• 2019 Nautical Explorations
    There are 57 statues on the west facade of Nidarosdomen — Trondheim, Norway.
    The "Doomsday" relief sits above the great rose window of Nidarosdomen — Trondheim, Norway.1L to R: Olaf of Norway, Bishop Sigurd, Saint Clement ... west facade of Nidarosdomen — Trondheim.2Looking towards the sanctuary and altar of Nidarosdomen — Trondheim, Norway.Altar honoring Norway's Sami culture ... Nidarosdomen — Trondheim, Norway.1The Great Rose Window of Nidarosdomen — Trondheim, Norway.1It took a 172-step climb to see this view ... Nidarosdomen — Trondheim, Norway.Gargoyles ... Nidarosdomen — Trondheim, Norway.Spectacular view from the spire of Nidarosdomen — Trondheim, Norway.Archbishop's Palace below us ... our next stop from Nidarosdomen — Trondheim, Norway.

    Trondheim: Nidarosdomen

    July 10, 2019 in Norway ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    We got off the ship’s courtesy shuttle at the second stop ... near Nidarosdomen, billed as the northernmost Medieval Cathedral in the world ... named after the former name of Trondheim ... Nidaros. Construction of the cathedral began in 1070 to provide a final resting place for King Olaf, a Viking King who was canonized and later became the national saint of Norway.

    The moniker “dark cathedral” was especially appropriate today as the interior was only dimly lit. I later learned that will change once the lighting upgrade is completed. Restoration work, which began in 1869, continues to this day.

    As well as wandering around the interior of the church, we did the Nidarosdomen Spire Climb ... 172 steps up a narrow, curving staircase. Not that difficult, except for the pace which felt like a forced march because there was nowhere to step aside to let those in a hurry go ahead of us. In the end, it was worth it for the aerial views we enjoyed from the viewing terrace.    Read more