Vigelandsparken

Welcome to Frogner Parc and the Vigeland installation!
This place is one of a kind! Few places in the world can offer an outdoor collection of statues by the same artist this extensive. Look around and decide where you want to start, as we have more than 200 sculptures to look at. This is actually one of Norways’ most popular attractions, and over 1 million visitors come here every year. Pay special attention to Monolitten (The Monolith) with its 121 figures striving to get to the top!

The sculptures are made of bronze, granite and cast iron, and apart from all the statues, Gustav Vigeland also designs the park itself. So who was he, the mastermind behind all these very imaginative and extraordinary sculptures? Born in late 19th century he still holds the position as Norways’ most talented sculptor. Apart from the sculptures here he also designed the Nobel Peace Prize Medal.

While walking around amongst the sculptures you might want to know the history of the park? It all began in 1921 when the City of Oslo decided they would tear down the house where Vigeland lived to make room for a new public library. That, of course, Vigeland didn’t want to let happen without any compensation. He finally convinced the municipality to give him a new home and a studio to work in, but in exchange had to give something back to the city of Oslo. He promised to donate all his subsequent works for a place to live, and therefore we can enjoy all these sculptures here in the park today!

Apart from the sculptures he also donated drawings, engravings and models. When you are done looking at sculptures you can actually see his other works in Vigelands apartment and studio, which has been preserved and is open to the public. You find the building just south of the sculpture park, and here the artist worked and lived until his death in 1943. His ashes are even preserved in this building! Don’t miss to visit the Vigeland Museum located in the same building as his apartment before you leave this magical place!

Photo The monolith by Luke1ace is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0