The Wharves - Merchants’ Street

The wharves along the Nidelva River are among Trondheim’s most famous views. But they are far more than beautiful façades. This was the city’s old trading centre. The wharves were storage buildings, placed right down by the water so goods could be loaded directly on and off boats. Grain, fish, timber, and other goods moved in and out here, connecting Trondheim to the surrounding region – and to the wider world. The oldest wharves still standing today date from the 18th century. Many are built of timber, often using traditional log construction, with their gables facing the river. Notice the hoisting mechanisms near the top of the buildings. They remind us of a time when goods were lifted straight from the boats and into storage. Kjøpmannsgata received its name in the city plan after the fire of 1681. The street was laid out as a wide firebreak between the city and the wharves. The planted central strip was also meant to catch sparks if a fire broke out. That was necessary. Trondheim was a wooden city, and many wharves have burned throughout history. Today, the wharves are strictly protected. They tell the story of Trondheim as a trading city, a seafaring city, and a wooden city – all at once.