Mountains and Fjords in the Lofoten

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Lake near Å in the Lofoten, Norway

At the end of the last Ice Age, which shaped Norway’s landscape so uniquely, the country began to be settled 10,000 years ago. From the south, the first people soon pushed northwards and inland, always following the retreating glaciers. In the climatically more favourable fjord valleys, larger tribes soon developed. Their close relationship with the sea led to the development of shipbuilding skills, which formed the basis of the Vikings’ reputation as successful seafarers and fierce conquerors. With their ocean-going longships, the Norsemen unsuccessfully attempted to conquer England, but during their raids, they sailed up Central European rivers far into the continent and even sailed to North America multiple times, thus being in the “New World” centuries before its official discovery by Columbus.

All images from the ‘Weltbilder’ edition

Stave Church at Lom

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Stave Church at Lom, Norway

In the eleventh century, Christianity spread throughout Norway. Subsequently, believers developed a novel style in building their churches, as the Stave Church in Lom impressively demonstrates. The art of woodworking, which also produced the magnificent Viking ships, is evident in the equally solid and richly decorated stave churches. Dragon riders on the roof ridges and animal depictions on the portal are not an unusual sight, as Christian symbols and images of pagan myths are signs of the integration of old customs into the new religion. Of the originally over a thousand structures, only about thirty of these pure wooden constructions remain today, which, supported by a central structure of columns and sealed externally with thick tar paint, withstand the harsh wind and weather.

All images from the ‘Weltbilder’ Edition

Reine on the Lofoten Islands

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Reine and Hamnøy on the Lofoten Islands, Norway

North of the Arctic Circle in Norway, jagged peaks and rocks rise from the sea like teeth, forming the fantastic Lofoten archipelago. Alongside this dramatic landscape of rugged cliffs and the powerful tidal currents of the Norwegian Sea, the colourful fishermen’s huts, known as ‘rorbuer’, and the A-frame drying racks are further landmarks of these unique islands off the Norwegian coast. This is also the source of a culinary speciality, stockfish, which became popular in Southern Europe early on due to its high protein content. Every spring, the settlements fill with thousands of fishermen awaiting the migration of the Arctic cod. After being caught, the fish are preserved in the dry winter cold. Hung on the racks alongside bundles of fish heads, they create a bizarre sight well into the summer.

All images from the ‘Weltbilder’ edition

Lake Langevatn near Geirangerfjord

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Langevatn Lake, Geiranger, Norway

The race of giants, as the origin sagas of the Edda tell, is older than the divine race of the Æsir. There are two mighty tribes among the giants: the Thurses, meaning the Dry Ones, and the Jötnar, the Devourers. The latter dwell in Jötunheimr, also called Utgard, but also in clouds and waters, rocks and mountains, in ice and snow. Thiassi and Thym are storm and thunder giants; Witolf was a forest giant. The lord of the seas is Ægir, the Dreadful; he wears the Helm of Ægir, which no human can behold without turning to stone in terror. The king of the giants is Surtr with the flaming sword. The mightiest among them is called Utgard-Loki; not even the thunder god could overcome him. As they are of ancient lineage, many of them possess that primordial wisdom which Odin forever seeks. But the giants are mortal enemies of the Æsir. Magnificent sagas tell of the battles between them and the gods, among whom Thor was a particularly fierce adversary. On the day of Ragnarök, this ancient race will then fight the final battle with the Æsir.

All images from the ‘World Pictures’ edition