If you ever find yourself in the capital city of Norway, Vigeland Sculpture Park should be one of your first stops. This impressive piece of natural peace and quiet in the middle of a bustling city is also home to more than 200 masterpieces.
Curious to learn more? Then read on because we’ll be telling you everything there is to know about this incredible park and what to expect from a visit.
Vigeland Sculpture Park: A Park Within a Park
The Vigeland Sculpture Park can be found in Oslo, the capital city of Norway. But Vigeland Park is actually a park within a park since it is located within Frogner Park. Reaching the park from the Oslo Central Station is incredibly easy.
You’ll have the option of taking the Line 12 tram (which will take you about 24 minutes), catching the Line 31 bus (which will take you roughly 27 minutes), taking a taxi (which will be about a mere 8-minute drive but could be expensive), or you can actually walk (which won’t even take you 50 minutes).
Walking to Frogner and Vigeland Sculpture Park on a nice day will also allow you to take in other sights along the way. The Vigeland Sculpture Park boasts over 200 sculptures made of granite, bronze, and cast iron and sees roughly 1 million visitors each year.
Gustav Vigeland: the Artist of Vigeland Sculpture Park
Gustav Vigeland is the artist behind the Vigeland Park statues and, in today’s terms, would be described as the ultimate hustler. He was born in 1869 and came to Oslo in his late teen years. He later convinced the city to build him a home (which would also serve as his studio) with the agreement that he would then donate all his works to the city in the future.
The city finished building his home/studio in 1920, and he spent the rest of his life happily living and creating there. Gustav Vigeland passed away in 1943, and today, the building he spent his entire life in is the Vigeland Museum. But Vigeland didn’t just hustle his way into a free house and studio; he also upsold his services. Initially, he was commissioned to create a fountain for what is now known as Vigeland Park.
He then quickly managed to turn this into a large sculpture. He is also not just credited for the over 200 sculptures scattered all over the park (the result of 40 years of creation), but the actual design and architectural outline of the park itself. After knowing what an impressive man Gustav Vigeland was, it’s no surprise that his park turned out equally impressive.
If you would like to see some of Vigeland’s other works, you can check out the monument he created for mathematician Niels Henrik Abel. This is a 12-meter-tall statue that stands in front of the palace. Another Vigeland sculpture found at the castle is that of the writer and women’s rights activist Camilla Collett. An older version of herself can be seen facing fierce wind head-on in this sculpture, entitled In the Storm, found on the north side of the palace.
When one ventures out to the eastern corner of the palace park, you’ll find yet another impressive Vigeland statue of the composer Rikard Nordraak. This one is extra interesting since Rikard seems to be guarded by grinning dragons made of wrought iron.
Some of the Most Popular Pieces Inside Vigeland Sculpture Park
While most will explore and see most of Vigeland’s work on their stroll through the park, there are a few of the pieces that are considered to be exceptional. They are:
Sinnataggen (aka The Angry Boy)
The Angry Boy is a wrought-iron statue that has become almost synonymous with Oslo. The name couldn’t be more descriptive, and this little boy throwing a tantrum can be seen on many local souvenirs.
Monolitten (aka The Monolith)
The Monolith is the tallest of all the Vigeland statues, standing 17 meters tall. Carved out of stone, this statue depicts 121 entangled figures (of all genders and ages), but with the tip consisting of only children.
Livshjulet (aka The Wheel of Life)
The Wheel of Life is a bronze statue that, as the name suggests, is in the shape of a wheel depicting men, women, and children holding on to each other as if it were a wreath of humans. It’s the ultimate depiction of life as an eternal journey of ages, emotions, hopes, and dreams.
When is the Best Time to Visit Vigeland Sculpture Park?
Oslo’s Sculpture Park is open 24/7. While most prefer visiting the park during the warmer seasons, there’s no reason you can’t visit, even if the landscape is covered in snow. The museum, on the other hand, has certain operating hours. These also tend to change between seasons, so double-check before heading out.
How Much Does it Cost to Visit Vigeland Sculpture Park?
Visiting the park is free of charge. Only when visiting the museum, will you be charged an entrance fee. Adults pay 120 NOK (about $12), young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 pay 70 NOK (roughly $7), seniors are charged 100 NOK (about $10), and Children 17 and under get free entrance.
A Few Non-negotiables
There are a few rules that should strictly be adhered to when visiting Vigeland Sculpture Park:
Although the park is open to the public all day and all year round, it’s still managed by the Agency for Urban Environment (BYM). Therefore, you are not allowed to host events or do any commercial filming without prior permission from the BYM.
Even though it can make for quite an impressive shot, drones are not allowed at Vigeland Sculpture Park.
If you plan on driving to the park, please remember that you must pay a parking fee separate from the entrance fee payable at the museum. Please budget accordingly.
Vigeland Sculpture Park: The Magical Home of the Norwegian Sculpture (Over 200 of Them)
Many ask how long a visit to the park usually takes, and we can only advise to set aside at least half a day, especially if you’re planning on popping into the museum too. Since it’s easy to get to the park via public transport or by just walking, we wouldn’t recommend driving unless you’re coming from far away.
But, if you are an art enthusiast and are planning on renting a motorhome in Norway to do your cross-country exploring, we recommend that you also add places such as the KODE Art Museum in Bergen, the Munch Museum, the Henie Onstad Art Center, and the Lillehammer Art Museum to your trip itinerary. Happy viewing!
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