Trondheim
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Trondheim was founded by King Olav Tryggvason of Viking fame in 997 and was the first capital of Norway.  It is situated by the Trondheim fjord, with the Nidelva river winding through the town.

Probably the most spectacular feature of Trondheim is the Nidaros Cathedral.  This is Scandinavia’s largest medieval building, with construction beginning in 1070. It is mainly Gothic, but the oldest parts around the nave are in the Roman style.  Beside it is the Erkebispegården, the Archbishop’s Palace which is the oldest secular building in Scandinavia.  Work on it started in the 12th century, and it was the Archbishop’s residence until the Reformation in 1537.  From 1566 it was the residence of Danish governors.  Later, in about 1700, it was taken over by the military authorities.  It now contains a fascinating museum on the history of the cathedral and the adjoining buildings.

The following pictures show the exterior of the cathedral.  Photography is not permitted inside.  The gargoyle is actually located near the top of the central tower - it took a lot of climbing up very narrow spiral steps to get that photograph ...

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Below is a couple of shots of the wharves along the Nid river.  The oldest of these date back to the 18th century.

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Kristiansten fort was built in 1681-84 after the great city fire in 1681.  From its strategic high ground the fort played an important role in repelling invading Swedish forces in 1718.  It's a fairly steep climb from the city center up to the fort, but the museum and the views at the top are worth it.

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