Vigelandsparken, Oslo

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Free admission.

Also called Frognerparken

Visit this park and see the marvelous sculptures made by Gustav Vigeland. All of the 212 sculptures are modeled by Gustav Vigeland and he also designed the layout of the grounds. The sculptures are divided into 5 main units along an 805 metro long axis: the Main entrance

so what makes this sculpture park so special?
One reason seems to be the great interaction between the sculptures and the park landscape that gives us a special expression in lightening and seasons.
Another reason is that Vigeland's sculptures are all about life itself. We see humans in all ages and in all moods and we identify with them.
A third reason is that almost all sculptures are given its form by one single person.

"Sinnataggen"
On the bridge you can also see the popular sculpture of an angry little boy called "Sinnataggen." he's angry with his parents for not giving him enough attention.

Some years ago it actually disappeared for a while when someone cut of the leg on the little boy and stole it.

Monolitten this is the most amazing sculpture in the Vigeland park. The monolith is 17 m high. It took many years to cut out the 121 people in the sculpture. It's all made from one stone block.

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This is a must see visit for anyone travelling to Oslo, although our cruise excursion bus seemed to take a while to get to it. This is the world's largest collection of sculptures executed by a single artist, in this case Gustav Vigeland. He specified that it would be okay for people, especially children, to clamber around on his artworks. Just be safe.

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The Vigelandspark is one of Norway's most popular places to visit. It is the largest sculpture park made by one single artist in the world. The entrance is free and the park is open to visitors all year.
The sculpture park is Gustav Vigeland's lifework with more than 200 sculptures in bronze, granite and wrought iron. The Park was mainly completed between 1939 and 1949.

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The Vigeland Park is a wonderful experience. I've been there twice. Would I go again? YES!
I have never met anyone who wasn't 'moved' by the the sculptures.
Start at the iron gates on Kirkeveien. If you need to go to the toilet, there are fascilities on the right BUT you must pay!
Then continue down the main path to the bridge. There are statue groups either side along this route. After the bridge you wander through the rose garden to a fountain. It is supposed to be of six giants, like Atlas, holding up the World (?). The water cascading off the disc makes the figures seem to move. Around the fountain there are groups of sculptures of plants/trees which contain various figures of people. They really are worth looking at in detail.
Then go up the steps to the Monolith Plateau which is an enthralling collection of groups of people all around a monolith. Look at the groups carefully: as with most of the other sculptures by Vigeland, they show people interacting, showing emotions and ... well... just being natural.

Do take a camera! Do give yourself enough time to take it all in.
If you are on a cruise tour then I can only suggest that you may prefer to either stay around the group but gain a better experience by wandering away from the guide a little ---you can find out so much by looking and later reading the guidebook--- or don't book a tour ---do your own Oslo tour!
Go as early as you can so that you can avoid the crowds and yet get wonderful light.
I SHALL BE CREATING AN ALBUM OF VIGELAND ON MY TRAVEL PAGE.

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I have seen pictures of the Vigeland Park before, but it is really different when you see for yourself the naked statues of Gustav Vigeland in several different intertwining and related poses.

Vigeland (1869-1943) is Norway’s greatest sculptor who struck a deal with the city to put his works on perspectives of all aspects of human life in this beautiful 75 acre garden. His work commenced on 1924 and was completed sometime in 1943, although the work seems to be continuing with restorations because the monolith of 121 figures rocketing up to the sky was covered in “net” when I visited the park. Park workers were also meticulously cleaning the statues ( I think it is a total of 600 figures, including some 192 bronze and granite structures) with water or some kind of solution since the Norwegians really value this park. It is a safe haven which is always open and well-lit at night. During the day when I visited, there were dog lovers walking their beloved companions, and it looked like they all knew each other.

It does have a museum containing exhibits on how Vigeland orchestrated the massive project in Oslo. I have also read that his ashes are placed strategically somewhere in the park.

Definitely, this place which evokes Norwegian art and life and invokes patriotism, is a must-see when visiting Oslo. I decided to walk all the way from the city center, but others may find it more convenient to use the public transpo: Bus #20,#45, and Tram #12 and #19, if using T-Bane: Majorstuen and a 5 minute walk.

Each figure has its own interpretation of human life, but I particularly like the father and child pictures as they reminded me of my own relationship with my kids.

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This is "green Oslo". For people interested in sculpture. Main attraction in Frognerparken and in Norway, with one million visitors every year - is Vigelands monumental descpription of humanity's phases of life and relationship to each other: children and adult, young and old but most of all man & woman. Vigeland dedicated 40 years of his life to plan and put the whole project in reality, after fighting his way to bureaucracy. Should tell you this, I couldn't get enough of staring and studying every piece of 58 bronze figures on the bridge that symbolizes human stages of life. Worth seeing!!! Dont' forget to take a pic of "Sinnatagen"
(Angry Little Boy).

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If you only have time to do one thing in Oslo you have to take the time to visit this park. It doesn't sound interesting, a park full of statues, but we were amazed and have never been anywhere like it before. It is totally unique. It is situated in Frognerparken, a beautiful park, near Majorstua.

The park contains 212 sculptures built by Norways famous artist Gustav Vigeland using granite, bronze and wrought iron. He designed them all and the massive gate that you enter the park through.

In the center of the park is the Monolith, is 17 meters high and consits of 121 figures. The whole sculpture is carved from one single granite stone. It stands on the highest point of the park, overlooking the rest of the sculptures.

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One can't leave Oslo without visiting this lovely park, enhanced by the various sculptures depicting human interaction scenes from real life :)

It was just so peace-inducing & awe-inspiring. There are just so many sculptures, it was fantastic.