There is evidence that primitive hunters lived in some areas on the northern and northwestern coast of Norway shortly after the retreat of the ice sheet edge. However, the naturalistic drawings on the walls of the caves along the west coast were created much later. Agriculture spread slowly in Norway after 3000 BC. During the Roman Empire, the inhabitants of Norway had contact with the Gauls, runic writing (used from the 3rd to 13th centuries AD by Germanic tribes, especially Scandinavians and Anglo-Saxons for inscriptions on tombstones, as well as for magic spells), and the process of settlement territory of Norway was carried out at a rapid pace. From 400 AD the population was replenished by migrants from the south, who paved the "way to the north" (Nordwegr, from where the name of the country - Norway) came from. At that time, in order to organize local self-defense, the first tiny kingdoms were created. In particular, the Ynglings, a branch of the first Swedish royal family, founded one of the oldest feudal states west of the Oslo Fjord.
Around 900, Harald Fairhair (son of Halfdan the Black, a minor ruler of the Yngling family) managed to establish a larger kingdom, defeating other petty feudal lords at the Battle of Hafsfjord together with Jarl Hladir of Trønnelag. Having been defeated and having lost their independence, dissatisfied feudal lords took part in the campaigns of the Vikings. Due to population growth on the coast, some inhabitants were forced into inland marginal areas, while others began to make pirate raids, trade, or settled in overseas countries.
The sparsely populated islands of Scotland were probably settled by people from Norway long before the first documented Viking campaign in England in 793 AD. Over the next two centuries, the Norwegian Vikings were actively engaged in plundering foreign lands. They conquered possessions in Ireland, Scotland, northeast England and northern France, and also colonized the Faroe Islands, Iceland and even Greenland. In addition to ships, the Vikings had iron tools and were skilled woodcarvers. Once in overseas countries, the Vikings settled there and developed trade. In Norway itself, even before the creation of cities (they arose only in the 11th century), markets arose on the coasts of the fjords.
The state, left as a legacy by Harald the Fair-Haired, was the subject of fierce disputes between pretenders to the throne for 80 years. Kings and jarls, pagan and Christian Vikings, Norwegians and Danes staged a bloody showdown. Olaf (Olav) II (c. 1016–1028), a descendant of Harald, managed to unite Norway for a short time and introduce Christianity. He was killed at the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030 by rebellious chieftains (hövdings) who made an alliance with Denmark. After his death, Olaf was almost immediately canonized and canonized in 1154. A cathedral was erected in his honor in Trondheim, and after a short period of Danish rule (1028–1035), the throne was returned to his family.
The first Christian missionaries in Norway were predominantly English; Abbots of English monasteries became owners of large estates. Only the carved decorations of the new wooden churches (dragons and other pagan symbols) were reminiscent of the Viking Age. Harald the Severe was the last Norwegian king to lay claim to power in England (where he died in 1066), and his grandson Magnus III Barefoot was the last king to lay claim to power in Ireland. In 1170, by decree of the pope, an archbishopric was created in Trondheim with five vicar bishoprics in Norway and six in the western islands, in Iceland and Greenland. Norway became the spiritual center of a vast territory in the North Atlantic.
Although the Catholic Church wanted the throne to pass to the king's eldest legitimate son, this succession was often broken. The most famous impostor Sverre from the Faroe Islands, who seized the throne despite being excommunicated. During the long reign of Haakon IV (1217–1263), civil wars died down and Norway entered a short-lived "heyday". At this time, the creation of a centralized government of the country was completed: a royal council was established, the king appointed regional governors and judicial officials. Although the regional legislative assembly (ting) inherited from the past still remained, in 1274 a national code of laws was adopted. The power of the Norwegian king was first recognized by Iceland and Greenland, and it was more firmly established than before in the Faroe, Shetland and Orkney Islands. Other Norwegian possessions in Scotland were formally returned in 1266 to the Scottish king. At that time, overseas trade flourished, and Haakon IV, whose residence was in the center of trade - Bergen, concluded the very first known trade agreement with the king of England.
The 13th century was the last period of independence and greatness in the early history of Norway. During this century, Norwegian sagas were collected, telling about the past of the country. In Iceland, Snorri Sturluson recorded Heimskringlu and Younger Edda, and Snorri's nephew, Sturla Thordsson - The Saga of the Icelanders, saga about sturlings and The saga of Haakon Haakonsson which are considered the earliest works of Scandinavian literature.
The decline of the role of the Norwegian merchants was outlined approx. 1250, when the Hanseatic League (which united the trading centers of northern Germany) established its office in Bergen. His agents imported grain from the Baltic countries in exchange for Norway's traditional export of dried cod. The aristocracy died out during the plague that struck the country in 1349 and carried almost half of the entire population to the grave. Huge damage was done to dairy farming, which formed the basis of Agriculture on many estates. Against this background, Norway had become the weakest of the Scandinavian monarchies by the time that, due to the extinction of the royal dynasties, Denmark, Sweden and Norway were united in accordance with the Kalmar Union of 1397.
Sweden withdrew from the union in 1523, but Norway was increasingly seen as an appendage of the Danish crown, which ceded Orkney and Shetland to Scotland. Relations with Denmark escalated at the beginning of the Reformation, when the last Catholic archbishop of Trondheim unsuccessfully tried to oppose the introduction of a new religion in 1536. Lutheranism spread north to Bergen, the center of activity of German merchants, and then to the more northern regions of the country. Norway received the status of a Danish province, which was governed directly from Copenhagen and was forced to adopt the Lutheran Danish liturgy and the Bible.
