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DAY 8/232 1981 – ANSLO TO OSLO, NORWAY

Oslo was founded as a city at the end of the Viking Age in the year 1040 under the name Ánslo. The city became a bishopric in 1070 and a capital under Haakon V of Norway around 1300.

Personal unions between Norway and Denmark from 1397 to 1523 and again from 1536 to 1814 reduced Oslo’s influence.

After being destroyed by a fire in 1624, during the reign of King Christian IV, a new city was named Christiania in honour of the king. The city was the capital of Norway during the 1814–1905 union between Sweden and Norway.

From 1877, the city's name was spelled Kristiania, and in 1925, the city, after incorporating the village retaining its former name, was renamed Oslo.

Vigiland Sculpture park in the Frogner Park is a must visit in Oslo with more than 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland (1869–1943) in bronze, granite and cast iron, including The Angry Boy (Sinnataggen in Norwegian), The Monolith (Monolitten) and The Wheel of Life (Livshjulet).

Vigeland was also responsible for the design and architectural outline of the park, which is one of Norway's top tourist attractions.

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