The Royal Capital - Oslo

Oslo is the capital of Norway, an economic and cultural center. In this city the king lives and rules the country, the highest officials, public, regional and municipal persons work here. The capital of the kingdom is located at the northern tip of the Oslo-fjord and at the foot of the ski jump in Holmenkollen, nicknamed the "Sacred Mountain of Norway".

The Norwegian capital Oslo is the largest industrial center of the country. There are factories of heavy industry, shipyards and steelworks. The abundance of fish in the coastal waters favors the development of the food industry. Oslo is also the financial center of the country. The banking sector of the city is closely connected with agriculture. The capital also has a stock exchange and one of the most important communication centers.

The city and its surroundings make up the agglomeration of Greater Oslo. The capital of which European country is still filled with such a provincial and cozy atmosphere, like Oslo? And this despite the fact that it has about 600 thousand people!

The city is considered the most expensive in the world for the cost of living, renting and paying for it. At the same time, according to the level of wages, the Norwegian capital Oslo is the fifth in the world.

It is believed that the city was founded in 1048. In the arch of Snorri Sturluson's saga "Circle of the Earth" it was this year that King Harald III founded a settlement called Oslo (os - "estuary", Lo - "river name"). The city was named based on its location. However, archaeological excavations have proved that the first settlements appeared here earlier. Residents of Oslo decided to consider the date of the foundation of the city - 1000, so in 2000, celebrated its millennium, the Norwegian capital. Oslo until 1877 was called Christiania in honor of King Christian IV, after the name was changed somewhat and until 1924 the city was called Christiania.

One of the most outstanding buildings of the Norwegian capital is the Royal Palace (Det Kongetige Slott). The residence of the Norwegian royal family is located at the end of Karl Johans Street, the main commercial and tourist area. The construction of the palace was completed in 1849. Outside, the building looks like the classic facade of London's Buckingham Palace, home to the British royal family. The palace in Oslo is a three-storey building with a total area of 17,624 m ² . The area of royal family living rooms is 1000 m ² , includes 173 rooms and a chapel, along the perimeter the building is surrounded by a park complex, which is open to tourists. There are several monuments here, the largest of which is the equestrian statue of Charles XIV Juhan. May 17, the Constitution Day of Norway, the royal family welcomes people from the central terrace of the palace.

In 2007, the royal house in Oslo was auctioned on one of the Internet sites. Potential buyers were willing to pay $ 100 million. However, a few days later it turned out that the auction was someone's unsuccessful joke.

The Norwegian capital Oslo annually welcomes guests at the Nobel Prize ceremony. The king does this. The laureate is selected by an independent committee appointed by the Norwegian parliament - the Storting.