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After we got off the ferry from the mainland, it took a while to get our bearings and decide what to look at first. There are five museums on Bygdøy! Since it was mid-morning and beautiful out, we decided to to the the Norsk Folkmuseum. Much of it is outdoors - old buildings from farmsteads and churches, but some of it is also indoors - several permanent exhibits as well as traveling, temporary exhibits. |
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This is a Sammi hut from Lapland in the north part of Scandinavia. It is built of a framework of birch poles, covered with birch bark, then a layer of sod, then finally the poles on the outside. The sod still supports plants! |
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Stone and iron mile markers were placed here and there around the outdoor museum, dating anywhere from the 1600's on up through the 1800's. |
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There were many examples of Norwegian wood structures throughout the grounds of the museum. This is an example of a building that was used for storage; the detail on the logs is amazing - they are fitted and finished perfectly, as well as decorated. |
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Our favorite building has to be the wood church. As you can imagine, wooded churches like this are in danger from fires, and there are not many left. This one is from the 13th century, and was brought to the park from an area north of Oslo. It has a very modern sprinkler system in it now! |
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The doors to the wooden church are heavily carved in intricate knotwork patterns of plants and animals. This pattern, as well as other decorations on the church, are similar patterns and decorations common during the Viking period. |
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Closer view of some of the details on the church spire. Note the knotwork patterns and the dragon heads. |
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Dragons worked for the Vikings when they were pagan, and apparently worked for them after the advent of Christianity. |
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Some more details, different view. |
