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Norway: The Royal Palace The great ball room at the Palace Henrik Ibsen, the dramatic poet, in his home at Christiania The old Church of Gol, a quaint twelfth century church reconstructed in the royal park at Osoarshal The Oscarshal royal gardens and Christiania from the chateau The old fortress of Frederikssten at Frederikshald Village church and homes of Kongsberg beside the bridge-spanned rapids of the Laagen Victoria Hotel, adorned with reindeer antlers Country girls in haying time—out-look over Bolkesjo and Folsjo to the Himingen Mountains Waiting for passengers on the road near Bolkesjo—peak of Mt. Gausta over height at left More Articles About Norway |
( Originally Published 1907 ) The Oscarshal royal gardens and Christiania from the chateau Direction—A little north of east. Surroundings—The park where the old Church of Gol and other buildings are scattered about among the trees. The tower on which we stand is not in itself very tall, but, perched on this hill, it places us at an impressive height above those harbor waters. The most popular way of approach from town is by boat, from that landing just opposite across to the white-towered gate-house down at the end of the winding path. Those who prefer to ride or walk take a road a little farther to the north (left) than we can see at this moment. The district that we see straight ahead across the harbor contains some of the best residences in town. At the extreme right we see the rear of the royal palace, easily recognizable with its long, level roof—Karl Johan Street, the Parliament House and the business districts are, of course, still farther toward the east (right). Up among the suburban hills at the left is the favorite place for sledge-coasting and ski-jumping in winter. Tweedie's Winter Jaunt in Norway tells all about the fun and excitement of Christiania's midwinter athletic contests. Between thirty and forty miles from here, straight ahead beyond those hills, lies the frontier of Sweden, whose territory stretches between us and the Baltic. It will be interesting, as we go farther west and north, to see how the character of Norway changes, becoming more and more elevated, broken and magnificent in point of scenic effect. Though we find hills here pleasantly diversifying the landscape, this southern district is low and level in comparison with the ragged highlands of the Atlantic coast which we are presently to visit. Several times during the past four centuries Nor-way has had difficulties with her Swedish neighbors over the border. About eighty miles southeast of Christiania is a place we ought to see, so celebrated is it in history, song and story. Turn now from the map of Christiania back to Map 2, which shows all southern Norway. Our thirteenth position is marked on the map at Frederikshald, southeast of the capital, close by the Swedish frontier. |