The breathtaking fjords of the southwest are Norway’s most dramatic features, but there are many other reasons to visit this sparsely populated land on the northern fringe of Europe. The North Cape’s midnight sun is rightly famous – here, far above the Arctic Circle, lies the spectacularly situated town of Tromsø, where the sun never rises in winter, nor sets in midsummer. And each of Norway’s three major cities offers distinct appeal – Oslo as present-day capital, Bergen as major trading port and Trondheim as long-established center of Christian pilgrimage.

In the wilderness that lies between the main urban centers are such delights as Jostedalsbreen, Europe’s largest glacier. There are opportunities to indulge in outdoor activities including skiing, hunting, fishing and rock-climbing. Even the less energetic can marvel at the awesome beauty of the Norwegian countryside, with its countless steep-sided valleys, high mountain lakes and unbelievable views.

For those who hike this stunning landscape, there emerges a thrill from following the footsteps of Norwegian ancestors. The known history of the country begins in the 9th century AD and is based on the sagas, supported by archaeological evidence, and the explorations of Viking adventurers. Norway itself was divided into a number of fiefdoms; the unification process began with King Harald Fairhair, who defeated the major northern tribes at the battle of Hafrsfjord in 872. Over the next two centuries, Christianity gradually supplanted traditional belief in Norse gods. By 1060, the country was unified. From 1200 onwards, the twin powers of church and crown took control.

The arrival of bubonic plague (The Black Death) in Norway in 1350 killed half the Norwegian population. The Norwegians and Swedes had already established a joint monarchical structure which lasted between 1319 and 1343. Following the ravages of the Black Death, Norway entered into a political union with Denmark in 1380 through intermarriage between the countries’ ruling families. The alliance was intended to be one of equals; in practice, Denmark was the dominant partner, and in 1536, Norway became formally subservient to the Danish crown. Thus, when the 17th-century rivalry between Denmark and Sweden – the two dominant powers in the Baltic – broke out into warfare, the vanquished Danes handed over parts of Norwegian territory to Sweden.

The link between Denmark and Norway was finally broken in 1815 at the end of the Napoleonic wars. Denmark/Norway had sided with France. After the defeat of Napoleon, Norway was handed over to the Swedes. The Norwegians were allowed their own Parliament, the Storting, which repeatedly clashed with the Swedish government. This was officially and peacefully dissolved in 1905 following a referendum at which just 200 people – from a franchise of about 400,000 – voted in favor of retaining the union. The Swedes accepted the decision and Norway achieved true independence in 1905.

Norway is foremost a land for those who love nature. However, it also offers a rich cultural experience, as would be expected of such varied history, from the Vikings to later luminaries such as artist Edvard Munch.

Geography
Norway is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by Finland, the Russian Federation and Sweden, to the south by the Skagerrak (which separates it from Denmark) and to the west by the North Sea. The coastline is 2735km (1700 miles) long, its most outstanding feature being the fjords. Most of them are between 80 to 160km (50 to 100 miles) long, and are often very deep and surrounded by towering mountains. Much of northern Norway lies beyond the Arctic Circle and the landscape is stark. In the south, the landscape consists of forests with many lakes and rivers.