Oslo City Hall, Oslo

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Radhuset, City Hall, opened in 1950 to honor Oslo's 900th birthday features murals that tell the story of a Norway that suffered tyranny in the Second World War and their rise to freedom again. They are in a large hall, very accessible for viewing, and well worth the time to wander about and take them in.

I have to say that the information is a little wrong here. The city hall has only guided tours every day in summer season (july - aug) and now it has free tours on wednsdays at 10 - 12 - 14. Its no fee to get in, it is FREE, and it has been in almost tree years. So maybe it will be entrence money again, but dont know when:)

It is a beautifull building. You must come and visit it.

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Oslo City Hall is the political and administrative heart of Oslo. In addition to being a work place for some 450 municipal employees and politicians, Oslo City Hall also attracts more than 100,000 guests, visitors and tourists every year. It is the capital’s most important venue for formal ceremonies, the best known being perhaps the presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize. It is also an arena throughout the year for 400 or more large and small arrangements, receptions, banquets, award ceremonies, civil confirmations, etc.

The lower level of the Oslo City Hall, which is entered from the harbour side, houses the City Hall Gallery and the municipal Information Centre. The gallery presents a variety of changing exhibitions throughout the year and during the summer various events and activities are staged outdoors in the square.

The bell carillon plays every day on the hour from 07.00 to 24.00

The Oslo City hall is best known for being the place where the Nobel Peace Price each year. But it is actually an interesting building with a lot of artworks inside. From May 1st to August 31st the city hall is open to the public, the entrance fee is 40 NOK (2008). There is also giuded tours at 10.00, 12.00 and 14.00.

Location
The Oslo City Hall is situated in the city center within walking distance of the Royal Palace and the Parliament building.
Located on the waterfront, overlooking the bay of the Oslo fjord, the City Hall reflects the historic role of Oslo as the capital of a seafaring nation.

The city hall of Oslo is not the usual historical city hall located in an old building... it's a massive structure close to Solo harbour that vaguely looks as if it could have been built in any communist country during communist rule.

Don't get me wrong, I like this huge red building, although I disagree with the architects' Arnstein Arneberg and Magnus Poulsson, whose idea that tto build a city hall which would combine "national romanticism, classicism and functionalism". No matter what people say, it looks very soviet-like to me.

The city hall was inaugurated on Oslo Day, 15 May 1950, when the city was celebrating the 900th anniversary of its founding.

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The Oslo City Hall houses the City Council and administration. Also an studios and galleries. It was build from 1931 to 1950, with a break during World War II. The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony takes place here.

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The Nobel Peace Prize is presented to the winner on 10th of December each year in Oslo City Hall.

The building dates back to the 20's of the 20th century. It was voted as the Oslo's construction of the century.

On weekends, entrance is free of charge for all visitors.

The sculptures and relieves look however somewhat socialistic but I like them.

Picture No. 5 is my pride - this document and artwork presents a passport from Bulgaria in French (look at "Royaume de Bulgarie" and "residence actuelle - Sophia").

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When I was looking for information for my planned trip in Oslo, first bad comments were related to the “horrible” new City Hall. Looking for the photos I have found on Internet I was thinking that it is really ugly.
Going there, my feeling was completely different.
OK, we have to agree that it is not so nice like the “Rathaus” in Vienna or “Hotel de ville” in Paris…but it is something anyway… And it is unique I believe.
Living for few years in Norway I can appreciate that the building is representing in a way the Norwegian spirit… “simple, straight, solid and useful”.
The statues in front of the building have just brought back in my mind the ones built during the socialist period… Please keep in mind that I am not saying that I don’t like them.