The history of Tromsø has lasted for 11,000 years when the first settlers came, while the Sami people arrived about 2,000 years ago.Already during the 4th century Scandinavian language and culture was dominant in the area. Tromsø was officially founded as a city in 1794. As the only city in the north, Tromsø avoided heavy damages during the World War 2.
After 1960, Tromsø has experienced an unprecedented growth in population, partly due to the establishment of institutions like the University of Tromsø and the Norwegian Polar Institute.
The Artic Gate.
Tromsø has, since the start of the 19th century, been the base for Arctic fishing and expeditions to the North Pole, contributing to the nickname "The Arctic Gate". Polar explorers like Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen planned their historic expeditions here.
The Polar Museum
"The Polar Museum’s exhibitions tell the story of Tromsø as the historical gateway to the Arctic. This includes the story of Norwegian trapping and hunting on Svalbard and Greenland, of renowned over-wintering trappers, the cultural history of Svalbard, as well as the expeditions of Norwegian explorers Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen." (from polar Museum) If I visit the museum another time, I may make a post about it.
The Tromsø Harbour, with view to the main land and the Arctic Cathedral.
The Arctic Cathedral is designed by architect Jan inge Hovig and finished in 1965. The shape and colour give associations to an iceberg. The cathedral is probably the most famous landmark in Tromsø.
Tromsø has today 72,000 inhabitants. The city is a pulsating small metropolis- around the clock, all year, exotic, intimate, an full of adventure and northern charm. Tromsø have som of Norway´s greatest seafood restaurants. The city is the home of the world's most northerly university, beer brewery, and cathedral.
"The yellow, wooden cathedral was built in a long church format and in the Gothic Revival style in 1861 by the architect Christian Heinrich Grosch. The church tower and main entrance are on the west front. It is probably the northernmost Protestant cathedral in the world. With over 600 seats, it is one of Norway's biggest wooden churches." (Wikipedia)
Tromsø have many old buildings, as mentioned above, because the city was not destroyed during the war. It is nice to walk in the streets just looking.
The main street in Tromsø is a pedestrian zone.
This must be Tromsø´s smallest bar. I remember this was an newsstands 20-30 years ago. It's nice that the building is still in use.
Graffiti of an owl in the backyard .
Reindeer in the street. This one had many visitors. The muzzle is worn by may taps.
Tromsø lies on the 69th northern latitude, only 1,250 miles form the North Pole. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Tromsø has a moderate climate, and the coast is free of ice through the winter.
As an arctic city, there have to be icebears. A joke saying icebears is walking in the streets, this old fellow stand in the lobby of the hotel.
In the hotel we stayed this picture of an old steamboat and a traditonal row-boat hang on the wall.
This is models of ships. I think I have heard or red somewhere they where used under the construction and building of the ships.
At last some nightshots of the harbour area and streets.
Because Tromsø, among several cities and places lies in the middle of the Northern Light belt, the city is one of the world's best places to observe the phenomenon on the sky.
Hope you enjoyed the walk in the city of Tromsø.
Have a great evening.
Harald