"This thousand-year-old city of 150,000 on the western Norwegian coast may seem an unlikely high tech locus. Yet through the combined efforts of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and the Sintef R&D center, the town is spitting out 20 new companies a year in sectors ranging from automation to telecommunications." Wired Magazine, July 2000

This idyllic neighbourhood on the east side of the River Nidelva features old timber buildings, originally the homes of the working class. Now restored, Bakklandet is a charming mixture of houses, shops and cafés. Photo: Norsk bildebyrå

The city of Trondheim, founded in 997, holds a special place in Norwegian history and culture. It was the first capital of Norway, and is still the city where new kings receive their ceremonial blessing.

Situated by the Trondheimsfjord, it is surrounded by forested hills, with the River Nidelva winding through the city. Just a few kilometres to the west of the city centre you are well into the outdoor eldorado, Bymarka. Here you can bring the family for walks on well prepared paths in the summer and enjoy superb trails for cross country skiing in the winter. NTNU is one of the city's largest employers and property owners. The whole city reflects the activities of its students and staff.

Trondheim's timber buildings make it one of Scandinavia's distinctive cities. Timber buildings are preserved as part of our cultural heritage. Photo: Norsk bildebyrå

Trondheim - a family town
Trondheim offers an excellent environment in which to work, spend leisure time and raise a family. The atmosphere is relaxed and free of the stress found in big cities. In this accessible city it is quite possible to bicycle or even walk to work. Trondheim has two English-language schools:

Birralee International School, a co-educational day school catering for children from 4 to 13. The classes are in English, with a basis in the British National Curriculum modified to cater for international and Norwegian children. The Trondheim Kathedralskole also offers the International Baccalaureate with all classes in English. You can visit the Birralee website for further information, www.birralee.no/

Trondheim International School (THIS) is another English language (bi-lingual) Primary - and lower Secondary school located centrally by the city fortress, close to NTNU . Trondheim International School is a co-educational, international day school catering for children from 3 to 16. Both Primary Years Programme ( PYP ) and Middle Years Programme ( MYP ) have sought full accreditation by the International Baccalaureate ( IB ) Institute. The school is currently an approved IB candidate school. The programme links directly into the IB programme offered by Trondheim Kathedralskole . The language of instruction at Trondheim International School is English, but the students get as many Norwegian lessons as in the public Norwegian schools, thus catering for both Norwegian and international students. The school day runs from 8:30 – 15:00 Mon-Fri. You can visit the school's website for further information on www.this.no

The instrumental ensemble "The Trondheim Soloists" has won wide acclaim for its performances with the German solo violinist Anne Sofie Mutter. Most of the members are students and staff at the Department of music, NTNU. Photo: www.anne-sophie-mutter.de

Far away is close at hand
Trondheim Airport Værnes has hourly departures to Oslo, and a direct connection to Copenhagen, which is a hub of Scandinavian international air travel. There are also direct scheduled flights to London and Amsterdam. Trains run several times a day to Oslo, and the daily departure of the express coastal steamer brings you either south to Bergen or to North Cape.

Destination 63°N 10°E
The weather benefits greatly from Trondheim's location at the receiving end of the Gulf Stream. This warm ocean current provides a climate similar to that of Scotland. Snow usually falls from mid-December until mid-March, and the long days of summer are unforgettable at this latitude about 500 km south of the Arctic Circle.

In the winter the sun sets very slowly, and we call this time of day the twilight hour. Photo: Norsk bildebyrå