city:​​ https://www.trondheim.no/

The general website of promotion of Norway:​​ https://www.visitnorway.en/

The site of the hiking association in Norway, branch Trondheim:​​ https://www.tt.no/

The​​ site of the bus company of Trondheim:​​ https://www.atb.no/

 

 

 

 

ACTIVITIES FOR 1 LONG WEEKEND IN TRONDHEIM

 

 

 

DAY 1.​​ 

stroll downtown, Midtbyrunden Tur

 

DAY 2.​​ 

Musical day with the Ringve and Rockheim museums: go to the Ringve first by bus, walk in the botanical garden and return to the city center along the coast by the Lade trail ('Ladestien'), you will fall on the Rockheim to the port!

 

DAY 3.​​ 

Take the tram from the city center to Lian and wander around Bymarka

 

DAY 4.​​ 

following the weather: Sverresborg museum and / or relaxing at the pool of Pirbadet 😉

 

 

 

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Tram direction Lian

 

 

 

FLICKR

 

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