Miraculous at all times!
Nestling side-by-side in the middle of the historic city of Trondheim you will find Nidaros Cathedral and the Archbishop’s Palace. The Sagas and history have given the Cathedral and the Archbishop’s Palace an honoured position among the tourist attractions in Norway. Always a bustling meeting-place, whether for religious or more prosaic pursuits, you will now find a house of God still very much alive, a popular arena for recitals and a highly praised museum.
King Olav Haraldsson was buried by Nidelven, the river Nid, after he was killed in the battle of Stiklestad in 1030. Tradition has it that the high Altar of the Cathedral now stands on the exact spot of this burial site. One year and five days after he died the King was declared a saint, and pilgrims began to flock to Nidaros and the King’s grave.
Work on erecting the first stone church at St. Olav’s burial site commenced around 1070, and it is assumed that the Cathedral was finished in all its splendour some time around 1300. It was then held to be the most beautiful church in the entire country, which we of course claim it still is! Admittedly, the Cathedral has undergone a great deal of restoration work after centuries of decay, but now, after more than 130 years of restoration and rebuilding, we can really appreciate the impression the church must have made on medieval pilgrims.
photo credit: randywombat
Today the Cathedral continues to attract a great number of visitors. Each year we receive around 400 000 tourists from around the globe. The Cathedral also serves as the local parish church for inhabitants of downtown Trondheim with divine services given several times each week. Moreover, music recitals in the Cathedral offer sublime listening experiences under the high vaulted arches.
More info about Nidaros can be found here: Nidarosdomen