Until the middle of the 17th century. there were no outstanding politicians and artists in Norway, and until 1643 few books were published. The Danish king Christian IV (1588–1648) took a keen interest in Norway. He encouraged the mining of silver, copper, and iron, and fortified the frontier in the far north. He also established a small Norwegian army and promoted the recruitment of conscripts in Norway and the construction of ships for navy Denmark. Nevertheless, due to participation in the wars waged by Denmark, Norway was forced to permanently cede three border districts to Sweden. Around 1550, the first sawmills appeared in Norway, which contributed to the development of timber trade with Dutch and other foreign customers. Logs were floated along the rivers to the coast, where they were sawn and loaded onto ships. The revival of economic activity contributed to the growth of the population, which in 1660 amounted to approx. 450 thousand people against 400 thousand in 1350.
After the establishment of absolutism in 1661, Denmark and Norway began to be considered "twin kingdoms"; thus, their equality was formally recognized. In the code of laws of Christian IV (1670-1699), which had a great influence on Danish law, the serf relations that existed in Denmark did not extend to Norway, where the number of free landowners was growing rapidly. The civil, ecclesiastical and military officials who ruled Norway spoke Danish, were trained in Denmark and carried out the politics of that country, but often belonged to families that had lived in Norway for several generations. The policy of mercantilism of that time led to the concentration of trade in cities. There, before immigrants from Germany, the Netherlands, Great Britain and Denmark, new opportunities opened up and a class of merchant bourgeoisie developed, replacing the local nobility and Hanseatic associations(The last of these associations lost its privileges at the end of the 16th century).
In the 18th century timber was sold mainly to the UK and often transported on Norwegian ships. Fish was exported from Bergen and other ports. Norwegian trade especially prospered during wars between the great powers. In an environment of increasing prosperity in the cities, the prerequisites were created for the establishment of a national Norwegian bank and a university. Despite episodic protests against excessive taxes or illegal actions of government officials, in general, the peasantry passively took a loyal position in relation to the king, who lived in distant Copenhagen.
The ideas of the French Revolution had some influence on Norway, which, moreover, was greatly enriched by the expansion of trade during Napoleonic Wars. In 1807, the British subjected Copenhagen to severe shelling and took the Danish-Norwegian fleet to England so that Napoleon would not get it. The blockade of Norway by English warships caused great damage, and the Danish king was forced to establish a provisional administration - government commission. After the defeat of Napoleon, Denmark was forced to cede Norway to the Swedish king (according to the Kiel Peace Treaty, 1814).
The first settlers in the territory Norway appeared, perhaps, 10.000 -11.000 thousand years ago. People settled mainly along the sea, which fed them. In addition, they were engaged in hunting. Approximately five thousand years later, the ancestors of the Norwegians were already engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding. However, in the north Norway, as before, only hunting and fishing gave life to people. Norwegian villages were usually located in such a way as to reveal their presence as little as possible (the Norwegians have a joke about this that the best neighbor is the one who is not visible). For some time, these small groups lived like this: independently of each other and of the whole world. Beautiful, but cold nature (and at that time it was even colder here) made it difficult for a person to survive in the territory of the present Norway. Gradually, agriculture developed, settlements acquired a sustainable character. In the fourth century A.D. e. in Norway some Germanic tribes appear (rugii, chords). Perhaps the invasion of these foreigners led to the beginning of the Viking Age? Be that as it may, by the 700th year all the lands were explored, inequality was strengthened, and society was divided into masters and servants. Neighborly enmity was forgotten, the rooks were built and fury was at a boiling point. The Vikings were ready to conquer Europe, conquer Britain, found Russia (or were the Swedes involved in this?) and discover America.
Three Norwegian ships sailed for England. The Vikings, in their usual manner, killed the representative of the king, who went to them. This was the first mention in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of a Viking invasion. The next attack on June 8, 793, was made on one of the monasteries, which then existed on the territory of present-day Britain, the kingdom of Northumbria. The Vikings attacked the defenseless nuns and monks, killed some, slaughtered their cattle, loading their ships with provisions... The Viking saga began...
Initially, they settled in Shetland and Orkney. From there they headed north to the Faroe Islands and south to Northern Scotland. By 820, the entire Irish coastline was inhabited by the Vikings. Anyone who got in their way was unceremoniously kicked out. Even now, there are about 100,000 places with Norwegian names in Shetland! And the farmers here spoke Norwegian until the early 19th century!
Voyages of conquest continued in the south, along the rivers of France, in Spain, in the Mediterranean. In France and Southern Europe the Norwegian Vikings operated alongside the Danes, while in Constantinople they met the Swedes. Moreover, the Norwegians in their campaigns landed even in East Africa, on the territory of present-day Morocco! By the end of the 9th century, the Vikings kept all of Europe at bay. By this time, the attacks themselves had grown from scattered sorties into organized, well-planned campaigns. large detachments. The Vikings combined their conquests with trade in everything (including slaves) that they managed to carry away from the occupied territories. Around the same time, a transition is planned from robbery and tribute collection to the settlement of conquered lands. In Northern France, the Vikings establish the Duchy of Normandy.
It is the Norwegians who populate Iceland and Greenland. Reaching America...
It is reliably established that the first Norwegian to set foot on the American coast was Life Eriksson (although in reality the man who first discovered America was called Bjarne Herolfsson, but he did not bother to go ashore!). According to the Norwegian saga, Life Eriksson, the discoverer of a new continent, actually intended to sail to Greenland (which was discovered, by the way, by his father, Eric the Red), but ended up in America. This is how it sometimes happens historical events!
The Viking Age lasted until around 1050. She had the strongest influence on: the kingdom of Dublin, settlements in the Shetland Islands, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Orkney County, and Greenland. As mentioned above, around 1050 the Viking campaigns stopped. Some scholars argue about the reasons that prompted the Vikings to so suddenly abandon the "noble" cause in which they had been doing nothing less than 250 years. As a joke version, you can put forward the idea that when the Norwegians got to the southern territories, they (given the difference in climate) were exposed to the sun, and they simply began to get a sun tan. They didn’t like the darkening of their skin at all, which prompted them to return ... In contrast to the reasons that prompted the Vikings to retreat, the reasons why the Norwegians initiated the conquests are more or less known: the strengthening of the nobility, for whom military booty served as an important source of enrichment, relative overpopulation coastal areas, the lack of land suitable for cultivation, the development of trade ...
