Visit the cathedral that stands over the gravesite of St. Olav, Norway's patron saint, whose reputation shone far beyond the borders of his country.
Formally known as Nidaros, Trondheim was also the religious centre of Norway in its time. It is in this city that Norway's national sanctuary, the Nidaros Cathedral (Nidarosdomen), stands over the gravesite of St. Olav, Norway's patron saint, whose reputation shone far beyond the borders of his country.
According to folklore, King Olav Haraldsson was buried at the Battle of Stiklestad in sandy ground near the river. After the body was moved to the town church, a spring appeared near his original gravesite that was alleged to hold miraculous healing powers. King Olav was ultimately declared a saint and martyr, and the grand cathedral was built around 1070 on the site where the king’s body had lain.
For centuries, pilgrims have flocked to the cathedral from across Europe and today it stands as an icon of religious and cultural importance. Ravaged by fire on several occasions, the church was rebuilt each time and the oldest parts remaining are from the 12th century. Several kings and queens have been coroneted here and the crown jewels are on display in a side chapel.
Next to the cathedral is the Archbishop’s Palace (Erkebispegården), the oldest such building in Scandinavia. Here you will find artefacts from the palace, which was built in the 12th century, along with statues and even firearms from the period when the palace doubled as an armoury.
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