Trondheim, formerly called Nidaros and Trondhjem (Southern Sami:
Tråante), is an urban municipality in Trøndelag, and the third most
populous municipality in Norway (after Oslo
and Bergen) with 205,163 inhabitants as of 1
January 2020, after the merger with Klæbu municipality. The city
center (Midtbyen) is located between Nidelva and Trondheimsfjorden.
The municipality borders in the east towards Malvik, in the south
towards Selbu and Melhus, and towards Indre Fosen in
Trondheimsfjorden. The city is the headquarters for the county
mayor, but not the county municipality or the county governor's
office, as these functions are located in Steinkjer.
According to Olav Tryggvason's saga, the city was established by
Olav Tryggvason in the year 997, and the city celebrated its
millennium anniversary in 1997.
Trondheim is a center for
higher education, and houses the largest campus at the country's
largest university. In 1767, the Science Museum was established. The
Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTH) was established
in 1910. The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
was established in 1996.
St. Olav's hospital was established
on Øya in Trondheim in 1910, under the name Nye Trondhjem hospital.
It is today one of Norway's largest health trusts and is owned by
Helse Midt-Norge. Cultural institutions are also represented in the
cityscape. Trondheim Art Museum was established in 1997 and Rockheim
was opened in 2010.
Trondheim is a hub for the railway in
Norway; here the Dovre line meets from the south with the Meråker
line and the Nordlands line north. Europavei 6 runs through the
municipality. The city's airport is Trondheim Airport, Værnes in
Stjørdal municipality.
Trondheim, located on the southern shore of Trondheimsfjord at the
mouth of the Nidelva (Nid) River in central Norway (Trøndelag county),
is one of Norway's oldest and most historically significant cities.
Its modern name derives from the Old Norse Þróndheimr ("home of the
Trønder people," referring to the local inhabitants whose name links to
"thrive/grow"), while the broader district became Trøndelag. It was
founded as Kaupangen ("marketplace/trading place") and soon renamed
Nidaros ("mouth/outlet of the Nid River"). Under Danish-Norwegian
influence, it was commonly called Trondhjem until 20th-century
Norwegianization efforts.
Human presence in the area dates back
thousands of years, evidenced by rock carvings and cultures such as
Nøstvet, Lihult, and Corded Ware. Ancient Norwegian kings were acclaimed
at Øretinget, an assembly site near the river mouth; examples include
Harald Fairhair (r. c. 865–933) and his son Haakon the Good.
Trondheim was formally founded in 997 by Viking King Olav Tryggvason
(Olaf I, r. 995–1000), who established it as a trading post, royal
residence (Kongsgård), and church site after Viking expeditions,
including to England. He played a key role in Christianizing Norway. A
prominent statue of Olav Tryggvason by Wilhelm Rasmussen (erected 1921)
stands in Torvet, the central square.
During the Viking Age and early
medieval period, Nidaros served as Norway's de facto capital until
around 1217, acting as the king's seat and a military base. King Olav II
Haraldsson (St. Olav, r. 1015–1028) was killed at the Battle of
Stiklestad (1030); his body was buried in Nidaros, where legends of
miracles and incorruptibility led to his sainthood and made the site a
major Christian center. The first church over his grave was built c.
1070–1075, evolving into Nidaros Cathedral (Nidarosdomen)—begun in the
late 11th/12th century in Norman-Gothic style, completed largely by the
14th century, and frequently damaged/reconstructed (major work from 1869
onward).
It is the world's northernmost medieval cathedral,
Scandinavia's second-largest, and a national shrine. The silver coffin
of St. Olav was placed on the high altar in the Middle Ages but was
melted down during the Reformation (remains reportedly buried secretly
inside, location unknown).
In 1152, the Archbishopric of Nidaros was
established (first archbishop), making Trondheim the religious capital
of Norway (and briefly parts of the North Atlantic) with the
Archbishop's Palace (Erkebispegården) as its seat. The cathedral became
Northern Europe's premier pilgrimage destination (St. Olav's
Way/Pilegrimsleden routes from Oslo and Sweden), drawing pilgrims for
centuries. It served as the coronation site for Norwegian monarchs (last
full coronation: Haakon VII in 1906; later consecrations like Harald V
in 1991).
