Day 6 - Oslo
Breakfast on board DFDS
10:00 Upon arrival meet and greet your private car (Mercedes E) at pier for a 6 hrs tour of Oslo:
OSLO CONTRASTS; HIGHLIGHTS, MODERN ART AND ARCHITECTURE (6 HRS)
Meet and greet your private coach with driver and English speaking guide for a 6 hrs tour
Oslo highlights are many: The University; Stortinget, where the Norwegian Parliament sits; the Royal Palace at the end of Oslo's main street Karl Johan's Gate, named after the king who built the palace. Other buildings are the National Theatre in Baroque style, but with the interior in Rococo style with a touch of Art Nouveau; the Cathedral, Our Saviour's Church, was inaugurated in 1697; the City Hall from 1950, where the Nobel Peace Prize is presented each year on the 10th of December.
Visits at the Viking Ships Museum housing the three Viking Ships from Oseberg, Gokstad and Tune. The museum also houses impressive finds from these and other Viking burials which include small boats, richly carved sledges and wagons, textiles, harnesses, tools and kitchen utensils.
We also take a walk around the stunning Vigeland Sculpture Park which has no less than 212 of Gustav Vigeland's bronze and granit sculptures and several wrought iron gates. There are over 600 figures depicted in the 212 sculptures and gates.
we continue to Telthusbakken and Damstredet.
The two small roads Damstredet and Telthusbakken are found just below the medieval church Gamle Aker kirke. This is a charming and pictoresque part of town with well-preserved and inhabited wooden houses from the late 18th and early 19th century.
The allotment gardens on the south side of Telthusbakken give the area a countryside atmosphere.
As a contrast we continue to the new vibrant area Tjuvholmen
Tjuvholmen serves as a window to European contemporary architecture. This new neighbourhood is characterized by an intriguing architectural diversity and exceptional outdoor areas, all brought together by the master plan of one of Norway's most acclaimed architects, Niels Torp. Among Norwegian architects who have contributed to the project are Kristin Jarmund, MAD, Kari Nissen Brodtkorb, Jensen & Skodvin og Lund Hagem. International contributors include Danish Schmidt Hammer Lassen, Finnish Gullichsen Vormala, and Italian superstar Renzo Piano, who is behind the new Astrup Fearnley museum.
The Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art moved into a brand new building at Tjuvholmen on 29 September 2012.
The new museum building is designed by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano. It consists of two buildings: one for the museum's own collection and one for rotating exhibitions.
As the new space allows Astrup Fearnley to present works from its collection on a permanent basis, artists such as Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Charles Ray, Richard Prince, Matthew Barney, Bruce Nauman, Robert Gober and Cindy Sherman will be on permanent display right in the centre of Oslo.
The new museum is beautifully situated at the tip of Tjuvholmen, with the Oslo Fjord and Tjuvholmen Sculpture Park as its closest neighbours.
Entrance to Viking Ship Museum and Astrup Fearnly museum is included.
16:00 Car and guide end at hotel
Overnight at Continental Hotel
Hotel Continental
Hotel Continental is a hotel in Oslo, Norway, that opened in 1900.
The background story of the Continental is like an old fairytale, about a young couple, who through their hard work and entrepreneurship created a monument that will live for many years. It all started in Sweden in 1860, with the birth of Caroline Boman. Her family was poor, and instead of emigrating to America, something that was customary at the time, she crossed the border from Sweden to Christiania, now Oslo Norway in 1887, where she got a job as a cook. Four years later, she married Christian Hansen, who was from Oslo and worked as a waiter.
Hotel Continental and Theatercaféen opened in 1900, right after the opening of the National Theatre. The business was originally owned by Foss Brewery, but was run by different tenants who all had to give up. Caroline and Christian Boman Hansen took over the lease in 1909, and within only three years they were able to purchase the establishment.
In 1932 and 1961 respectively the hotel and restaurant was expanded, and now occupies a whole block centrally located in the center of Oslo. Through four generations the same family has built and developed the hotel and the restaurants into what the establishment is today. Elisabeth C. Brochmann is the current and fourth generation owner. In 1985 she took over the daily operations from her mother Ellen Brochmann.
The Hotel Continental offers 155 individually furnished rooms, many of which are newly renovated. The hotel is a 5 star property of high international standard, and is the only Norwegian member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
The renowned restaurant Theatercaféen is part of the establishment. This newly renovated wiener-café is listed on the New York Times list of the world’s most famous Vienna-styled cafes. Eik Annen Etage is the hotel’s gourmet restaurant. Hotel Continental has an extensive art collection, and in the lobby bar “Dagligstuen” there is a large collection of prints by Edvard Munch. In addition, the hotel has conference and banqueting facilities with the capacity of up to 300 guests.