Trondheim Self-Guided Walking Tour: Medieval History & Everyday Life
Trondheim is best explored on foot, and if you get the chance I highly recommend it over a bus tour. You can pass some historically important cities as well as modern wonders. For my Trondheim self-guided walking tour, I’ve mapped out a path that I like to take.
This walk is designed for those on Hurtigruten; it starts and ends at the pier. If you are travelling to Trondheim without Hurtigruten, you can still do this walk. However, I’m going to put together a separate walking path for non-Hurtigruten visitors because you get much more time to explore the city 🙂 For now, though, here’s the walk.
In this article...
The E6 Highway
Trondheim is located on the E6, Norway’s main highway. You can find my guide to the E6 by clicking the link below.
Norway's Coastal Ferry
Tromsø is a port of call of Norway’s coastal ferry. Find my guide for the coastal ferry by clicking the link below.
Downloadable Version of This Guide
We offer downloadable versions of our self-guided walks on our online store.
Online Guide
- Information about points of interest
- Images of each point of interest
- Historic overview of the neighbourhood
- Directions between points
- Historic photos
- Information about facilities along the way
Downloadable Guide
- Information about points of interest
- Images of each point of interest
- Historic overview of the region & towns
- Directions between points
- Historic photos
- Facilities including supermarkets, toilets, petrol, hotels, cafes, restaurants with addresses.
- Link to an online map to load into your phone
The walk: Trondheim
Pirsenteret
Pirsenteret is part of the new development this part of Trondheim is seeing. It has historically been a major industrial area with shipping ports and rail connections, but since the late 1990s, there has been an urban renewal program. Pirsenteret is a modern school, shopping & office complex.
Rockheim
Rockheim is Norway’s national museum for popular music and it also includes the Rock Hall of Fame for established Norwegian bands, the most internationally famous being A-Ha.
Trondheim Central Station
A railway station was first built in Trondheim in 1864, and in 1877 a new station (the one we see today) was built to serve the Meråker Line to Sweden, which has since become the Nordland Line to Bodø. The older building is the Nordland Line, whereas the newer post-modernist building was built in 1921 for the Dovre Line, which connects Trondheim to Oslo. Today Vy serves the station with express trains to Oslo and Bodø, regional trains to Røros and Ostersund in Sweden, and the local Trøndelag commuter rail.
The Last Viking Statue
This statue is to reflect on the fishing traditions that have existed in the area for the centuries. The name comes from a popular book with the same name, written by Johan Bojer. The quote says: “In winter, they would sail 500 nautical miles to Lofoten in their open boats. Perhaps it was only the hint of profit that lured them, but perhaps it was also because of the open sea, they were free men.”
The statue is situated next to Ravnkloa, which has been a Trondheim port and fish market for centuries, though it was first mentioned in history in 1619. You can see the modern fish market, built in the early 2000s, just behind the statue.
Stiftsgården
Stiftsgården is a true highlight of Trondheim; this massive timber building has a fascinating history. It was built between the years 1774-1778 for Cecilie Christine Schøller (1720-1786), who was a wealthy widow of a merchant who had passed away in 1769. She was looking for a private townhouse to settle down in, so she had this 140-room or 4,000m2 (43,000ft2) house built for just her. When the house was finished, she barely used it as she travelled abroad often. When Cecilie passed away in Copenhagen in 1786, the house had been rented by her son-in-law, General Georg Frederik von Krogh (1732-1818), and his son inherited the building. Stiftsgården was sold to the state in 1800 for 10,000 rigsdaler (about 26,427 NOK today) and went through various functions, serving as the house for the Governor, the law courts, and a residence for the visiting Danish Royal Family.
When Norway became part of Sweden in 1814, the house was used for the coronation of King Carl Johan III (1818). It became the royal residence for the Swedish monarchy, and all Swedish Kings were coronated here. After Norway gained her independence in 1905, it officially became the royal residence of Trondheim, and King Haakon VII and Queen Maud (1906) were coronated here. Each Norwegian king has since had a benediction in Trondheim (as they are now a purely representative figurehead), and the procession has always started from Stiftsgården before reaching Nidaros Cathedral.
The exterior of the building is very much in its original form, but the interior has changed extensively. The garden was separated as a public park in 1906, and that’s our next stop.
Stiftsgården Park
Inside the park, you’ll get a lovely view of Stiftsgården, and you’ll also see a statue of Olav V looking out to the palace. Olav V was always seen as the people’s king, and he was very popular in Trondheim. The statue was placed here in 1997 as part of Trondheim’s 1000-year birthday celebrations.