What good can be said about the Vikings in custody? Were they only barbarians, versed only in murder, ruin and violence? Of course not! Do not forget about their fair laws, active trade, the art of shipbuilding, the most beautiful ornaments ... about the mythology that they left as a legacy to their descendants ...
The time when Norway began to take shape united state, is considered 9-10 centuries. Around 900, King Harald the Fair-Haired (Harald Herfagre), subjugated the rulers of other areas and became the first supreme ruler Norway. Around the same time, the Christianization of Norway began (in fact, it was the instrument with which attempts were made to unite the country). It must be said that both of these processes were rather slow and met with the resistance of the people. The Norwegian kings were opposed by the nobility and the peasants, who were on their own minds, and defended their patriarchal democratic orders. With regard to this country, it is fair to say that it was baptized with fire and sword. Those who did not agree with the new order were either made slaves or simply destroyed. A vivid example is King Olaf Haraldson, who paid with his life for excessive efforts. This, however, did not prevent him from receiving the status of a saint after his death. Moreover - the day of July 29 is immortalized in his honor.
As a result of the struggle, the church was endowed with large land holdings, while the lands were distributed to the peasants on a short-term basis. Thus, the peasantry of that time had a contradictory position: they had personal freedom, the right to participate in local peasant meetings (tingas), to bear arms, but at the same time their position was rather precarious: the peasants were not endowed with strong rights to land, they carried heavy state duties. This situation was the cause of discord. The most serious attempt to change the situation was the uprising of 1184, as a result of which the impostor Sverrir came to the throne. However, he failed to do anything drastic. Sverrier abolished the privileges of the church, tried to make the church dependent on royalty. However, the followers of Sverrir reconciled with the church, and the struggle ceased.
Gradually, feudalism Norway got stronger Things, from organs local government turned into bodies controlled by the king, a nationwide code was adopted - the Land of Words, in 1262-1264 to Norway the Orkney and Shetland Islands, Greenland, Iceland departed, were subordinated to the Saami.
However, not rich in terms of natural resources, the country lived for quite a long time on subsistence farming, cities and trade remained undeveloped, which contributed to the strengthening of the Hanseatic merchants. On top of all the troubles, in 1347-1350. An epidemic of plague struck Norway, killing a significant part of the population. Perhaps no country was hit harder by the Black Death than Norway.
These circumstances led to the conclusion of a union with Sweden in 1319, with Denmark in 1380, and in 1397 - the Kalmar Union of the Scandinavian kingdoms. Dependence on Denmark persisted until the 19th century (while Sweden left the union in 1523). In the 16th century Norway was completely turned into a Danish province, as a result of which the Danish king began to own half of all Norwegian lands. Over this time Norway lost Orkney and Shetland, Iceland and Greenland. From the very beginning of the union, and further, over time, the struggle for independence grew in the country. This was facilitated by the national identity of the Norwegians, the economic rise of the state. As a result of popular resistance, the Danes were forced to make some concessions. By the 19th century, in Norway, 75% of the peasants were landowners, the export of timber, fish, and iron was steadily growing. But in general, Norway remained a poor state. Its relative prosperity was due to the fact that the Danish-Norwegian kingdom remained neutral in European wars, until 1807. However, the Anglo-Danish War of 1807-1814 followed, and in Norway hunger began.
Under these conditions, the Norwegian kingdom was freed from the Danish yoke, and obliged to enter into a union with Sweden. In these extraordinary circumstances, the Constituent Assembly was assembled in the country, which on May 17, 1814 adopted the basic law of the country. This constitution is valid for Norway and to this day, being one of the oldest in the world! The Norwegian Basic Law is also called the Eidsvoll Constitution, after the name of the place where the Constituent Assembly met (Eidsvoll is located in the south of the country, not far from the capital). For that time, the constitution contained advanced ideas and provisions. She established a parliamentary monarchy in the country. The head of the kingdom was proclaimed by the king, who had the right of suspensive veto.
In honor of acceptance into Norway constitution, the most important Norwegian National holiday- Constitution Day, celebrated on May 17. However, the Norwegians failed to gain independence in the 19th century, since in the summer of 1814 a war broke out with Sweden, which forced Norway yield and remain in union with his "elder brother" for almost a hundred more years. Relations between Norway and Sweden were fixed by a special law, according to which Norway gained internal independence. It is for the next period of time that the beginning of active political life Norwegian society. In 1884, the country's two leading political parties took shape: the left, Venstre, and the right, Höyre. Then in Norway formed a parliamentary system. In 1898, during the elections to the Storting, the rule begins to operate - one person - one vote. In 1913, women were allowed to vote.
The desire with which the Norwegians desired independence found an outlet in everything. In law, for example, Norway was the first Scandinavian country to adopt a penal code in 1842. With this and more, the people Norway I tried to show my independence. At the same time, the international prestige of the country grew, which was facilitated by activities. R. Amundsen, F. Nansen, G. Ibsen, And so, in June 1905, the Storting unanimously terminates the union with Sweden. In October 1905, a referendum was held to confirm this decision. Norway becomes an independent state...
At the beginning I-st world Norway declared its neutrality during the war. In 1920 she received the island of Svalbard. Then the world economic crisis broke out, which had a grave effect on the position of the Norwegian people. In the first three years, production levels have fallen by 25%, 30% of workers are losing their jobs, there are mass demonstrations interspersed with riots.
