Jul 9, 2008, 5:35 GMT
Trondheim, Norway - There is no need to get off your bicycle and push it up the extremely steep road to Brubbaken Hill in Trondheim as Norway's third largest city boasts the world's first and only custom-built cycle lift.
The unique device has been whisking cyclists up the 130 metres to the top of this mount since 1993 and it goes by the name of 'Trampe.' Around 30,000 people use it every year.
City guide Lise enjoys showing tourists the entry station where locals and tourists alike are invited to place their right foot on a footplate next to a rail and allow themselves to be hauled gently aloft.
The lift is a symbol of innovation in a city whose image at home and abroad is dominated by history. After all, Trondheim is also home to Nidaros Cathedral, a national sanctuary which reflects the story of this rugged land like no other.
'Our city was founded by the Viking king Olav Tryggvason,' Lisa tells visitors, a warrior who piloted his longboat up the River Nid and settled in 997 at a bend just before the river enters the fjord.
An impressive statue of Olav in the market place still watches over a city which has carried various names down the centuries but reverted to Trondheim for good in 1930 after unhappy burghers rejected a bid to have it changed to 'Nidaros.'
King Olav had been christened in France and he made the first real effort to convert Norway to Christianity. 'He also wanted to establish a Viking empire under the rule of a single monarch,' explained Lise.
Back then the sword was mightier than the word and Olav fought many battles against his adversaries. The 'holy king' died in 1030 aged only 35 years and was later elevated to the status of a national hero with a shrine at the grave site where Nidaros Cathedral now stands.
Work on the cathedral began in the 11th Century under the aegis of King Olav Kyrre and the house of worship is now a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. The transepts and Chaperhouse have thick walls and are dimly lit, owing to the tiny arched windows. The long choir by contrast is flooded with sunlight through fine stained glass windows.
The 42.5-metre nave, west of the transept, had to be completely reconstructed after it was ravaged by fire and the remains were plundered for building material. Today, Norwegian monarchs receive their official blessing from the Church in Nidaros Cathedral and the royal regalia are kept here.
The magnificent west wall is the main facade of the church and it displays a series of ornamental figures, including one of the Archangel Michael complete with shield and spear.
'His face reminds you of Bob Dylan,' Lise remarks and that is no coincidence. The sculptor who remodelled the figure in 1969 said he adopted the face of Bob Dylan after being inspired by the American singer's firm stance against the Vietnam War.
Away from these stone reminders of the past, Trondheim is a zesty, young-at-heart kind of place. Around 30,000 of the 165,000 residents are students and there are plenty of lively bars and small shops.
From downtown, there is a clear view of the surrounding hills which rise to a height of several hundred metres and form the winter backdrop for cross-country and alpine skiing.
Summer leisure activities tend to revolve around Trondheim fjord. Water plays a key part in the life of people hereabouts and fishing and trade are still important sources of income. At the same time, service industries and administration play an increasingly important role as in the rest of Norway.
Trondheim is visited daily by a southbound and a northbound vessel of the Norwegian mail boat or 'Hurtigruten' fleet. In their traditional livery of black, red and white, these ships glide past the mouth of the fjord at Agdenes and across the broader expanse of water before docking at an quay just north of the city centre. For many passengers on these trips, a tour of Trondheim during the four-hour stay is among the highlights of their holiday.
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