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!

Artist Vigeland at the main entrance of the Frogner Park.

The Bridge

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 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 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).