Torvet
The square was designed as part of Cicignon’s town plan of 1681, and before it was laid out the area was a known market square. Torvet has just undergone a major renovation, and nearby archaeological digs have uncovered the original market square. Trust me, the last few years have been terrible at Torvet: construction, congestion and the statue was hard to see. Since 2003, Torvet has been home to Trondheim’s annual Christmas market. The statue is of Olav Tryggvason (Olav I) and it was placed here in 1921. He is 3.5m high and stands on a pedestal that’s 14.5m high. In his left hand is a communion chalice and in his right hand is a sword. At his feet is the head of the god Thor, which symbolises the King’s victory over the pagans. Poor Thor.
Church of Our Lady
Vår Frue Kirke is the third-largest preserved Middle Age church in Norway and first built in the late 1100s. It’s believed that the first version of this church may have been built by King Harald Hardråde (1015-1066) as his saga mentions him building a church near Nidaros Cathedral in 1060. The church has been rebuilt and expanded multiple times due to fires, and got its current appearance in the 19th century, though the tower was built in the early 18th century.
In 2004, the church was included in the Directorate of Cultural Heritage’s list of 12 churches of national significance. Today Vår Frue Kirke functions as a missionary church, serving lunch to those in need.
Trondheim Courthouse
Trondheim Courthouse was completed in 1951, though construction began before the Second World War. The foundation stone was laid by cabinet minister Trygve Lie, who later became the UN General Secretary. In 2003, the courthouse was merged with other municipalities to become the Sør-Trøndelag District Court (South Trøndelag). The judicial duties of this court are mainly to settle criminal cases and resolve civil litigation. The administrative tasks include death registration, certificate issuing, performing duties of a notary public, and officiating civil wedding ceremonies.
Trondheim Cathedral School
Trondheim Cathedral School is the oldest school in Norway, founded in 1152 as ‘Scholae Cathedralis Nidrosiensis’. It has been in at least five different locations since its founding and moved to its present building in 1786. The school was further expanded in 1960.
Across the street is the National Museum of Decorative Arts, which opened in 1986 and exhibits textiles, glass, silverwork, costumes, furniture and ceramics from all over Europe.
Military Buildings
The Non-Commissioned Officers Academy (Munkegata 6)
This building was built in 1812-1814 for the Engineer Corps as a depot and was also used as a training college for non-commissioned officers. From 1930 it served as the Officers Academy, which moved in 1975.
The Exercise House (Munkegata 4)
The exercise house was built in 1806 as a gym and training centre for soldiers in Trondheim. The gymnasium was 350m2.
The Military Bakery (Munkegata 2)
The military bakery was built between 1808 and 1810. It served as a bakery for the military until 1870, after which it became a cobbler and tailors workshop.
Trondheim City Hall
Trondheim City Hall was originally built as the Technical College in 1895, but in 1929 it became the City Hall.
Nidaros Cathedral
The iconic Nidaros Cathedral is the northernmost medieval cathedral in the world and is Norway’s national sanctuary.
Nidaros Cathedral is worthy of its own page, which will come soon.
Archbishop's Residence
The Archbishops Palace was originally constructed in 1152 when the Episcopal seat was founded. The stone building we can see now dates back to around 1500. The building served as the residence of the Archbishop until the Reformation when the Danish King confiscated the building and renamed it Kongsgården. During the Danish union, the feudal overlords were based here, and from the end of the 1600s, it was used as a military depot with an arsenal and textile store for the northern troops.
Today the Archbishop’s Palace is a museum that displays the foundations uncovered during archaeological excavations as well as the statues from Nidaros Cathedral that were recovered in the 19th century. It’s a fascinating museum but sadly there isn’t enough time to visit it during the Hurtigruten stay. Just an excuse to come back to Trondheim!
Pilgrims Route
The 640km (400 miles) journey begins in Oslo’s Old Town and continues north along Lake Mjøsa, up the Gudbrandsdalen valley, over the Dovrefjell mountain range, down the Oppdal valley, and then finishes in front of Nidaros Cathedral. Once you arrive at Nidaros, the nearby Pilgrims Centre (which is located where you are currently standing) has a certificate for you. You have to “sign-in” to special places along the way and collect stamps in your “Pilgrims Passport”.