In foreign policy Norway adheres to the principle of non-intervention, and at the beginning of World War II declares its neutrality. However, this did not prevent Germany on April 9, 1940 from starting the landing of its troops on the territory Norway. Under these conditions, the government and the king moved to Britain. Most of the citizens of the country had nothing left to do but watch how their region was occupied by German soldiers - 10,000 thousandth forces of the German army, which, after five years, increase by 300,000 people. Naturally, some resistance was offered - from April to June, the Norwegian army lost about 850 people. All in all, it is considered that Norway lost 10,000 people. It seems to be not so much when compared with other countries. But for such a small country, this loss was a national catastrophe. In a society where everyone knows each other, the loss of a person is felt especially acutely and irreparably. In general, one cannot say that the Norwegians from the very first day of the occupation, all as one, stood up against German forces. Many simply did nothing, or at least did not do it in an organized manner. Some part of the population was not at all hostile to the aliens ... The reasons for this are different. Perhaps a positive role was played by the fact that the Germans in Norway there was no such catastrophic damage that was inflicted in other countries. Perhaps the fact that Norwegians and Germans are peoples a little similar in culture, language, views is also important ... And yet, speaking of "insignificant damage", one should not forget that the north of Norway suffered quite seriously. There, during the withdrawal of the German troops, 11,000 residential buildings, 420 shops, 53 hotels and inns, 106 schools, 21 hospitals, 27 churches and much more were destroyed ... One of the results of the invasion, by the way, was the fact that from the German fathers the Norwegians about 9,000 babies were born...
After the surrender of Germany, Norway a series of litigations followed and litigation, the main result of which was the punishment of 46,000 (!) Norwegians from the National Socialist Party (in 1948, an amnesty was declared against them). In addition, 12 Germans and 25 Norwegians were executed. Among the latter was Vid kun Quisling, the head of the Norwegian Nazis.
Talking about post-war development Norway, it is necessary to immediately note three dates: 1949 - joining NATO, December 23, 1969 - production of the first barrel of oil, September 22, 1972 - a negative answer in a referendum on the issue of entry Norway the weight. (in 1994 in a second referendum, on the same issue - the same decision)
Post-war development Norway characterized evolutionary development social and economic life of the country. Norwegians are moving from the formal "you" to the more familiar "you". Work week is gradually decreasing, vacations are increasing, along with inflation, wages are also growing. Foreign capital is actively penetrating the Norwegian economy. Finally, in the early 70s, oil is found in the country - a new era begins, an era of pent-up satisfaction from the successes that Norway especially in the economic sphere. From the most backward Scandinavian state, Norway, in the end, turns into the most prosperous ...
About 8,000,000 people live in Scandinavia, 8 times less than in Germany (which it exceeds by 1.5 times in space). The mass of the population is made up of Swedes and Norwegians - peoples related to the Danes and constituting with them one group of northern Germans. In the north, besides them, two other peoples of the yellow race live: the Lapps and the Finns, who together number only a few tens of thousands of people.
Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland.
What is Norwegian Cuisine? After all, even potatoes, which are considered a real Norwegian dish, were actually brought to Norway only 250 years ago. When a survey was conducted in Norway in 1994 regarding favorite dishes, it turned out that in all regions, kvitsoyballs (fish meatballs) ranked first, lefs came second, and the specialty of the Norwegian capital Oslo, lutefisk (dried cod soaked in lye). There is one long line in the history of Norwegian cuisine. It is closely connected with the gifts of nature: lake and sea fish, forest and mountain game, cereals, milk and meat. And, despite the influence of the "West and East", the cuisine has managed to maintain the dominance of traditional products and customs associated with their preparation. The Norwegian table is a wonderful sight: the food is served not "packed" in sauces and jellies, but in such a way that the natural taste of the products is emphasized as much as possible. In addition, ONLY Norwegian-made products are sold in the country, with the exception, of course, of exotic fruits. And now
Of the sea delicacies in Norway, of course, salmon occupies the first place, but besides it there are many other fish that enjoy attention: herring, cod, trout, halibut, mackerel, catfish, and in summer you just need to try fresh Norwegian shrimp. Norwegians like to buy them directly from fishing trawlers that have just returned from the sea. It is quite possible to taste whale meat in a restaurant or buy it at the fish market, although whale hunting is strictly limited today.
For over 1000 years, Northern Norway has been exporting dried cod and herring to Europe. There were always so many of the latter here that they fed cattle in winter when there was no hay. Herring is cooked in different ways, for example, beaten in water with wooden mallets, soaked and served with mustard or butter. By the way, when smoked, this herring acquires a sharp spicy aroma and red color. And "lutefisk" (lutefisk) - dried cod - is soaked in lye to make it softer, and then boiled, as a result of which the fish becomes almost as juicy as freshly caught. Lutefisk is served with pea pudding, fresh potatoes, fried bacon, mustard and goat cheese.
Herring is considered one of the main food products here. An old saying goes: "A true Norwegian eats herring twenty-one times a week." What is not cooked here from herring! These are cold appetizers, and pies, and salads, and soups, and hot dishes, and pies. Every Norwegian starts his morning with breakfast: coffee and a herring sandwich.
Non-fish attractions
Another Norwegian delicacy is fried pork ribs and canned lamb and sheep heads. As a rule, these dishes are eaten at Christmas. Lamb boiled with stewed cabbage and peppercorns and subsequently baked with them in a brown flour sauce is another national dish. It is called "forikol" and is traditionally prepared in autumn.
As a delicacy meat, tourists are recommended to try elk and venison. Elk has one very important advantage over all other meat: it is a healthy and environmentally friendly food, since without exception, all moose live in natural conditions and it is allowed to hunt them in Norway only at certain times.
It is impossible not to mention brown goat cheese, which is made only in Norway, and tourists buy it as a souvenir. It has several varieties, each with its own taste, and the color varies from the usual yellow to dark brown, almost chocolate.
