Welcoming invitation to visit Norway’s history featuring our guest Kristin Skjefstad Edibe

Agreeable introduction to discover Norway’s past and present featuring our guest Kristin Skjefstad Edibe : Although modern Norway has only existed for 200 years, the story of the Nordic lands is a long one. From the first settlers of this former glacial land to the modern era of engineering and technology, there’s so much to learn. The land now known as Norway emerged from the last Ice Age thanks to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream. The glacial land became habitable from around 12,000 BC. The long coastline and good conditions for sealing, fishing and hunting attracted people in numbers. Although it is believed that people arrived earlier, the oldest human skeleton found in Norway was carbon dated to 6,600 BC. Find more information on the subject here : Kristin Skjefstad Edibe.

The Oslo region: the Norwegian capital is full of surprises. It was named European Green Capital in 2019. A cutting-edge food scene, new and funky neighbourhoods, a fully-packed event calendar, and several brand-new museums and attractions are just a few teasers of what you can expect. Surrounded by the Oslofjord and deep forests, you can easily combine urban city life with nature-based fun like cycling, skiing at some of Norway´s top ski resorts and trips to nearby regions of Østfold and Vestfold, with charming towns such as Fredrikstad and Tønsberg dotted along the coast.

Norwegian gastronomy : There has been a formidable change in attitudes towards Norway’s food traditions in recent years. When it comes to food and drink in Norway, a culinary revolution has been quietly taking place in the last few years. Restaurants and ordinary kitchens have seen a dramatic rise in local and organic food. What really characterizes Norwegian cooking is largely found in rather unique agricultural customs: sheep, cows and goats graze in outlying pastures along the coast and in the mountains. A cold climate and unpolluted land are ideal for slow growing vegetables and fruit and berries without the extensive use of pesticides. Modest farms that produce milk, cheese and beef in healthy environments are virtually disease-free and subject to strict regulations when it comes to animal welfare. And of course, the extensive coastline gives Norway long and rich seafood traditions.

Edvard Munch (1863–1944) is Norway’s most famous artist, a symbolist/expressionist painter who created The Scream, a world-famous piece and one of the most recognizable paintings in all art. Other notable painters and sculptors have brought Norwegian art to the public from the 19th and 20th centuries. Norway today is a destination for art and culture as expressed with the new MUNCH and the National Museum. Other highlights include the Tjuvholmen area with a unique architecture, home to the Astrup Fearnley contemporary art museum, which features key works by artists including Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, and Norwegian artist Bjarne Melgaard, as well as major temporary exhibitions. You will also find a number of Norway’s most cutting-edge contemporary art galleries in the area. Oslo also has incredible outdoor sculpture parks, including Ekebergparken and the must-visit Vigelandsparken. There’s also lots of impressive street art along the way.

Norwegian design is part of the minimal, functional, and aesthetic Scandinavian design which is a major force in furniture and interiors. Scandinavian design first emerged as a common term in the 1950s, when designers from Norway and the neighbouring countries toured the world with their products, characterised by minimalism and functionality. Norwegians haven’t perhaps been as skilled or eager as our Swedish and Danish neighbours in promoting our post World War II-era design icons. But this could be seen as an advantage: the new generation of designers are now able to express themselves more freely, without having to constantly live up to a legacy. Already, many are gaining international recognition. They work with multiple formats, but the common thread is the willingness to experiment and take risks. The design scene in Norway has really been blooming in the 21st century with brands like brands like Fjordfiesta, Eikund and Hjelle.

Norwegian architecture is experiencing very exciting times. Urban developments and bold designs are taking shape all over the country. Those projects often reflect a powerful, raw contrasts in nature. One of the fundamental principles of Norwegian architecture is that architecture should always be in constant dialogue with its surroundings, including the abundant nature in the country. Natural, sustainable materials like wood are often present. Norwegian architects are taking wooden constructions to new levels in all types of building in cutting edge contemporary architecture.

The most popular sports in Norway are Football, Cross-country skiing, Biathlon, Ice hockey, and Alpine skiing. Cross-country skiing is de facto the national sport of Norway. Norway has some of the best athletes in the world for both Cross-country skiing, Biathlon and Alpine skiing, with the national team often being very successful in those sports.