The route can be traced back to the Iron Age when it was used as a highway for merchants and travellers. Around 700 Viking-era grave mounds have been discovered in the Oppdal valley, indicating that it was also used by the Vikings. The road was used for hundreds of years, and many settlements along the way developed as places for the travellers to rest and get food. In the mountains, special houses (fjellstue) were built for travellers to seek shelter. It served as a road until the railway line Rørosbanen opened on the 13th of October 1877, connecting Hamar and Trondheim via Elverum and Røros, and then the Dovre Line connected Oslo to Trondheim in 1921. The thought of crossing mountains suddenly lost its appeal and the train sounded much more comfortable, so travel along the road died out.
Today people still use the Pilgrims Route and it even has a website where you can find sections of the route to complete and tourist attractions along the way. Very few people complete the entire journey, but some parts of it are very popular.
Gamle Bybro
The bridge was originally built in 1681 to provide better access to the Kristiansten Fortress. It had a toll booth and a guardhouse with guards at each end – the western guardhouse remains today and is the red concrete building you just passed. Today it’s a kindergarten!
The archway on the bridge is known as the ‘gateway to happiness’. The warehouses date back to the olden times when extensive trade took place here. In the time of King Sverre (1177-1202), the quays were used as defence barriers. The River Nid runs through Trondheim. It is the northern part of the 153km-long watercourse that has its source in Nesjon in Sweden (950m above sea level). Hydroelectric plants along the river produce electricity to Trondheim and the surrounding areas. The river has been used for industrial purposes since the Middle Ages.
Trampe
This is the only bicycle lift in the world. It was installed in 1993 and has a length of 130m, a height of 24m and a gradient that varies from 1:11 to 1:5. The speed is 2m per second and the lift has a capacity of 288 cyclists per hour, with a maximum of 5 cyclists simultaneously. To use it, you stay on your bike and put your right foot over the silver beam. When you press the button, the beam starts pushing you up the hill, and a little footrest will take you to the top.
Bakklandet
Bakklandet is an authentic look into old Trondheim. Technically the first suburb of the city, Bakklandet was built up throughout the 17th century as a poor area where seamen, fishermen and manual workers lived in small wooden houses. It was not part of the town plan of 1681, so it developed naturally and not in a grid pattern. Also, as Bakklandet was not part of Trondheim, it was able to continue building in wood. Bakklandet was incorporated into Trondheim in 1847.
Bakklandet has historically been an industrial area, and from the Middle Ages, a brick factory was located along the river. Today the company is known as “Trondhjems Aktieteglverk”, and brick from Bakklandet had a reputation for high quality. The area was also key for boat building, and from the 1600s boats were being repaired here. Bakklandet has been the victim of the Swedish raids as well as redevelopment. During the siege in 1658, Swedish troops burned down the area, and in 1718 Bakklandet was destroyed by the Norwegian side in an attempt to defend the city. The area was in decline for most of the 20th century and it was anticipated that it would be condemned and demolished, with a highway to be built over it. However, the locals complained and in 1983 a decision was made to preserve the historic houses.
Today Bakklandet is one of the most charming areas in Trondheim and has many well-cared for (now very expensive!) houses and distinctive cafes. By following Nedre Bakklandet, you’ll get a taste of this lovely picturesque area.
Seafarers Museum
Trondheim Seafarers Museum contains exhibitions around fishing and trading in Trondheim throughout history until the present day, but this wasn’t always the function fo the building. it was originally a defensive structure, and around 1725 a Corps de Garde with a slavery was erected. The current building was built in 1784 after the slavery was moved to Skansen. A slavery was a building where hard punishment was carried out by criminal prisoners. They were common in the 18th century and abolished in the 19th century. This one was one of the last ones standing, lasting until 1885.
Leif Ericson Monument
This statue was given as a gift to the city in connection with the millennium celebrations in 1997. the statue is dedicated to the many thousands of emigrants who left for America in the 19th/20th centuries. The statue is an exact copy of the original that stands in Seattle.
Leif Ericson was a Norse explorer from Iceland (his parents settled there from Norway) who is believed to be the first European to set foot on continental North America, before Christopher Columbus. He attempted to establish a Norse settlement at Vinland, considered today to be the northern tip of Newfoundland in Canada.
The E6 Highway
Trondheim is located on the E6, Norway’s main highway. You can find my guide to the E6 by clicking the link below.
Norway's Coastal Ferry
Tromsø is a port of call of Norway’s coastal ferry. Find my guide for the coastal ferry by clicking the link below.
