Norway Sweden Travel
Trondheim Canal Harbour
Trondheim Canal Harbour
The Canal Harbour in Trondheim is located in the northern part of the city centre and separates the main part of the city from the artificial island of Brattøra. There are lots of small boats in the Canal Harbour. On the city-side coast, there are long rows of wooden buildings on pillars rising directly from the water. Many of Trondheim’s hotels are located near Canal Harbour.
Trondheim Canal and Brattøra
The Trondheim Canal dates back to 1884. It was constructed by raising sand from the Trondheimsfjord (the sea) in the northern part of the city centre and creating an artificial island called Brattøra. This island serves primarily as a transport hub: Trondheim Central Train Station (Sentralstasjon) and Trondheim Port are located here.
The Lifting Railway Bridge in Skansen
Quays for ships were built also in the Canal itself. To allow both the ships to enter the Canal Harbour and the trains to get to the train station on Brattøra, a lifting railway bridge was constructed over the western end of the Canal in Skansen (in 1918). It is the only lifting railroad bridge in use in Norway.
Trondheim Canal Harbour Picture
The Nidelva River and Trondheim city centre
There is another area in Trondheim looking very similar to the Canal Harbour – the Nidelva River. They are connected near the seaport. In fact the whole city centre has this kind of characteristic style, dominated by water and wooden houses.
Bridges over the Canal
Thanks to the proximity of the city and water, Trondheim may feel like Scandinavian version of Venice. Nevertheless, the bridges are far less frequent here. There are two bridges over the Canal Harbour in Trondheim. One of them connects the city with Trondheim Port in the eastern part of the Canal, where the Canal meets the Nidelva River. The second one, called Jernbanebrua (Railway Bridge), connects the city centre with the Central Train Station. This bridge is also a perfect place to see the Canal Harbour, the boats, and the wooden houses.
This picture of Trondheim Canal Harbour was also taken from Jernbanebrua.
Ravnkloa Canal and Sightseeing Boats in Canal Harbour
Approximately in the middle of the Canal Harbour there is a small water passage (another small canal), which serves as another connection between the Canal Harbour and Trondheimsfjord. You can actually get inside this small canal, called Ravnkloa, if you take the sightseeing trip to Munkholmen, a small island in Trondheimsfjord and a popular tourist attraction (in the past it was a monastery, prison, and execution site).
Trondheim Canal Harbour Wooden Houses
You can see that the two sides of the Canal Harbour are quite different. The city centre side is lined with big wooden houses on pillars rising from the water. These houses are very typical for Trondheim. Besides the wooden houses, there are also several hotels on the city centre side of Canal Harbour.
Wooden houses in Trondheim Canal Harbour.
On the Brattøra side of the Canal there is a more conventionally looking quay and a street with trees (the street’s name is Dyre Halses Gate). In summer, boats are everywhere in the Canal.
The Brattøra side of Canal Harbour and Trondheim Central Train Station.
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Trondheim Sentralstasjon (Central Station)
Trondheim Sentralstasjon
The main train station of Trondheim (Trondheim Sentralstasjon) is located in the northern part of the city centre between the Canal Harbour and Trondheimsfjord (the sea). Together with the seaport of Trondheim the train station occupies an artificial island called Brattøra.
Trondheim Sentralstasjon Pictures
Trondheim Central Station and boats in Trondheim Canal Harbour.
Trondheim Central Station (Sentralstasjon) entrance.
Railway Routes from Trondheim Sentralstasjon
Trondheim is one of the northernmost big cities in Europe and feels quite remote. Also the train connections to other parts of Scandinavia are quite limited. There are trains from Trondheim to Oslo, Bergen, Östersund (in Sweden) and also further to the north to Mo i Rana and Bodø.
Canal Harbour and Trondheim city centre
When you exit the train station, you can start watching the landmarks of Trondheim immediately. Right in front of you is the Canal Harbour with its typical wooden houses and lots of boats. If you take the Jernbanebrua (Railway Bridge), you will get to the centre in 5 minutes. Almost everything is very close in Trondheim – the city is not that big after all – some 170,000 inhabitants.
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Skansen Kronan, Göteborg
Skansen Kronan in Göteborg
One of the top sights in Göteborg (Gothenburg) and a dominant feature of its skyline is the old redoubt, Skansen Kronan. It is located on a small hill in the south-western part of Göteborg city centre. There is a beautiful panoramic view of Gothenburg from Skansen Kronan.
Skansen Kronan Pictures
Skansen Kronan on a hill overlooking Göteborg.
Skansen Kronan once you climb on that hill.
Skansen Kronan massive walls in detail.
Skansen Kronan History
Skansen Kronan was part of Göteborg’s fortification.
Skansen Kronan was built in 1687, based on design by Swedish fortifications expert Erik Dahlberg. Its original purpose was to protect Göteborg from a possible enemy attack, particularly with Sweden’s southern rival, the Danes, in mind. When you climb on the small hill where Skansen Kronan is situated, you can also see a few cannons.
Luckily for Göteborg and its citizens, neither Skansen Kronan nor the cannons were ever needed.
Other roles of Skansen Kronan in Göteborg
After the risk of a siege attack on Göteborg diminished, Skansen Kronan served other purposes. In the middle of the 19th century, when Göteborg was facing a serious homelessness problem and houses were scarce in the city, Skansen Kronan served as a shelter for homeless people. Later it was a prison (there are catacombs under Skansen Kronan, where the prisoners were kept).
Skansen Kronan Today
In these days you won’t find any prisoners there. Skansen Kronan is now privately owned and serves as a venue for private parties, conferences, and weddings. Tourist excursions are also possible to a limited extent.
Skansen Kronan Views
View of Göteborg from Skansen Kronan.
The square immediately below the Skansen Kronan hill.
This picture is zoomed. Maybe you can recognize Göteborg stadium in the distance, the venue of numerous big international events in the recent history.
As you can see, both the city of Göteborg and its surroundings are very green.
Trondheim Wooden Houses
Trondheim Wooden Houses Picture
Trondheim Is the City of Wooden Houses
In the past wood used to be the primary building material in Trondheim. Many wooden houses were preserved in the city centre and along the water areas: the Nidelva River, which surrounds the city centre from three sides, and the Canal Harbour, which occupies the fourth, north side, and separates the centre from the artificial island of Brattøra.
Trondheim Wooden House Locations
You can find the most typical Trondheim wooden houses in these streets: Kjøpmannsgata (parallel to the Nidelva River), Fjordgata and Sandgata (parallel to the Canal Harbour). Good views of the wooden houses are from the bridges: Gamle Bybru (Old Town Bridge) over the Nidelva and Jernbanebrua (Railway Bridge) over the Canal Harbour.
Trondheim Canal Harbour
The Canal Harbour in Trondheim, together with the artificial island of Brattøra, originated by raising sand from the Trondheimsfjord in the northern part of the city. Today Brattøra is Trondheim’s main transportation terminal – Trondheim Port and Central Train Station are situated here. The Canal Harbour serves mainly for small private and sightseeing boats.