Norwegian fjords
This is where nature has shaped its most majestic masterpieces… Majestic fjords bordered by monumental cliffs cutting into the coastline of the North Sea, legendary lands featuring fascinating fauna, vertiginous waterfalls tumbling from immense rock walls. Norway will open its doors to you for a unique 8-day journey from Oslo to Bergen, through these ancestral lands, home to myths, conquest and geological wonders.
The Norwegian capital grows distant. Its ochre brick buildings disappear, giving way to the spellbinding setting of Oslfjorden, featuring lush green islands scattered with hundred-year-old oaks, herbaceous shorelines and red wooden houses.
After a port of call in the charming historic Swedish city of Göteborg, you will set sail again for the historic and wild southern tip of Norway. In Arendal, once known as the Venice of the North because of its many canals, you may take the time to contemplate this intact and preserved immense space, composed of conifer forests and long pebble beaches ; these bear testimony to the retreat of a huge glacier, around 12,000 years ago, which left an enormous amount of rock behind. Then, in Sandnes, plunge into the fantastic universe of the legendary and emblematic Vikings, who were explorers and traders but also pirates. Here, an immersion into the Iron Age awaits; you will discover the ancestral traditions of these larger-than-life characters as you visit a reconstructed traditional village or emblematic sites.
The fjords region, the highlight of your odyssey, is approaching. Beneath a misty sky, you will see the imposing dark rock walls of these natural wonders, whose calm waters were explored by Viking drakkars almost ten centuries ago. These geological treasures will immerse you in a universe that is as inhospitable as it is captivating. Olden and its closeness to the Jostedalsbreen National Park, which is home to the Briksdal Glacier, one of the last ice caps in Europe; Geiranger and its legendary fjord, the only one to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Hellesylt and its impressive cliffs with their vertiginous waterfalls: these all offer a unique, stunning and unforgettable experience.
During a final port of call, you will be able to visit Alesund. Fall in love with the Art Nouveau architecture of this historic city, which is surrounded by a ring of rocky islets, enchanting fjord inlets and majestic mountains. It lies anchored opposite Giske, the home island of Rollo, the great Viking chieftain renowned for his many Nordic expeditions to Normandy.
As a grand finale, this enchanting interlude will come to an end in Bergen, founded by the Vikings almost a thousand years ago and famous for its seven mountains overlooking the city centre and its Hanseatic wharf, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Sweden’s second city has much to recommend it. The lively, major seaport is dotted with Dutch-style canals and lined with leafy boulevards, shops and cafés. Cruise passengers stopping over in Gothenburg will also find a plethora of museums and cultural attractions. Ranked as the 12th most incentive city by Forbes, the city is home to design academy Volvo and the Gothenburg International Film Festival.
Olden is increasingly becoming a customary stop on a Norwegian fjords cruise. Often referred to as the gateway to Norway’s glaciers, Olden – located at the mouth of the Oldeelva river on the southern end of the 106km Nordfjorden – boasts its own spectacular surrounding landscape, dotted with valleys, waterfalls and mountains.
The coastal town of Ålesund is the commercial capital of the Møre og Romsdal district. But more important, it is noted for its characteristic Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) buildings, which some claim make Ålesund one of the most beautiful towns in Norway. This Art Nouveau style emerged when the town was completely rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1904 destroyed nearly 800 buildings and left 10,000 residents homeless. It is said that the fire started by a tipped oil lamp. Rebuilding was carried out with the help of many young, foreign architects who added their own flourishes to the architectural blend of German Jugendstil and Viking roots. Today, narrow streets are crammed with buildings topped with turrets, spires and gables that bear decorations of dragonheads and curlicues. As one of the few remaining Art Nouveau towns in the world, in 1998 Ålesund was awarded the coveted Houens National Memorial Prize for the preservation of its unique architecture.
Surrounded by mountains and sparkling fjords, the waterside city of Bergen has a spectacular setting. There has been a settlement here since medieval times and the colourful waterfront buildings of the Hanseatic wharf, known as Bryggen, are testament to its fascinating history of trade. As Norway’s best known medieval settlement, the Bryggen is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Our comprehensive selection of excursions allows you to discover the many sides of Bergen, such as the fish market and narrow cobbled streets, as well as stunning views of the city from the summit of Mt Fløyen. Alternatively, those who have visited the city previously may like to experience one of the tours that travel further afield. Just 300 yards from the main piers, you will find the Fortress Museum (Fesningsmuseum), which has an interesting collection of objects related to World War II.
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