is situated on a plain at the northern extremity of the gulf to which it gives its name. It was founded in 1624 by Christian IV., near the site of the ancient town of Osloe, which was completely destroyed by fire. The Churches of Christiania are not interesting. The principal building is the Castle of Agershuus, in which are deposited the crown jewels, and the archives of the kingdom. The New Palace, built on an eminence at the west end of the city, has a handsome portico.

The University numbers about 800 students. There is an interesting Museum of Scandinavian antiquities; a National Gallery of Paintings; another collection called Konst Forening; a military college; theatre; the council hall of the Storthing, &c. the cemetery stands the Column of Liberty, erected in 1814.

Near

There are numerous excursions to the neighbourhood, which will well repay the visitor. Oscar's Hall, about 3 miles from the town, one of the country seats of the King, commands a beautiful view over the Fjord and the mountains. One of the finest views in Europe may be had from Frogner-aasen, a height about 5 miles from the town. It is more than 1,600 feet above the sea, and the view extends to Sweden.

Travellers who do not make the journey to Bergen or Trondhjem, and who desire to see something more of the scenery of Norway than can be seen in the excursions above-named, are advised to go by carriage, or by carriole, over Ringeriget to HONEFOS, where there is an excellent hotel. This route leads by Sundvolden, where there is also an excellent inn, the proprietor of which furnishes saddle horses for the ascent to the Kongen's Udsigt (King's View),

and the Dronning's Udsight (Queen's View), near by. The former is the most extensive, and both are well worth visiting for the magnificent views they afford. The celebrated cataract of Honefos is near the hotel at Honefos. From the last-named town, travellers may return by railway to Drammen (Hotel: Kung Karl), and thence to Christiania by carriage (a magnificient ride of six hours), or by steamer.

The more important stations on the route trom Christiania to Stockholm are as follows:-Lillestrom, 8 miles (see Route 164). Kongsvinger (45 miles), a town of about 800 inhabitants, formerly strongly fortified. After the union between Norway and Sweden, the fortifications were abandoned. The old citadel, on a commanding eminence, is a conspicuous object. Arvika (85 miles), a small and uninteresting town, for several years the terminus of the railway. CARLSTAD (145 miles), a town of 5,000 inhabitants on an island called Tingvalla, at the mouth of the river Klar. It has fine views over the beautiful Wenern Lake. The only noteworthy objects are the cathedral and a college which has a fine library, the Hotel de Ville, and a theatre. Christinehamm (195 miles), population 4,000. This town is situated at the northeastern extremity of Wenern Lake. It is a thriving place, and is well built. An important fair is held here in March of every year. Laxa (246 miles), where the line joins the railway from Stockholm to Malm and Copenhagen. The remainder of the route is described in Route 159.

ROUTE 163.

CHRISTIANIA TO CHRIS

TIANSAND.

(The distance is about 227 miles. Steamers twice a week. The route described is that by the post road.)

RAMMEN (Hotel: Kung Kari), population, 12,000, is situated at the mouth of the river of that name, in a bay of the fjord of Christiania. It really consists of three villages, Bragnäs, Strömsoë and Tangen; it carries on a considerable trade in timber. A road turns off, on the right, to KONGSBERG and BERGEN. We go on to Holinestrand, pleasantly situated near the the sea-shore, with lofty rocks towering above it. A little to the west of Fuldpaa is TONSBERG, a commercial town of 2,874 inhabitants, the most ancient in Norway. Near it stands the old Castle of Jarlsberg.

Laurvig, population 4,944, situated at the mouth of the Louven, possesses several forges, a cannon foundry, and extensive warehouses. Some miles to the west, on the other side of the port, is Frederiksvarn, a fortified place of 1,174 inhabitants. The Norwegian fleet anchors under the shelter of its guns. The steamers from Christiania touch at the village of Sundoesund, near Frederiksvarn.

Porsgrund, a place of about 2,500 inhabitants, is situated between two lakes, and divided into two parts, one of which is on an island. We leave on the right

the road to Bergen, and proceed along the left bank of the Langö sund to Brevig, a busy town of 2,813 inhabitants. We cross the Langösund, by a ferry-boat, and go on to

ARENDAL (Hotel: Sandberg), population 4,456, pleasantly situated upon several small islands, and built upon piles. It is near the mouth of the Nid-Elv, on the edge of a very deep bay. The ships come close up to the quays. Arendal possesses extensive shipyards, and exports great quantities of timber and iron. A road to Bergen turns off on the right.

Passing Landvig and Kostol we keep along the eastern shore of a very picturesque bay and reach

CHRISTIANSAND (227 miles). (Hotels: Britannia, Scandinavie, Erust's), population 11,500. This is the most important town in the south of Norway. It is situated on the Topdals-fjord, at the mouth of the river Torrisdal. It covers a great extent of ground in consequence of the numerous gardens comprised within the town. The Cathedral is a peculiar looking old building, containing pews furnished with windows, so that the occupants may seclude themselves from the rest of the congregation. On the right bank of the Torrisdal is the Church of Oddernas, which contains some old tomb-stones, and a Runic stone of the 11th century. Pleasant excursions may be made up the valley of the Torrisdal. