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TRONDHEIM
The iconic photo of Trondheim
The 'Midtbyrunden tur' : tour of sentrum
RESTAURANTS WITH glutenFREE OPTIONS
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'.
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.
The king's house in Trondheim...that changes from Versailles no?!
Cathedral Nidaros
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
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/
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/
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/
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/
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/
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/
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 😉
Tram direction Lian
FLICKR