The Market Square

The Market Square is the heart of Trondheim. The square was laid out after the great city fire of 1681, as part of Cicignon’s new city plan. It lies in the middle of the broad street Munkegata, which runs like an axis between Nidaros Cathedral and the fjord. This was no coincidence. The new city plan was meant to give Trondheim more order, better fire safety and clearer public spaces. At the centre of the square stands the statue of Olav Tryggvason, the king who, according to the sagas, founded the city of Nidaros around the year 997. Around the statue, you can see a large sundial in the pavement. It was laid out in 1930, in connection with the 900th anniversary of Saint Olav’s death at Stiklestad. The shadow of the column acts as the pointer. Over the years, the square has been used for trade, markets, political gatherings, concerts and everyday city life. Today, it is also the regular setting for Trondheim’s Christmas market. Here, history and daily life meet. People cross the square on their way to work, school, cafés or shops, while moving through a space that has been planned as Trondheim’s centre for more than 300 years. The Market Square is still where the city comes together.