Oslo is the capital of Norway, an economic and cultural center. The king lives and rules the country in this city, and senior officials, public, regional and municipal officials work here. The capital of the kingdom is located at the northern tip of the Oslo Fjord and at the foot of the ski jump in Holmenkollen, nicknamed the “Holy Mountain of Norway”.
Oslo's Norwegian capital is the country's largest industrial center. There are factories of heavy industry, shipyards and steelworks. The abundance of fish in coastal waters favors the development of the food industry. Oslo is also the country's financial center. The banking sector of the city is closely connected with agriculture. The capital also has a stock exchange and one of the most important communication centers.
The city and its surroundings constitute the agglomeration of Greater Oslo. The capital of which European country is still filled with such a provincial and cozy atmosphere as Oslo? And this despite the fact that about 600 thousand people live in it!
The city is considered the most expensive in the world in terms of cost of living, rental housing and payment for it. At the same time, the Norwegian capital Oslo ranks fifth in the world in terms of wages.
It is believed that the city was founded in 1048. In the vault of Snorri Sturluson’s sagas “Circle of the Earth”, it was precisely this year that King Harald III founded a settlement called Oslo (os - “mouth”, Lo - “river name”). They named the city based on its location. However, archaeological excavations have proven that the first settlements appeared here earlier. Oslo residents decided to consider the date of foundation of the city - 1000, so in 2000 the Norwegian capital celebrated its millennium. Oslo until 1877 was called Christiania in honor of King Christian IV, after the name was slightly changed and until 1924 the city was called Christiania.
One of the most outstanding buildings of the Norwegian capital is the Royal Palace (Det Kongetige Slott). The residence of the Norwegian royal family is located at the end of Karl Johan Street, the main commercial and tourist area. The construction of the palace was completed in 1849. Outside, the building looks like a classic facade of the London Buckingham Palace, where the British royal family lives. The Oslo Palace is a three-story building with a total area of 17 624 m 2 . The area of the royal family’s living rooms is 1000 m 2 , includes 173 rooms and a chapel, along the perimeter of the building is surrounded by a park complex, which is open for tourists. There are several monuments, the largest of which is the equestrian statue of Karl XIV Johan. May 17, on Norwegian Constitution Day , the royal family greets the people from the central terrace of the palace.
In 2007, the royal house in Oslo was auctioned on one of the Internet sites. Potential buyers were willing to pay $ 100 million. However, a few days later it turned out that the auction was someone else's unsuccessful joke.
The Norwegian capital Oslo welcomes guests every year at the Nobel Prize ceremony. It makes a king. The laureate himself is selected by an independent committee appointed by the Norwegian parliament , the Storting.