Baking a homemade pie is part of the Norwegian culinary tradition. This is done in accordance with the established traditions of each region (fylke). The same goes for bread, which is why home bakeries in Norway are more popular than regular bakeries.
If you want to drink or just drink ...
Norwegians usually drink milk or coffee. No other country in the world consumes as much milk per capita as here.
Of the alcoholic beverages, the absolute leader is "akevit" (akevitt), which is made from potatoes with cumin. The most famous - "Linie-akevitt" - according to the recipe, it must sail in the hold of a ship to Australia and back, that is, cross the equator twice (linie - equator), and only then does it find its true taste.
Speaking of beer, Norwegian beer is Rignes. Quite worthy and at the level of famous European breweries.
And the most "winter" drink in Norway is "gløgg" (gløgg). It is brewed closer to winter from red wine with cardamom, cloves, raisins and almonds. Served with gingerbread cookies.
"Strawberries in the Snow"...
Long summer nights in Norway have the most beneficial effect on many plants and berries. Proof of this is the fragrant strawberries, which are tastier here than in most other European countries. Therefore, in Norway, the most traditional dessert is strawberries with cream or sugar. And the flowering of fruit trees in the Hardanger area is just a fantastic sight.
The favorite dessert of Norwegian families is quite easy to prepare: a layer of biscuit or biscuit crumbs is poured over a layer of applesauce (it is enough to beat baked apples without a peel with a mixer), and whipped cream is spread on top, then apples again, then crumbs and so on. You can put the dessert in the freezer for an hour or two to make a wonderful ice cream cake.
short summer Strawberries in northern Norway often ripen in forests and gardens already under the first snow, and in order to collect them, you have to sweep away snowdrifts. Therefore, the "most Norwegian" dessert is "Earthlings" In Norway, there are dishes that, in no other country, can cook so tasty. These are traditional salted herring snacks, but especially fish from the crystal clear mountain rivers and fjords - especially salmon and trout.
The meat of young lamb, which, due to the unpretentiousness of these animals, is used most often, is prepared in a variety of ways, such as, for example, lamb with cabbage headlights and clav.
Favorite holiday foods include reindeer and roe deer liver. Very tasty roe deer saddle in Norwegian under cream sauce and, oddly enough, currant jelly, which gives the dish a slight sourness.
In many hot dishes, sour cream is often used, which replaces spices. With a shortage of southern spices for flavoring and spicing dishes, the Norwegians developed own ways improve the taste of dairy products, meat and fish. Typical of Norway brown cheese varieties from cow and goat milk, various ways of roasting and smoking meat.
Norwegians have one national product that is highly appreciated by lovers of hard liquor: Vodka Linier Aquavit. Line means "equator". It owes its name to the fact that at first this vodka is brought in oak barrels by sea to the southern hemisphere and back, while it crosses the equator twice. Thanks to the constant movement inside the barrel, vodka absorbs the aroma of wood, acquires a pleasant velvety taste and a yellowish color. And only after that the drink is bottled and goes on sale. On the inside of the label of each bottle, you can read which ship the vodka was transported through the equator. ika in the snow"...
It is believed that the name of this distinctive country and one of the most breathtaking places on our planet was given by the Old Norse word Norðrvegr, which literally means "the way to the north." The Norwegians themselves call themselves that: nordsmenn, that is, a northerner or a person from the north.
General information
The main part of Norway is located in the "head" and then stretches out in a narrow strip, indented by fjords, along the entire ridge or "back of the tiger" for 2 thousand kilometers. It is with him, this harsh and beautiful, but rather a southern predator, that we have been accustomed to since school times to compare the outlines of the Scandinavian Peninsula and thus recognize it on the map of Europe.
For more than one and a half thousand kilometers, Norway borders on Sweden, its border with Finland stretches for 736 km, and about two hundred kilometers of the border line separates the country from Russia.
State and administrative structure
Norway has a constitutional monarchy, nominally ruled by King Harald V. The seat of government is located in Oslo.
The country covers an area of 385 thousand square meters. km. The main administrative unit in Norway is the fylke (a kind of analogue of regions, provinces or provinces in other countries), which are internally divided into communes. There are 432 communes in the country.
Trondheim
At one time, it was the first capital with a royal residence and the main Christian landmark of Norway, the Nidaros Cathedral. An architectural sign of the new time is a tall TV tower with a revolving restaurant. There are many suitable places for excellent fishing in the surrounding rivers and lakes. The city of Trondheim is described in detail in.
Lillehammer
An ancient Norwegian city, mentioned in ancient sagas. In modern times - the center of winter sports. In 1994, Winter Games were held here Olympic Games, which gave another impetus to the development of mass sports in the country and made it possible to update its infrastructure. In 2016, the Winter Youth Olympic Games were held here. Read .
Geiranger fjord
Arrow in high mountains the top of the 15-kilometer Geirangerfjord pierces. And in the place where the waters of the mountain river Geirangelva flow into it, near the mountain road, to the rocks overgrown with forest, a picturesque village with only a few hundred inhabitants has stuck. A deep bay, high mountains - all this splendor, like many other places in Norway, is on the list of UNESCO world natural heritage sites. Geiranger is visited annually by thousands of tourists from different countries peace. Read .
Rock of the Preacher (Preikestolen)
Almost square, a huge stone platform from the side really looks like a professorial chair. But people did not put their efforts into its creation - everything was done by nature. From the 604-meter-high cliff, thrill-seekers will see amazing panoramic views of the surrounding area. The only way to get to the plateau is on foot along a picturesque but difficult mountain path. See details on how to do this.
Fish is the basis of the Norwegian diet
Rakfisk - fermented trout Fish and seafood have been the main food on the Norwegian table for centuries. In Norwegian coastal waters, they are caught and bred by more than two hundred species - a wide variety of fish and shellfish. If you list in alphabetical order only the usual ones, those that are heard, and then the list will be impressive: from the Arctic char and catfish to the common and silver saithe. You can count two dozen valuable and tasty varieties of fish that are found in sea and river Norwegian waters.
