 |
Together with Nidaros Cathedral the Archbishop's Palace holds a unique position in the history of Norway. From the middle 1100s the palace was a spiritual and political centre. The Archbishop's Palace was the centre of the Norwegian archdiocese, which comprised not only Norway but also the Faeroes, Shetland, the Isle of Man, Iceland and Greenland.
After the reformation at the beginning of the 16th century, the palace entered a new phase, becoming the residence of the King's Lord Lieutenants north of Dovre, and later a major military depot. Over the centuries the buildings have been plundered and burnt, but they have always been restored. The last restoration was in the 1990s, when two burnt depot buildings were replaced by a new building at right angles.
Today the Archbishop's Palace has become a major museum complex, the place to go if you want to see and experience important parts of Trondheim's and Norway's history. The museum, featuring the original sculptures from Nidaros Cathedral as well as an archaeological exhibition, is at the south end, while the north wing, dating from the 1160s, features the great hall where the archbishop would receive his visitors and where he had his private quarters. The Norwegian Crown Regalia are exhibited in the west wing, named Lavetthuset, while visitor's can learn about the Norwegian armed forces from ancient times up to 1945 in the Army Museum/Resistance Museum. In the summer months visitors flock to the courtyard, and during the annual Saint Olav's Festival it hosts a historical marketplace, theatre performances and concerts. |
|
|
