Oslo Cathedral (Oslo domkirke) is the brick church with the green copper spire on Stortorvet, just off Karl Johans gate. Consecrated in 1697, it is the church of Norway's royal ceremonies: King Harald V married Queen Sonja here in 1968, and his funeral was held here on 9 September 2026. Inside, about 1,500 square metres of ceiling are covered with paintings by Hugo Lous Mohr.
Oslo Cathedral at a glance
- Where: Stortorvet, between Kirkegata and Dronningens gate, a short walk from Oslo Central Station.
- Built: 1694–1697, consecrated on 7 November 1697; rebuilt with its present tower in 1848–1850.
- By: probably designed by Jørgen Wiggers, a councillor of state; the 19th-century rebuilding followed plans by the Hamburg architect Alexis de Chateauneuf.
- What it is today: the main church of the Diocese of Oslo and the parish church of the city centre, used by the royal family and the government for national ceremonies.
- Time needed: 20–30 minutes inside, plus a few minutes for the bazaar halls around the churchyard.
From Our Saviour's Church to the nation's church
Oslo has had three cathedrals. The first, St Hallvard's, was built in the 12th century in the medieval town further east. The second, Holy Trinity, was built in 1639 and burned down about fifty years later. The present church was built in 1694–1697 and consecrated on 7 November 1697 as Our Saviour's Church (Vår Frelsers kirke). Its carved Baroque altarpiece and pulpit date from 1699. In 1848–1850 it was rebuilt to plans by Alexis de Chateauneuf, who gave it the tall west tower, and the interior was redone in neo-Gothic style.
A restoration led by the architect Arnstein Arneberg, completed in 1950, removed the neo-Gothic fittings and brought back the original Baroque furnishings. The church has seen royal weddings in 1929, 1968 and 2001, when Crown Prince Haakon married Mette-Marit, and the funerals of King Haakon VII in 1957 and King Olav V in 1991. After King Harald V died on 28 August 2026, aged 89, his funeral took place here too, and his son became King Haakon. The church was closed for renovation from 2006 to 2010.
What to look for
- The ceiling: Hugo Lous Mohr painted it between 1936 and 1950 in egg tempera, with scenes based on the Apostles' Creed. Sit in a pew and look up; it covers the whole vault.
- The choir windows: stained glass by Emanuel Vigeland, brother of the sculptor Gustav Vigeland, installed between 1910 and 1916.
- The altarpiece and pulpit: richly carved Baroque work from 1699. The pulpit was replaced in 1850 and brought back in the 1950 restoration.
- The bronze doors of the west portal, made by Dagfin Werenskiold in 1938.
- The organ front: the old Baroque façade at the west end now hides a modern main organ from 1997.
- The tower outside: its weathervane is dated 1850, and a carillon installed in 2003 plays a melody on the hour.
A sea of roses
On 22 July 2011 a bomb in the government quarter and a shooting on the island of Utøya killed 77 people. In the days that followed, people from all over Oslo laid roses and candles in front of the cathedral until the square in front of it was covered with flowers, and the national memorial service was held inside, attended by the royal family. Many Norwegians still link the cathedral with those days.
Tips for your visit
- This is a working church with services, weddings and funerals, so access can be limited at times. Check the cathedral's own website before you go.
- Come on a bright day if you can: the Vigeland windows behind the altar glow when the sun is out.
- Stay quiet inside and don't photograph services or ceremonies.
- Listen for the carillon on the hour, then walk up Karl Johans gate towards the Parliament and the Royal Palace.
Nearby
- Basarene: the red-brick bazaar halls that curve around the churchyard, built between 1840 and 1859 to plans by Christian H. Grosch, now home to small shops and cafés.
- Stortorvet: the square in front of the cathedral, with a statue of King Christian IV, who founded the new town of Christiania in 1624.
- The Tiger at Oslo Central Station: the bronze tiger on Jernbanetorget, a nod to Oslo's nickname Tigerstaden, the Tiger City, a few minutes' walk away.
- Stortinget: Norway's Parliament building on Karl Johans gate, a short walk up the street.
See Oslo with World City Trail
Our Oslo scavenger hunt turns the city centre into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 3 hours, with about 60 minutes of walking. Oslo Cathedral is one of the stops, along with the Tiger statue at Oslo Central Station.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Oslo.
Play the Oslo scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Oslo →
Play the outdoor escape game in Oslo →
Facts checked in October 2026.