Oslo is the capital of Norway, economic and cultural center. The king lives and rules the country in this city, the highest officials, public, regional and municipal officials work here. The capital of the kingdom is located at the northern tip of the Oslofjord and at the foot of the Holmenkollen ski jump, nicknamed the "Holy Mountain of Norway".
Norwegian capital Oslo is the largest industrial center of the country. Heavy industry plants, shipyards and steel mills are located here. The abundance of fish in coastal waters favors the development of the food industry. Oslo is also the financial center of the country. The city's banking sector is closely linked to agriculture. The capital is also home to the stock exchange and one of the most important communications centers.
The city and its environs make up the Greater Oslo agglomeration. 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, rent and rent. At the same time, in terms of wages, the Norwegian capitalOslo ranks fifth in the world.
It is believed that the city was founded in 1048. In Snorri Sturluson's set of sagas "Circle of the Earth", it was in this year that King Harald III founded a settlement called Oslo (os - "mouth", Lo - "name of the river"). The city was named based on its location. However, archaeological excavations have proven that the first settlements appeared here earlier. The inhabitants of Oslo 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 in 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. From the outside, the building looks like the classic façade of London's Buckingham Palace, home to the British royal family. The Palace in Oslo is a three-story building with a total area of 17,624 m2. The area of the living rooms of the royal family is 1000 m2, includes 173 rooms and a chapel, along the perimeter of the building is surrounded by a park complex, which is open to tourists. There are several monuments here, the largest of which is the equestrian statue of Karl XIV Johan. On May 17, Norway's Constitution Day, the royal family greets the people from the central terrace of the palace.
In 2007 the royalhouse in Oslo put up for auction 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's bad joke.
The Norwegian capital Oslo annually welcomes guests at the Nobel Prize ceremony. This is what the king does. The laureate himself is chosen by an independent committee appointed by the Norwegian parliament - the Storting.