Notable events include the 1179 Battle of Kalvskinnet,
where Sverre Sigurdsson and his Birkebeiner forces defeated rival Erling
Skakke. Some scholars suggest the Lewis chessmen (12th-century walrus
ivory pieces now in the British Museum) originated in Trondheim.
The
Reformation (1537) ended Catholic dominance; the last archbishop, Olav
Engelbrektsson, fled to the Netherlands. The city joined the Lutheran
Church of Norway (Diocese of Nidaros persists, as does the cathedral
name). Wooden construction led to repeated catastrophic fires (e.g.,
1598, 1651 destroying ~90% of buildings, 1681 "Horneman Fire," plus
others into the 1840s).
After the 1681 fire, General Johan Caspar von
Cicignon (Luxembourg-born) oversaw Baroque reconstruction with wide
avenues (e.g., Munkegata) to contain future fires, ignoring some
property rights; this grid still shapes Midtbyen (city center).
Kristiansten Fortress (founded 1682) was built for defense, notably
repelling Swedes in 1718 and later used by Nazis. The Old Town Bridge
(Gamle Bybro, current version 1861) was positioned for fortress cannon
support. Munkholmen island served variously as monastery site, prison
(e.g., holding Count Griffenfeld for 18 years), and WWII defenses.
Politically, Trondheim was part of the Kalmar Union and then
Denmark-Norway. It was briefly Swedish territory (1658–1660) after the
Treaty of Roskilde but reconquered after siege, confirmed by the Treaty
of Copenhagen. Trade declined somewhat as Hanseatic merchants favored
Bergen, but it remained a shipping and commercial hub (fish processing,
shipbuilding).
Municipal incorporation came in 1838, with expansions
(1864, 1893, 1952, major 1964 merger nearly doubling population with
surrounding municipalities like Strinda, Tiller, etc.; Klæbu added
2020). Rail links (1877, direct to Oslo 1921) spurred 19th–20th century
revival; population grew from ~11,000 in 1769 to over 200,000 today.
Name controversies in the 20th century reflected national identity:
Attempts to revert to "Nidaros" (1930) after "Trondhjem" sparked
protests and riots; it became "Trondheim" (medieval Norwegian spelling)
in 1931, though the cathedral and diocese retained "Nidaros."
During
WWII, Nazi Germany occupied Trondheim from April 9, 1940 (first day of
Operation Weserübung; invasion via cruiser Admiral Hipper, destroyers,
and troops; minimal initial resistance). Allied attempts (Namsos
Campaign) failed. The city hosted Gestapo collaborator Henry Rinnan;
martial law was imposed (1942). Germans built the large DORA I submarine
bunker/base in Nyhavna and planned an enormous new "Nordstern" German
city (300,000 inhabitants) nearby at Øysand—largely uncompleted, with
few remnants. The city was briefly called "Drontheim" in German usage.
Liberation came in 1945.
Post-war, Trondheim grew as Norway's
"technology capital," home to NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and
Technology, ~44,000 students), SINTEF research, and a vibrant
student/cultural scene (festivals like UKA, ISFiT; music, museums
including Ringve, Rockheim). It hosts gastronomic stars (Michelin
recognition), the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences (1760), and
landmarks like Stiftsgården (largest wooden building in Northern Europe)
and the modern port.
Trondheim, Norway's third-largest city (municipality population
around 200,000–212,000 as of recent estimates), lies in Trøndelag
county in central Norway. It occupies a strategic position on the
southern shore of Trondheimsfjord (Trondheimsfjorden) at the mouth
of the Nidelva River, approximately 63.43°N, 10.40°E (more precisely
63°25′47″N 10°23′36″E). This location places it about 37 km (23
miles) southeast of the Norwegian Sea outlet and roughly midway
along Norway's length, serving historically as a key port and trade
hub since its founding around 997 CE as Nidaros.
The municipality
spans about 322 km² (with urban area around 59–342 km² depending on
definition), featuring varied terrain from low-lying coastal zones
to suburban hills. Average elevation is approximately 118 m, with
the city center near sea level along the river and fjord. The
highest point in the municipality is Storheia hill at 565 m.