Norwegian cod, crabs and smoked salmon are famous all over the world. And, of course, herring, salmon and trout. Whale meat is also eaten here, for which there are quotas for Norwegian whalers.
Currency
NOK is the Norwegian krone, the currency of Norway. 1 crown = 100 ore (ore). Coins in circulation: the largest is 20 crowns. In addition: 10, 5, 1 crown and 50 ore. Paper banknotes are issued in denominations of 1000, 500, 200, 100 and 50 crowns.
There are exchange offices in banks, airports and train stations, in all Forex offices and post offices, but not in all hotels. You can pay with credit cards, but you also need to have some cash with you.
There are ATMs even in the smallest villages. We accept Visa and MasterCard, as well as Diners and Amex.
Tipping in Norway is usually left in the amount of 5-15% of the order value.
Transport
You can move around the country by air, rail, road and sea.
Airports
Domestic air traffic is one of the most important in passenger traffic across the country, stretched for 2.5 thousand km and with such a difficult terrain. In winter, the plane is sometimes the only way to get to the islands or mountains.
Norwegian roads are among the best in the world. Their total length is more than 100 thousand km. All highways have a hard surface and are cleared of snow drifts in winter. The roads are often winding, there are many sharp turns in the mountains. Here at any time of the year you need to drive with the headlights on, in some areas there are restrictions on driving with trailers. The maximum allowable speed on the highway is 80 km / h, in settlements 30-50 km/h.
18 national tourist roads with a total length of about 2000 km run through picturesque landscapes in the fjord region, along the west coast, in the mountains in the south and north of Norway. They have a convenient infrastructure, original engineering and architectural solutions with viewing platforms and recreation areas.
Car rent
If you have an international driving license, you can rent a car in Norway. You also need an identity card and medical insurance. Approximate rental price is 780 NOK and depends on the car class. A prerequisite is to use seat belts and have a warning emergency sign in the trunk. Norway has the highest fines for traffic offenders in Europe.
Parking lots are paid. Approximately 50 road sections are also paid, on average about 20-30 NOK, on some it is even more expensive.
Buses in Norway
Bus routes connect all large and small cities, all airports of the country and ferry terminals. 200 large and comfortable buses with air conditioning, dry closets and comfortable seats carry passengers to the farthest corners of the country. On some routes, the trip can last more than a day.
Routes, fares and schedules of all bus carriers have a single Norwegian booking network (www.nor-way.no) Bus tickets are expensive, sometimes including the cost of crossing, but more often, anyway, it is more profitable than traveling by train or the cost of air travel. In addition, there is a system of identical discounts and tickets that are valid throughout the country. In addition to the possibility of buying a ticket at the box office and travel agency, you can simply buy it from the driver before departure.
Railway transport
The infrastructure of Norwegian railways is slightly behind the level of technical equipment of other modes of transport in the country. Therefore, one and a half times more funds were allocated for the modernization of this sphere in 2014-2023 than in the previous decade.
The total length of Norwegian railways is 4114 km. Slightly more than half of them are electrified. On the high-speed line Oslo - Oslo Airport - Eidsvol (64 km), the Flytoget express train travels at a speed of 210 km/h.
On NSB Railways - State railways 775 tunnels have been laid and 3,000 bridges built, many of which are toll-free.
The trains are equipped with 1st and 2nd class cars and run in four main directions:
- south: Oslo-Stavanger;
- to the north: Trondheim-Bodø (Nordlandsbanen);
- to the central regions: Oslo-Trondheim (Dovrebanen) and the side branch Dombos-Ondalsnes (Raumabanen).
Two branches have a railway connection with Sweden.
Traveling by train in Norway is not cheap, but the company constantly sells tickets for various promotions. There are also discounts for early bookings and for privileged categories of the population.
You can also save money by purchasing travel tickets: they can be purchased for 3 days, for a week and for 3 weeks. Tickets are sold at railway ticket offices at stations and at www.nsb.no. You can pay by credit card.
Important. Smokers need to be patient. There is a strict ban on smoking in trains and railway station buildings in Norway.
Water transport in Norway
All islands, small towns and big cities along the Norwegian coast are connected by car ferries and express boats.
About a dozen large ferry companies operate in the fjord region. Everywhere at the piers there are private boats, they also take travelers on fishing trips and excursions. Tickets - at the box office of ferry terminals or on the websites of carrier companies.
Leading carriers: Senja Ferries, Kolumbus, Tide, Rodne Fjordcruise, Fjordline, and Hurtigruten. The price is high, but there are ways to save money: early booking, sales and promotions.
Sea travel lovers can choose the most beautiful thing to their taste on this site - www.hurtigruten.com.
Public transport
There are 5 metro lines with 101 stations in the capital, there is a developed network of bus, tram and ferry routes, however, as in other large cities. For all modes of transport, a one-time ticket of the same cost (approximately 15 NOK), daily 40, for a week - 140 NOK. Tickets are not valid at night.
For tourists, the Oslo Card is beneficial, which can be bought at the hotel, travel agency and newsstand for 150 - 200 - 250 NOK for a day, two or three, respectively. Children's Oslo Card is half the price. It is beneficial in that, in addition to travel by all types of public transport (except for some ferries), holders of such a card visit museums for free and pay only half the cost for car rental, bus and most ferry excursions. In addition, the card has a discount on purchases in some stores and payment for orders in restaurants.
Here it is an expensive mode of transport and works only in the city. You can pay by card. Travel 1 km costs 1.3 euros, and the price at landing is 5. Very expensive waiting fee. According to tourists, the highest taxi prices are in Trondheim, and the lowest in Bergen.
