Market Square (Torvet), Trondheim

Trondheim's main square is located in the heart of the old city. It appeared according to the building plan after the fire of 1681, which was led by the Luxembourg military engineer in the Danish service Johan Caspar de Cicignon.

Trondheim often suffered from fires, burning almost to the ground once a century. The spread of fire was facilitated by dense wooden buildings and Cicigon decided to put an end to this. The main idea of his project was wide streets that did not allow the fire to go beyond one block, and in the center of the city a large square square at the intersection of Kongensgate and Munkegata streets, which divided the city into four parts.

In 1921, a column was erected in the center of the square with a monument to the city's founder Olaf Trygvasson, king of Norway from 995 to 1000, great-grandson of king Harald the Fair-Haired. Before becoming king there, Olaf lived a stormy life, from childhood was subject to persecution, wandered a lot, lived in Poland, Ireland, was in the squad of Novgorod Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich and, as the sagas say, stood at the origins of the baptism of Russia. After becoming king of Norway, he began to actively plant Christianity in his lands. In the city there is a tradition - during holidays and other events to put something on Olaf's head. Trondheim is considered the cultural capital of Norway, and such events are held here in abundance.

On the square there is a large shopping center Trodheim Torg, opened in 1992, behind it, on Munkengata street, the courthouse, from which we started our acquaintance with the city.

On the left corner of Munkengata is a tourist information office, and in front of it is a popular sculpture for fans of photography, depicting an elderly woman with bags. The artist Tone Thiis Schjetne named her creation Torgkona (market aunt), the prototype was a real woman who worked as a cook in one of the rich houses and often went to the market for food. When she retired, she was often seen on the bench at the Nidaros Cathedral and to all who greeted her, she replied "Good morning!". This is why the people of Trondheim call the sculpture Go'dagen.

At the end of the southern half Munkegata stands the grandiose spire of Nidaros Cathedral.

To the east of the square, Kongensgate street leads towards the Nidelva river, at the corner of which is a large yellow wooden house that belonged to the city councillor of justice Henrik Hornman (Hornemansgården), built in 1787, behind it is the oldest in Trondheim church of Our Lady.

On the north side of the square is the Nordea Bank building in the style of Scandinavian rationalism, behind it is a yellow wooden building built in 1777 for the Royal pharmacist Otto Sommer (Sommergården). 50 metres from the square, on the north side of the street Munkegata You can visit the Royal residence of Stiftsgården.

The square is richly decorated with flower beds, including hanging ones.

Despite the fact that it is the end of August, the square looks elegant in spring.

The Torvet square in on map.