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Visit Norway, The 'Frozen' Land That Inspired A Movie
Note: The Disney movie, Frozen, was released in November 2013 in the United States and has soared to cult status. It is nominated for two Oscars -- Best Original Song and Best Animated Film -- and won a Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature. Its soundtrack has topped Billboard's album chart for several weeks, and a sing-along version of the film was recently released. If somehow you missed seeing it in theatres, it will be released soon on DVD and Digital HD. Or better yet, visit Norway, the inspiration for the movie's setting.
This past summer, a long-time friend and traveling buddy from Minnesota and I met up in Norway, hopped into a rental car and took off on an eye-popping road trip.
At the time, we hadn't heard of Frozen, the Disney film that would debut during the 2013 holiday season. But lo and behold, the producers of the film were as smitten with Norway as we were, and used its scenery and traditions as inspiration for the film.
Although the movie's ice kingdom of Arendelle is fictional, there are many real-life places that are reflected in the film. Come along with me on a summer visit to the icy world of Frozen.
The reindeer exhibit at the Hardangervidda Nature Center at Eidfjord makes one wonder if any of these were Sven's cousins? (Sven is the reindeer in the Disney movie, Frozen.)
Gateway to the fjords
Our journey begins in Bergen, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage City, as well as the inspiration for the kingdom of Arendelle in Frozen.
Bergen's colorful harbor, with the much-photographed Bryggen district of wooden buildings dating back to the 11th century, bustles with activity. The distinctive narrow buildings and peaked roofs of the Bryggen district are echoed in the village backdrop in Frozen.
There are museums, castles, restaurants, parks -- plenty to keep a visitor busy for days, especially when equipped with a Bergen Card, the practical and cost-effective way to explore Bergen. A stroll through the Fish Market at the harbor turns into a sampling bonanza -- local fish cakes, spicy shilling buns, hearty fish soup, smoked whale meat and much more.
But Bergen is also the gateway to the Norwegian fjords, and we hear their siren call. We load the car and set out on our road trip. The first challenge is just to navigate our way out of the busy city streets and onto the quieter country roads that will lure us through the coming days.
The Stegastein viewing platform towers 2,132 feet above the Aurlandsfjord. The lookout point is a popular stop along the Aurlandsfjellet National Tourist Route.
National Tourist Routes
Our goal is to traverse several of the country's National Tourist Routes -- scenic byways that encompass some of the most spectacular scenery the country has to offer, not to mention some of the most incredible hairpin curves I have ever seen, let alone driven.
Norway is famous for its fjords, and rightly so. Although you can visit many fjords by boat or train, driving from fjord to fjord lets you get up close and personal in a unique way.
From one mountain pass to another, with each viewpoint more stunning than the last, the national routes lead you through national parks and small villages, around lakes -- or across them via an assortment of ferries -- and deep into the heart of Norway.
Working our way from historic Bergen to the Art Nouveau city of Alesund, we journey along three major tourist routes, with detours here and there to see stave churches, folk museums and other things that pique our interest. Another bonus of driving is that you can adjust your itinerary to suit your whims.
Our National Tourist Routes include Aurlandsfjellet, Gamle Strynefjellsvegen and the fanciful Geiranger-Trollstigen, or troll's road. We drive from sunny green valleys to snow-covered peaks, complete with summer ski stations. Narrow roads with hairpin turns lead to views of impossibly blue fjords, roaring waterfalls, and panoramic vistas.
The landscape is cold and stark on the mountain top in Breheimen National Park, a mountain wilderness area.
From reality to movie
The tourist route landscapes set the mood for the wintery scenes of snow-capped mountains and deep fjords in the movie Frozen. The film's art direction team traveled to several Nordic locations seeking a backdrop for the movie, which was inspired by H. C. Andersen's story, The Snow Queen.
They chose Norway, not only for its natural setting but also for its rich culture, including folk costumes, stave churches, castles, trolls, Viking history and even the traditional hairstyle with thick braided plaits.
As art director Mike Giaimo explained on the film's website, “Norway offered a cultural backdrop we’d never explored before and we thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to blend its dramatic environment, architecture and folk costume aesthetic?’ ”
Soaring stave churches
Our favorite stops on our road trip were the stave churches, wooden churches dating from the Middle Ages that are still intact, either as museums or functioning churches. During the medieval era, when cathedrals were being built in stone in other places in Europe, a similar technique was developed in Norway for building in wood and reflects the Viking heritage.
