Frogner Park in Oslo

Frogner Park

Stange and amazing! That’s how I would describe Frogner Park in Oslo, Norway created by Norweigan artist Gustav Vigeland. And if you love sculptures, you will not be disappointed.

Before heading to Frogner park, the thing that comes to my mind is the 2017 psychological thriller movie “The Snowman” starring Michael Fassbender. The movie was set in the wintertime of Norway (Oslo & Bergen) and the opening scene/credits were shot inside the Frogner Park.

A 4-kilometer distance from the Oslo Central Station, Frogner Park is a public park and the largest sculpture park that it’s open for everyone (maybe except kids). Inside the Frogner Park is the amazing installation artwork of Vigeland that he solely created between 1924 to 1943, others referred to it as the Vigeland Park. Once you entered the main entrance you will be welcomed by the only clothed statue of the artist Gustav Vigeland and a landscaped of flowers and trees. What’s more, there is the Vigeland Musem (Vigeland’s former residence), the Frogner Manor House, and Cafe Vigeland which is worth visiting. This park is definitely a large compound!

The 45 hectares sculpture park is categorized into parts and successively arranged – the Bridge, the Fountain, and the Monolith. Each part has its own unique design and style. Overall, there are more than 200 bronze or granite sculptures of naked bodies spread throughout the park. And the good thing is that these naked bodies all come in shapes and sizes – they are flawed. Imagine walking in a park seeing these naked sculptures with a perfect physique like greek god and goddesses, it would make one feel uncomfortable in their own skin.

All ages are well represented in his sculptures. Vigeland’s park depicts the wheel of life of a human; from birth & puberty, adolescence, adulthood & marriage, older to death. There are lots of human emotions displayed in his works – frustrations, sadness, happiness, and love. His artwork is not afraid to show the vulnerability of being a human. That said, the park is not for everybody. If your sensitive or your kids to nudity, violence and the whole concept, better skip this park.

All in all, I have to say this park is not boring at all. Once you see the first sculpture you will want to see the next one and it’s amazing how the sculpture is arranged in a progressive movement through the park. Frogner Park is a must-do in Oslo and his work deserves to be seen and to be appreciated!

Gustav Vigeland

Artist Vigeland at the main entrance of the Frogner Park.

The Bridge

Frogner Park
Sinnataggen or the Angry Boy
Laughing Boy
Mother & Child
Mother & Daughter
Hands Up

The Fountain

Beyond the Bridge is the Fountain, in the middle is a huge sculpture of six men holding up a large vessel with water overflowing. Surrounding it are 20 various sculptures of evolving humans and the trees symbolizing perhaps the “tree of life”.

The Fountain at Frogner Park

The Monolith (Monolitten)

Next to the Fountain is the Monolith, the highest point of the park. Literally, you need to climb upstairs before reaching the summit and the view is just perfect. You will have a perfect 360 view of the park.

The Monolith has 121 human figures all carved up from the base to the top. Circling the monolith are 36 large granite of human sculpture depicting human emotions.

The Monolith at Frogner Park
The Monolith
Let's Sit and Have a Moment.
Sculpture Park

The Park

Opening Hours: Always open.
Entrance Fee: Free!
Drones: Not Allowed
Official Norway Tourism site. Click here

How to get to Vigeland Park:
Tram stop: Vigeland’s park, takes you directly there.
Bus stop: Vigeland’s park.
Metro stop: Majorstuen (with just a 10-minute walk down Kirkeveien).

Thank You!

Have you seen Frogner Park & what do you think about it? I love to hear comments and suggestions from you guys. Thanks!

Pin Me!

  1. Norway, one of my favorite countries! Great post, to be honest, I have not been to Fronger Park yet. I be sure to include in the list on the next visit.

  2. Very unusual. Each of those sculptures have something to share. I loved the monolith – hard to decipher the various emotions but a good concept none the less. Good warning about the park for parents. A lot of them may not be comfortable exposing their kids to the depictions here.

  3. We were supposed to visit Norway this year, so reading this is slightly bittersweet. Frogner Park looks like a great place to visit. The sculptures, and the Monolith are particularly fascinating!

  4. I must admit that we visited Frogner Park both times we were in Oslo. We loved the variety of the Vigeland statues. And so much better as an outdoor statue garden. I agree that one statue drew me on to the next. And yes, we did take photos of us posing like some of the statues. Who could not want to mimic the crying bay? Thanks for this walk back through the statue garden.

  5. Wow! Those sculptures are amazing! I agree-it may not be the place for kids, I would be terrified to bring my daughter who seems to have no concept of being careful! Lol. But I would certainly love to explore the park myself. I think I could spend the entire day admiring the sculptures. I can only imagine the work that must have gone into them. I think the fountain is my favorite and the Monolith comes in at a close second. There’s a park nearby my hometown that has a similar design that I have always enjoyed. So fascinating!

  6. I’ve been reading a lot of posts about Norway recently, and the more I read the more I realize that I need to take a closer look. I’ve only ever been to Sweden before, but I think a trip to Norway and Demark is going to be on the cards when we start traveling again.

  7. Wow I would 100% add Frogner Park to our itinerary. I have been to a sculpture garden here in Washington DC, but it is a modge podge of modern and abstract art. I love that Frogner is composed entirely of human sculptures reflecting the human experience. It must be so cool to walk through and experience life as an observer. The monolith is striking. I think I would have stood there for at least an hour trying to detect all the emotions captured in that one piece. Such an incredible place. Thanks for sharing!

  8. This park is really unique. I am really impressed with the statues with humans holding trees. But, yeah, I don’t think it’s comfortable for everyone. I know my son won’t like it here.

  9. I love sculpture parks so Frogner Park is a must visit while in Oslo. I have seen images of this park before but wasn’t aware all sculptures are unclothed. It’s wonderful that the sculptures depict the lifespan in all shapes and sizes. This makes me want to visit Oslo!

Leave a Reply

Archives