Topography includes rolling hills, valleys, and steeper slopes in
outer areas, with the core sheltered on a peninsula-like landform at
the river's estuary. The terrain is shaped by past glacial erosion,
creating a deep fjord basin (historically up to 1,100–1,300 m deep
in parts during glaciations, now max 617 m).
Trondheimsfjord,
Norway's third-longest fjord at 130 km (81 mi), is a major defining
feature. It extends inland from Ørland in the west to Steinkjer in
the north, passing Trondheim. Maximum depth reaches 617 m in the
channel between Orkland and Indre Fosen municipalities. It branches
into arms like Beitstadfjorden (north of the narrow Skarnsundet
strait, crossed by the Skarnsund Bridge) and the long, narrow
Verrasundet. Major islands include Ytterøya, Tautra, and smaller
ones like Munkholmen near Trondheim's harbor. The fjord remains
mostly ice-free year-round (except possibly Verrasundet or parts of
Beitstadfjorden in severe winters), supports rich biodiversity with
at least 90 fish species, southern/northern marine life overlap,
deep-water corals (Lophelia pertusa), and several of Norway's
premier salmon rivers (e.g., Gaula, Orkla, Stjørdalselva,
Verdalselva) emptying into it. Lowlands east and south provide prime
agricultural land, while the rugged Fosen peninsula to the
west/northwest offers wind shelter. The fjord has been vital for
navigation, trade, and industry (e.g., offshore petroleum,
shipbuilding) since Viking times; a notable 1888 undersea mudslide
triggered a local tsunami.
The Nidelva River (about 30 km long)
flows through the heart of Trondheim, originating upstream (system
includes lakes and falls like Hyttfossen) and emptying into the
fjord. It historically allowed navigation into the city but became
less so after a 17th-century landslide/avalanche altered the channel
and harbor. Today, it creates scenic urban waterfronts, wetlands
(e.g., Gaulosen at the mouth), and habitats for wildlife. The river
divides districts like Bakklandet (historic wooden houses along its
banks) from the city center.
Trondheim's climate is mild for its
high latitude (~63.4°N), classified as oceanic (Cfb) or humid
continental (Dfb) depending on thresholds. The North Atlantic
Current (Gulf Stream extension) moderates temperatures, keeping
seaside winters often above freezing despite northerly position.
Average annual precipitation is ~871 mm, fairly evenly distributed
but with possible heavy events. Summers are moderate (July highs
~18–20°C/65°F, rarely exceeding 35°C record); winters cold but not
extreme (January averages around -3°C to 0°C or 24–32°F, with
snowfall mixed with rain Nov–Mar; record low -26°C). Sunshine totals
~1,612 hours/year. Microclimates vary: higher elevations (e.g.,
weather stations at 113–127 m) are colder/snowier. Polar day effects
bring near-continuous daylight in midsummer (sunrise ~3 AM, sunset
~11:40 PM at solstice; civil twilight sufficient May–July), while
winter days are short (sunrise ~10 AM, sunset ~2:30 PM at solstice).
Surrounding landscape includes Bymarka, a large protected
recreational area west of the city with forests, lakes, trails, and
hills ideal for hiking, skiing, and wildlife viewing (otters,
beavers, foxes, moose, deer, wolverines). Wetlands like Gaulosen
support birdlife. The broader region features agricultural lowlands
south/east of the fjord and mountainous terrain westward.
Urban
geography is shaped by the river, fjord, and hills. The historic
core (Midtbyen) centers around Nidaros Cathedral near the river;
districts like Bakklandet line the Nidelva, while suburbs (Lade,
Strindheim, Tiller, Byåsen, Heimdal) extend onto higher ground.
Post-fire reconstructions created broad avenues (e.g., Munkegata).
Multiple bridges span the river; the sheltered harbor supports port
activities. Density is higher in the low-lying center (~3,000+/km²
urban) and lower outward.
Geologically, the area reflects the
Caledonian orogeny (Paleozoic rocks, volcanics in nearby zones like
Hølanda-Hulsjøen), fault systems (e.g., Møre–Trøndelag Fault
Complex), and extensive Pleistocene glacial erosion/sculpting that
deepened the fjord and deposited sediments. Deglaciation shaped
current landforms.