Welcome to Oslo, our beautiful capital city! It was founded by the last Viking King, Harald Hardråde, in 1048 as Ánslo and became the capital of Norway in year 1299. After being destroyed by a fire in 1624, the city was rebuilt closer to the Akershus Fortress and named Christiania, in honor of the reigning King Christian IV of the Denmark-Norway union. Norway gained its constitution in 1814, and Christiania once again became the capital of Norway. However, it was not until 1925, 20 years after the union with Sweden, that the city was renamed Oslo. You can learn more of the history of Oslo in our guided walk through the city centre Wednesday evening.
Today, the city is home to more than 700 000 inhabitants, but actually consists mostly of forest. Oslo offers a wide variety of recreational activities, ranging from skiing in Nordmarka during winter to swimming in the fjord in the summer. You can use one of the many saunas located around the “Operabukta”. The Opera house is an attraction for itself. Opened in 2008 and designed by the Norwegian architect and design agency “Snøhetta”, it has won many prices. You can enjoy a ballet, a concert and the interior inside, or enjoy the fantastic view from the roof.
The conference takes place in Thon Hotel Vika Atrium. It is located just across from Aker Brygge. This area has evolved from an industrial area into a thriving meeting place for both tourists and locals with lots of restaurants and shops. The restaurant Ling Ling, where we will enjoy our gala dinner on Thursday evening, is located here and offers an amazing view of the waterfront. We are very much looking forward to welcoming you in Oslo!
Jannicke Røe
President Norske Ortoptisters Forening
