Polar Bear Hunt 2015 - Day 4

Vigeland Sculptures at Frogner Park and the Akerhus Castle

Our 24 hour Oslo Pass gave us free transport as well as free entry to museums. We worked out the tram routes and took the tram out to Frogner Park, the location of the Vigeland Sculpture Park. From there we came back into Oslo and walked through the Castle that dominates the headland beside the port, visiting the Resistance Museum inside the grounds. After a late lunch the rain started again so that was the end of the sightseeing for the day. We needed an excuse to put our feet up for a bit anyway.

The Vigeland Sculptures

All the guide books tell you to visit Vigeland to look at the sculptures, but it is almost impossible to describe what you see. The sculpter Vigeland spent much of his life creating the park and exploring all facets of family life in bronze and granite.

The layout of the park.	An early morning busload heads off in the rain.	This is what are are heading for.
Gustav Vigeland, hammer and chisel at the ready.	One tree, two tree... waiting for the rain to clear.	The Vigeland monolith in the rain.
Now that's a good idea to transport the pre-schoolers around.	And the hi-viz jackets made it harder to lose them.	The park in the rain.
With the rain easing off, we walked across the bridge...	passing all the bronze statues.
Back at the bridge, more people were emerging.	The amazing fountain.
		Children playing in the trees.
The Art Deco lights leading up to the next level.	Looking down on the fountain and trees.
Dragons or lizards feature in Vigeland's works. The tern is not concerned.		The complex pattern of life in the Monolith.
The sundial.	The Circle of Life.	A popular park for little people.
Looking down on the whole complex - the left...	And the right.
The wrought irn gates come to life at the right angles.
The sun is out and the fountain sparkles..	The children stop for lunch....	and the crowds stream in by the busload.
The bridge statues, now in the sun.	A last glimpse.	here comes our tram.

The Akershus Festning - Fortress

The tram took us back to the waterfront. It was a short walk from there up to the old fortress on the headland. The fortress was built in the 13th century. Today it serves ceremonial purposes and houses several museums. We visited the museum for the Norwegian Resistance during the Second World War. It was very compact, in a small building, but it was well laid out and very interesting.

The Fortress		The ferry piers.
Boats crowded in the harbour.	Part of the Fortress.
The Resistance Museum.	An artist at work.	Lunch - at last.

Oslo is full of Statues and Bronzes

one of the many interesting objects that struck us about Oslo was the abundance of bronze statues. Many were of past kings and prominent leaders, but there were others of notable musicians and composers. Scattered about were also many of people and children and even chickens on a pedestal. I have added a few photos of the Art Deco city council building and its clock for variety.

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Last updated: 08/10/2015