Pictures from the historical Old City of Oslo

Today I got up early to shoot some photos in a neighbourhood in Oslo called Gamlebyen (meaning: the Old City).

Those of you that have followed this blog for a while might recognize the park with the lake in it? Yes, it’s the same place that I went ice skating last winter.
The water is a fake lake and it’s supposed to be a reconstruction of the Oslo Fjord shoreline as it appeared around 1300 CE. The water is filthy & polluted, so swimming is NOT recommended (but ice skating is!). The name of the park is Middelalderparken (the Medieval Park) and in this area, development is not allowed due to all the historical ruins. In the Medieval Park you’ll find the ruins of Church Clemens, Maria Church and the Royal Palace.

Or, like Google translate so elegantly put it: “In the Medieval Park are the ruins of the church Clemens, Maria church and the palace front in the day.”

The second park you see on these photos is one called Minneparken (The Memorial Park). According to Wikipedia this park is popularly known as the Ruin Park but this is not the full truth. The truth is that many of the residents in the neighbourhood use the more poetic name: Urine Park.

Disclaimer: The first three photos in this gallery was shot a few days earlier, but the rest of them are brand new.

A tombstone in the Ruin Park in Gamlebyen, Oslo.

The yellow building on the left is Oslo’s bishopric / Oslo episcopal residence.

Oslo episcopal residence.

A tree in Middelalderparken (the Medieval Park), Oslo.

These tracks lead to nowhere.

Part of an old building in Middelalderparken (the Medieval Park)

Another tree in Middelalderparken (the Medieval Park)

Ruins in the foreground, construction in the background. From Middelalderparken, Gamlebyen.

Things may change, but the spring always returns to Middelalderparken.

Old vs. new buildings.

Opposite side of an old building in Middelalderparken (the Medieval Park)

Detail from the building

Vannspeilet (the fake lake) with parts of ‘the barcode buildings’ in the background.

Detail from the entrance to the Urine Park.

Flowers growing in Ruinparken

Detail from tombstone in Ruinparken

It’s difficult to read all the text, but it says something about “Blessed are those who die”.

Detail from tombstone in Ruinparken

Something about a judicious man called Anders Lavrsen that died in December 627 CE

More details from Ruinparken

Urinparken where you’ll find the ruins of Hallvard’s Cathedral.

scull of stone topheader 960×260 pixels.

In the Urine Park you can find the ruins of Hallvard’s Cathedral. Hallvard’s Cathedral, still according to Wikipedia, is also known as Halvard’s church, St. Hallvard’s Cathedral, St Hallvard Church, Oslo Cathedral and Oslo Cathedral Church, and it was Oslo’s earliest cathedral. The cathedral was built at the height of the Old Town market square (were the streets Bispegata & Oslo Gate cross) during the early 1100s, and was used as a church until about 1655. Besides being the bishop’s seat and religious center of eastern Norway about 500 years, the cathedral was the coronation church, royal wedding church, royal chapel, and one of Scandinavia’s most visited places of pilgrimage.

The yellow building on some of the photos is Oslo’s bishopric / Oslo episcopal residence: Located in the historic district of Old Town in Oslo, surrounded by ruins from the time when this was the city center. Dating back to 1100’s, Oslo bishops stayed in this area. The current bishop’s house is built on the remains of St. Olav’s Monastery, a dominican monastery which probably was founded in 1239.

Related articles

• Perfect ice conditions in Gamlebyen, Oslo (cardinalguzman.wordpress.com)
• Together (Weekly Photo Challenge) (cardinalguzman.wordpress.com)