On Sunday we toured City Hall in Stockholm, Sweden (Stadshuset) and then on Monday we toured City Hall in Oslo, Norway (Radhuset). Other than the cool fact of two awesome countries in two days, I know it doesn't sound very exciting to be touring city halls. In fact I'm not sure I've ever toured one anywhere else I've traveled or lived!
However, we know now that here in Scandinavia a city hall is a more important and elaborate building than a cathedral or palace, as in other parts of Europe. These city halls celebrate humanism and the idea of people working together. They're both impressively large, stunningly ornamental, red brick, towering buildings on their respective gorgeous waterfronts. They hold the cities' assemblies
And our most compelling reason for visiting both of these is they each have Nobel Prize props! The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded every year on 10 December in the Grand Hall in Oslo - and yes, we were just standing right there in that hall! And the Nobel Prize awards banquet is held in the Grand Hall in Stockholm. More later . . . When we find out more!
However, we know now that here in Scandinavia a city hall is a more important and elaborate building than a cathedral or palace, as in other parts of Europe. These city halls celebrate humanism and the idea of people working together. They're both impressively large, stunningly ornamental, red brick, towering buildings on their respective gorgeous waterfronts. They hold the cities' assemblies
And our most compelling reason for visiting both of these is they each have Nobel Prize props! The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded every year on 10 December in the Grand Hall in Oslo - and yes, we were just standing right there in that hall! And the Nobel Prize awards banquet is held in the Grand Hall in Stockholm. More later . . . When we find out more!