The largest taxi company in Norway is NorgesTaxi. Its website contains detailed tariffs and phone numbers for ordering a taxi in any city.
Visas (for citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus)
Citizens of Russia and Belarus to enter Norway must have a valid Schengen tourist or visitor visa. Citizens of Ukraine with a biometric passport do not need a visa to visit Norway for up to 90 days (for any purpose other than work and study).
Before everyone travels foreign citizens you need to take out medical insurance.
Cellular and Internet
There is roaming from all major operators, but it is not cheap. It is better to buy a local SIM card, they are sold of all types (regular, mini- and nano-) in the offices of local operators, in mobile phone stores, in mini-markets (7-Eleven network).
Norway has GSM 900/1800 standards. The three most famous Norwegian mobile phone companies - Telenor, Tele2 and Lebara Mobile offer two types of cards to non-resident tourists: with a prepaid tariff and without a contract. You don't need a passport to buy cards.
The last company has 4 types of cards:
- Lebara Mobile World: beneficial for international calls
- Lebara Mobile Norgespakken: around Norway
- Lebara Mobile EU-pakken: across Europe
- Lebara Mobile Norden: for calls to Denmark, Sweden and Finland
With the World card (250 NOK) a call to Russia costs 0.99 NOK/min. to mobile and 0.69 NOK/min. to a city number. A call within Norway is also 0.99 NOK/min.
The tariffs of the other two companies are not very different in cost from Lebar Mobile. Is that the quality of communication with the Norwegian giant Telenor is always on top: and on high mountain, and in the subway. You can replenish the balance with a scratch card or a bank card on the Lebara Mobile website.
You can also call with Skype, Wi-Fi is available in almost all restaurants, cafes, hotels, Internet cafes, but not everywhere is free.
Free (within 30 minutes) you can use a desktop computer in libraries: read the mail, search for the necessary information.
You can also go online from your mobile, Beeline and Megafon have GPRS roaming. But at the same time, it is cheaper to connect an Internet package, you can consult about them in the communication shops on the spot.
Useful information about Norway More than any other country, Norway is a land of contrasts. Summer here is very unlike autumn, autumn - winter, and winter - spring. In Norway, you can find the most diverse landscapes and contrasts that differ from each other.
The territory of Norway is so large, and the population is so small, that there is a unique opportunity to relax alone with nature. Far from industrial pollution and the noise of big cities, you can gain new strength surrounded by virgin nature. Wherever you are, nature is always around you. Dine at the city's street restaurant before cycling through the forest or taking a dip in the sea.
Many thousands of years ago, a huge layer of ice covered Norway. The glacier settled in lakes, at the bottom of rivers and deepened steep valleys that stretched towards the sea. The glacier advanced and retreated 5, 10 or perhaps even 20 times before finally retreating 14,000 years ago. As a memory of itself, the glacier left deep valleys that filled the sea, and magnificent fjords, which many consider the soul of Norway.
The Vikings, among others, founded their settlements here and used the fjords and small bays as the main means of communication during their campaigns. Today, the fjords are more famous for their spectacular scenery than for the Vikings. Their uniqueness is that people still live here. Today, high up in the hills, you can find working farms idyllically attached to the mountain slopes.
Fjords are found throughout the Norwegian coastline - from the Oslo Fjord to the Varanger Fjord. Each of them is beautiful in its own way. Nevertheless, the most famous fjords in the whole world are located in the west of Norway. Some of the largest and most powerful waterfalls are also found in this part of Norway. They form on the edges of cliffs, high above your head and cascade into the emerald green water of the fjords. Equally high is the rock "Church Pulpit" (Prekestolen) - a mountain shelf that rises 600 meters above Lysefjord in Rogaland.
Norway is a long and narrow country with a coast that is as beautiful, amazing and diverse as the rest of its territory. Wherever you are, the sea is always near you. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Norwegians are such experienced and skillful seafarers. For a long time, the sea was the only way connecting the coastal regions of Norway - with its coastline extended for many thousands of kilometers.
Norway, due to the fact that there is a polar day from May to July, is sometimes called the "Land of the Midnight Sun". This, of course, is a mysterious and even somewhat romantic name, but it does not cause a strong desire to come to this country. However, Norway is not only the Land of the Midnight Sun. First of all, Norway is the Vikings, amazingly beautiful fjords, some of which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and, of course, prestigious ski resorts.
Geography of Norway
Norway is located in the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. In the northeast, Norway borders on Finland and Russia, in the east - on Sweden. In the northeast, Norway is washed by the Barents Sea, in the southwest by the North Sea, and in the west by the Norwegian Sea. The Skagerrak Strait separates Norway from Denmark.
The total territory of Norway, including the islands of Svalbard, Jan Mayen and Bear in the Arctic Ocean, is 385,186 square kilometers.
A significant part of the territory of Norway is occupied by mountains. The highest of them are Mount Gallhöppigen (2469 m) and Mount Glittertinn (2452 m).
There are a lot of rivers in Norway, the longest of which are Glomma (604 km), Logen (359 km), and Otra (245 km).
Norway is sometimes referred to as the "Lakeland". This is not surprising, given that there are several hundred lakes in it. The largest of these are Mjøsa, Rösvatn, Femunn, and Hornindalsvatnet.
Capital
The capital of Norway is Oslo, which is now home to more than 620 thousand people. It is believed that Oslo was founded in 1048 by the Norwegian king Harald III.
Official language of Norway
Official language in Norway - Norwegian, which consists of two dialects (Bokmål and Nynorsk). Most often, Norwegians speak Bukol, but for some reason Nynorsk is popular with Norwegian Internet users.
Religion
More than 80% of Norwegians are Lutherans (Protestants) belonging to the Church of Norway. However, only about 5% of Norwegians go to church every week. In addition, 1.69% of Norwegians are Muslims and 1.1% are Catholics.
