My walks around the beautiful town of Røros

Last month I spent some good three weeks in Røros, a lovely historical kommune here in Trøndelag, where I went to spend most time working on improving my health condition. Even if I was not in the best of shapes, due to the persistent extreme fatigue, I still went on a few short walks around the town center to enjoy some of the days with very good weather. During these short walks I was able to snap the pictures I am publishing here today. I pictured mostly what looked interesting and beautiful to me. The textures of the dark wooden houses, the colored wooden houses, the stains in the wood, the old heavy doors, the color contrast with the (sometimes cloudy) blue sky. 

Although a very small town and community, Røros has had a big role in Norwegian history mostly due to its centuries long production of copper. For 333 years, from 1644 to 1977, copper ore was extracted from the several copper mines spread all over Røros region.  The entire region of Røros is marked by the its historical copper mines. (Text continues after the next pictures)

Besides the mines, there was an important smeltery in town. The Røros Museet website describes "the smeltery was the very heart of the mining towns existence". It was in the smeltery that "the copper ore went through the long and demanding process to obtain the precious metal" that would be exported. Røros would later be recognized as a world historical heritage center by the UNICEF and is an important reference center for Norwegian historical and cultural heritage.  

Today Røros is, maybe, the most important agriculture and food producing kommune in Trøndelag and in Norway. Røros producers and growers have developed an impressive strong organic agricultural hub by  revitalizing traditional methods and the kommune acquired a vital role in the Norwegian agriculture today. Røros concentrates some of the best organic dairy and meat industry in the entire country and maybe in Europe. Besides vegetables, eggs, meat and dairy products, Røros has a thriving industry of baked goods, dairy and drinks including beers. It is really impressive since Røros is also one of the coldest regions in the country, registering the lowest temperatures in Trøndelag in winter. 

I felt I had to speak about Røros a little bit, even if this is nothing compared to the huge amount of interesting things being produced and created in the beautiful town on the mountains of Trøndelag county. I didn't even mentioned the stunning throws produced by Røros Tweed with 100% Norwegian wool. 

Hope you all enjoy

For more information about Røros and Trøndelag County visit: Explore Trøndelag 

Nidaros Cathedral

The Most Fabulous Building in Trondheim

Nidaros Cathedral is the most fabulous building in Trondheim. The magnificent medieval stone cathedral was built on the burial place of Olav Haraldson, the viking king turned saint, St Olav, the patron saint of Norway. Before the magnificent stone cathedral was erected, the burial place of King Olav was "protected" by the humble wooden church, the Clemence Church.  In the year 1070 the grandiose stone cathedral replaced the wooden church. Some of the details of the construction, and many reconstructions, of the Nidaros cathedral are described here

The life of Olav Haraldsson's is one incredible piece of history, an evil viking king made saint whose cult served both the interests of the birthing nation and the Catholic church, a warrior who fought to have Norway under one god and one king, being responsible for the Christianization of Norway. 

I totally recommend reading about his life, whenever you have some time for it. According to the legend, Olav died in battle at Stiklestad, fighting to unify his kingdom. Later, the cult of St. Olav became a political tool in the long fight against Danish hegemony in Norway. The cult of St Olav survived the Protestant reform and afterwards, when Norway came out as a Lutheran nation.

Currently, Nidaros Cathedral is one of the most visited pilgrim sites in Europe. Thousands of pilgrims visit the place each year, just like thousands of pilgrims visit the place in the middle ages. The cathedral has a Pilgrim center with hostel, restaurant and other facilities.

Nidaros Pilgrim Center
Opening hours 09:00-17:00 (Monday-Friday)
From Jun- Sep 15:00-18:00 (Monday-Sunday)