The first capital of Norway
Trondheim was founded by the Viking king Olav Tryggvason in 997 BC, and occupies a special place in Norwegian culture and history. Trondheim was the nation's first capital, and continues to be the coronation city where many of Norway's kings from Harald Hårfagre (10 th century BC) to King Harald V (1991 - ) have been crowned or blessed.

In its history the city was and is now again a popular destination for pilgrimages. Trondheim is also an ecclesiastical centre, a regional capital, a centre for industry and commerce, and an important education and research centre.

The Nidaros Cathedral
The cathedral in Trondheim is the national sanctuary of Norway, built over the grave of St. Olav. Work began in 1070, but the oldest parts still in existence date from the middle of the 12th century. The building was completed around about 1300, but after being damaged several times by fire, it lay largely in ruins at the time of the Reformation in 1537. In 1869 extensive restorations were begun, and a century later it was again restored to its original grandeur.

For more information, opening hours etc., please visit nidarosdomen.no.

The Archbishop’s Palace
The Archbishop’s Palace in Trondheim is one of the best preserved building complexes of its kind in Europe. It is the oldest secular building in Scandinavia. Building began in the second half of the 12th century, and this was the archbishop’s residence until the Reformation in 1537.

The west wing houses the Crown Regalia Exhibition, the Army Museum and the Resistance Museum. The south wing houses the The Archbishop’s Palace museum. This museum shows original sculptures from Nidaros Cathedral and archaeological finds from its dramatic history. Visitors can see the Archbishop’s mint, where coins were stamped, just as it was found by archaeologists.

Ringve Museum
Ringve Museum is Norway’s national museum of music and musical instruments.

Ringve Museum houses two permanent exhibitions:
“The Museum in the Manor House” (open April - October) comprises the oldest section, and has been preserved as it looked when Ringve’s founder, Victoria Bachke, opened the museum in 1952. With their distinctive interiors, the rooms in this Swiss-style building provide an evocative setting for instruments from the European musical tradition.

“The Museum in the Barn” (open all year), is a new exhibition that opened in 1999, featuring modern sound and light technology.

Sverresborg - Trøndelag Folk Museum
A museum of cultural history around the ruins of King Sverre’s mediaeval castle. Large open-air museum with wooden buildings and scenes from Trondheim and Trøndelag. Beautiful indoor exhibitions: “Images of Life” – depicting life in the region in the last 150 years, and the theme theatre “The Trønder Bride”, ski museum, telecom museum etc. Many activities for children.

Old Town Bridge (in Norwegian Gamle Bybro or Bybroa bru is located in Trondheim (a city and municipality in the county of Sør-Trøndelag, Norway). Bybroa crosses the river Nid or Nidelva from the south end of Kjøpmannsgata to Bakklandet. Gamle bybro was constructed in 1681 in conjunction with Cicignon's city reconstruction and the construction of the Kristiansten Fortress.

The bridge location was of military-strategic significance and the king assumed the cost of construction. It was completed in 1685. The bridge was built in the vicinity of the Elgeseter Bridge, and when it was opened the older bridge was allowed to decay and collapse. Since then the Gamle Bybro has undergone many changes.

Originally the Gamle Bybro was constructed of wood, but the wood was supported on three stone piers. In the middle of the bridge an iron grill/gate was placed. This remained a guarded city gate until 1816. At each end of the bridge there was a toll and guard house. The access house on the west end still stands, but that on the east side was taken down in 1824.

The bridge was reconstructed in 1861 by the engineer Carl Adolf Dahl. Today Gamle Bybro is one of Trondheim's characteristic landmarks. It is also called "Lykkens portal" (The Gate of Happiness/Luck), after Oskar Hoddø's waltz "Nidelven stille og vakker du er".