Agreeable introduction to visit Norway’s past and present featuring our guest Kristin Skjefstad Edibe : Although modern Norway has only existed for 200 years, the story of the Nordic lands is a long one. From the first settlers of this former glacial land to the modern era of engineering and technology, there’s so much to learn. The land now known as Norway emerged from the last Ice Age thanks to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream. The glacial land became habitable from around 12,000 BC. The long coastline and good conditions for sealing, fishing and hunting attracted people in numbers. Although it is believed that people arrived earlier, the oldest human skeleton found in Norway was carbon dated to 6,600 BC. Find more info about the subject here : Kristin Skjefstad Edibe.

Hip urban cities, glittering fjords, northern lights, remote villages over the Arctic Circle, mountains, valleys – Norway is a long country spreading over a 25,148 km coastline, packed with many things to see and do. The main attractions of Norway are the varied landscapes that extend across the Arctic Circle. It is famous for its fjord-indented coastline and its mountains, ski resorts, lakes and woods. Popular tourist destinations in Norway include Oslo, Ålesund, Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim, Kristiansand and Tromsø. Much of the nature of Norway remains unspoiled, and thus attracts numerous hikers and skiers. The fjords, mountains and waterfalls in Western and Northern Norway attract several hundred thousand foreign tourists each year.

Home of Bocuse d’Or champions: Norwegian chefs have gained an excellent reputation abroad, with several wins and podium finishes at the world’s most prestigious culinary competition, the Bocuse d’Or awards. Since the competition was first held in 1987, Norway has won five gold, three silver, and four bronze medals, making Norway, together with France, the country with the most Bocuse d’Or awards. One of Norway’s most experienced competitive chefs, Christian André Pettersen, won his second bronze medal in the 2021 competition, after having also won bronze in 2019. Pettersen was awarded for his delicate and surprising flavours from the Arctic. Much of Pettersen’s inspiration comes from growing up with a Filipino chef mother and a Norwegian chef father in Bodø, just north of the Arctic circle. Norwegian cuisine is big and it’s here to stay. Have you booked your table yet?

Edvard Munch (1863–1944) is Norway’s most famous artist, a symbolist/expressionist painter who created The Scream, a world-famous piece and one of the most recognizable paintings in all art. Other notable painters and sculptors have brought Norwegian art to the public from the 19th and 20th centuries. Norway today is a destination for art and culture as expressed with the new MUNCH and the National Museum. Other highlights include the Tjuvholmen area with a unique architecture, home to the Astrup Fearnley contemporary art museum, which features key works by artists including Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, and Norwegian artist Bjarne Melgaard, as well as major temporary exhibitions. You will also find a number of Norway’s most cutting-edge contemporary art galleries in the area. Oslo also has incredible outdoor sculpture parks, including Ekebergparken and the must-visit Vigelandsparken. There’s also lots of impressive street art along the way.

Norwegian creativity, the lesser known of the Scandinavian arts and craft, has its own flavour reflecting the more reserved national temperament. A new wave of designers are making themselves heard, while the classic icons are rediscovered. Lighting, rainwear, wool and passports are among the Norwegian designs that are attracting worldwide attention. Many of the Norwegian designers are now working with the international market in mind, inspired by global trends. That means it can be difficult to define a unified Norwegian design, even though factors as nature-inspired forms, graceful lines and light are prominent. The Norwegian nature, weather and way of life have also set its mark on the work of many designers. It’s probably no coincidence that some of the most renowned clothing brands the last few years have produced rainwear, or warm garments made of wool. They make clothes for ordinary people with a sense of style, while luxury clothing made from Norwegian fashion designers are a rarity. Norwegian designers have worked a lot with lamps and lighting – perhaps natural considering the long and dark winters.

A new building has transformed Oslo’s skyline, nodding respectfully towards Norway’s bustling capital. In order to honour Munch’s legacy, Oslo has built the new MUNCH museum, one of the world’s largest museums dedicated to a single artist. Estudio Herreros designed the sixty-metre tall building, which has less than half the emissions of corresponding buildings. Many of the architectural decisions were climate driven. The building is clad in wavy recycled aluminium panels that have varying degrees of transparency. The exterior is designed to screen and reflect sunlight to maintain a stable temperature inside. Moving the fragile paintings into the museum was no easy job. The largest paintings, which are up to 50 square metres in size, had to be transported by water to the new museum. They were then lifted 21 metres by crane and maneuvered through a large opening in the side of the building’s sixth floor. Afterwards, the seven-metre high opening was sealed shut – for good.

Norway is a natural playground and a world-class destination for adventurous travellers. Hike, bike, and paddle, go skiing and fishing, and take part in numerous other activities in stunning nature all over the country. Skiing, hiking, cycling, fishing, winter activities, water activities, wildlife experiences, and many other activities await you. Choosing can be tricky with a long list of the very best sites, activities, culture, culinary adventures, and accommodation. Charming seaside destinations along the Oslofjord, UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Arctic Circle, caves and caverns. Let your senses guide you through the country