My two favorite stave churches were Urnes and Borgund, although I liked all six that we toured. The Urnes Stave Church on the Sognefjord is Norway's oldest wooden church, built around 1130, and is also the only stave church on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. Part of why I liked it so much was the ferry ride on a sunny day to get to the village of Urnes, and the views of the surrounding fjord from the church high up on the hillside.
Likewise for Borgund Stave Church, getting there on a narrow back road was part of the adventure, and the destination was well worth the detour. This church, dating from the late 12th century, is the most historically authentic of all of Norway's stave churches, and serves as the model for restoration of other churches. The modern visitors center houses a fascinating exhibit on the development of stave churches, as well as a nice cafe and a gift shop featuring Norwegian-made crafts.
The Urnes Stave Church, circa 1130, is on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
Viking history
Just as the Vikings' skill in woodworking influenced the stave church construction, their woodworking skills are immortalized in their longships, designed for sailing on both the ocean and the fjords. You can visit the best preserved Viking ships at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, which tells the story not only of the ships but also of the cultural traditions.
One thing you will learn in Norway is that Viking helmets did not have horns, as is commonly portrayed. You also will learn that Vikings were not just warriors but also skilled traders, administrators and craftsmen in metal and wood. The Norse sagas, which still fascinate audiences today, demonstrate that the Vikings were some of Europe's best storytellers.
Trolls and Bunads
Trolls are an important part of Norwegian folklore. They are usually scary looking, although not necessarily mean. Troll dolls are popular with both locals and tourists.
The troll tourist routes include the troll ladder, a hair-raising switchback route; the troll peaks, a row of formidable mountain peaks; and the troll's lookout point high up on the mountain and offering spectacular views into the valley below.
Families traveling with children might want to include a stop at Hunderfossen, the Norwegian Troll Park, about two and a half hours north of Oslo. This troll-themed amusement park is the epitome of everything troll, and also highlights Norwegian fairytales.
Trolls are legendary throughout Norway. This troll statue is a popular photo site for tourists at Geiranger.
Bunads, or traditional folk costumes, are alive and well in Norway. There are hundreds of different bunads. Almost every valley or town has its own, often in several varieties and colors. If you're in Oslo on May 17, Norway's national day, you will be witness to an amazing show of bunads from all over the country.
A great way to get a sampling of folk costumes and customs is by visiting a folk museum. We spent a lot of time at both the Sogn Folkemuseum in Kaupanger on the Sognefjord, and the Norsk Folkemuseum in Oslo. Both are open-air museums with many transported and reconstructed cabins, houses, churches and other buildings, and costumed historical interpreters. Both of these museums were highlights of our trip.
Travel spin-offs
Not surprisingly, the movie has triggered a variety of Frozen-themed travel packages to Norway. Norwegian airlines, in collaboration with VisitNorway, offers itineraries that let visitors experience the country's natural beauty.
Additionally, Adventures by Disney offers an eight-day package trip geared for families to follow the footsteps of the filmmakers. For more information, visit http://campaign.visitnorway.com/en/us/.
If you're looking for a special gift for a person who has everything, a ticket to Norway and a seat on one of these trips should fill the bill!
Before you go
For those considering a rental car trip, take note that automatic transmission is the exception, not the rule, in most of Europe. If, like me, you can only drive an automatic, be sure to specify that when reserving the car.
For the most enjoyment, make sure at least two people on the road trip can take turns driving and navigating. Driving on those steep and curving National Tourist Routes can be stressful, so it is good to be able to switch between driving and just staring awestruck out the window.
For more information to help you plan your trip, visit these websites: www.VisitNorway.com, www.FjordNorway.com, www.VisitBergen.com; www.VisitOslo.com, and for the National Tourist Routes, http://www.nasjonaleturistveger.no/en.
Movie synopsis: If you've been living in a cave and have somehow missed all the Frozen hoopla, here's a short synopsis. The animated film is appropriate for both children and adults. The story revolves around Elsa, the snow queen, and Anna, her sister, the fearless optimist. Anna teams up with mountain man Kristoff and his reindeer Sven for a journey that includes trolls, a funny snowman named Olaf, and icy winter weather. Visit disney.com/frozen to watch the trailer.
Story and photos copyright 2013 Barbara Gibbs Ostmann
Note: This information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the businesses in question before making your plans.