State structure of Norway
Norway is a constitutional monarchy in which the head of state, according to the Constitution of 1814, is the King.
The executive power in Norway belongs to the King, and the legislative power belongs to the local unicameral parliament - the Storting (169 deputies).
The main political parties in Norway are the liberal-conservative Progress Party, the social democratic Norwegian Labor Party, the Christian Democratic Party and the Social Left Party.
Climate and weather
Norway is at the same latitude as Alaska and Siberia, but this Scandinavian country has a much milder climate. In late June - early August in Norway, the weather is warm and the days are long. At this time, the average air temperature reaches + 25-30C, and the average sea temperature - + 18C.
The warmest and most stable weather is always observed on the southern coast of Norway. However, even in the north of Norway in summer the air temperature can exceed +25C. However, in the central regions and in the north of Norway, the weather often changes.
In winter, most of Norway tends to turn into a real snow paradise. In winter in Norway, the air temperature can even drop to -40C.
Sea in Norway
In the northeast, Norway is washed by the Barents Sea, in the southwest by the North Sea, and in the west by the Norwegian Sea. The Skagerrak Strait separates Norway from Denmark. The total coastline of Norway is 25,148 km.
Average sea temperature in Oslo:
- January – +4C
- February - +3C
- March - +3C
- April - +6C
- May - +11С
- June - +14C
- July - +17C
- August – +18C
- september - +15C
- October - +12C
- November - +9C
- December - +5C
The real beauty of Norway is the Norwegian fjords. The most beautiful of them are Naeroyfjord, Sognefjord, Geirangerfjord, Hardangerfjord, Lysefjord, and Aurlandsfjord.
Rivers and lakes
There are a lot of rivers in Norway, the longest of which are Glomma in the east (604 km), Logen in the southeast (359 km), and Otra in Serland (245 km). The largest Norwegian lakes are Mjøsa, Rösvatn, Femunn, and Hornindalsvatnet.
Many tourists come to Norway to fish. In Norwegian rivers and lakes, salmon, trout, whitefish, pike, perch and grayling are found in large numbers.
History of Norway
Archaeologists have proven that people on the territory of modern Norway lived as early as the 10th millennium BC. But real story Norway began in the Viking Age, whose cruelty is still legendary on the coast of Great Britain, for example.
From 800-1066, the Norse Vikings became known throughout Europe as brave warriors, ruthless invaders, cunning merchants and inquisitive seafarers. The history of the Vikings ended in 1066, when the Norwegian king Harald III died in England. Olaf III became King of Norway after him. It was under Olaf III that Christianity began to spread rapidly in Norway.
In the XII century, Norway captured part of the British Isles, Iceland and Greenland. It was the time of the greatest prosperity of the Norwegian kingdom. However, the country was greatly weakened by competition from Hanseatic League and a plague epidemic.
In 1380, Norway and Denmark entered into an alliance and became one country. The union of these states lasted more than four centuries.
In 1814, Norway, according to the Treaty of Kiel, became part of Sweden. However, Norway did not submit to this and the Swedes invaded its territory. In the end, Norway agreed to be part of Sweden if they were left with the constitution.
Throughout the 19th century, nationalism grew in Norway, and this led to a referendum in 1905. According to the results of this referendum, Norway became an independent state.
During the First World War, Norway remained neutral. Second world war Norway also declared its neutrality, but it was nevertheless occupied by German troops (for Germany this was a strategic move).
After the end of the Second World War, Norway suddenly forgot about its neutrality, and became one of the founders of the NATO military bloc.
Culture of Norway
The culture of Norway differs markedly from the cultures of other peoples of Europe. The fact is that this Scandinavian country is located far from such European cultural centers as Florence, Rome and Paris. However, tourists will be pleasantly impressed by the Norwegian culture.
Many Norwegian cities have annual music, dance and folklore festivals. The most popular of them is the international cultural festival in Bergen (music, dance, theater).
It cannot be said that the Norwegians have made a huge contribution to world culture, but the fact that it was significant is undeniable. The most famous Norwegians are polar explorers Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen, composers Varg Vikernes and Edvard Grieg, artist Edvard Munch, writers and playwrights Henrik Ibsen and Knut Hamsun, and traveler Thor Heyerdahl.
Cuisine of Norway
The main products of Norwegian cuisine are fish, meat, potatoes and other vegetables, and cheese. Norwegians' favorite traditional snack is pölse (potato cake with sausage).
- Fenalår - dried lamb.
- Fårikål - lamb stew with cabbage.
- Pinnekjøtt - salted ribs.
- Roast of wild elk or deer.
- Kjøttkaker - fried beef meatballs.
- Laks og eggerøre - smoked salmon omelet.
- Lutefisk - baked cod.
- Rømmegrøt - sour cream porridge.
- Multekrem - cloudberry cream for dessert.
The traditional alcoholic drink in Norway is Aquavit, which is usually 40% ABV. The production of aquavita in Scandinavia began in the 15th century.
Sights of Norway
Norwegians have always been distinguished by the fact that they are very careful about their history. Therefore, we advise tourists to visit Norway to see:
Cities and resorts
The largest Norwegian cities are Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, and Stavanger.
Norway is famous for its great ski resorts. Every winter in Norway there are different championships in skiing. The top ten Norwegian ski resorts include, in our opinion, the following:
- Trysil (Trisil)
- Hemsedal (Hemsedal)
- Hafjell (Hafjell)
- Geilo (Geilo)
- Tryvann (Tryvann)
- Norefjell
- Oppdal (Oppdal)
- Hovden (Hovden)
- Kvitfjell (Kvitfjell)
- Kongsberg (Consberg)
Souvenirs/Shopping
We advise tourists from Norway to bring a real Norwegian wool sweater, toy trolls, modern dishes, wooden kitchen utensils, silverware, ceramics, jerky, brown goat cheese, and Norwegian vodka - aquavit.
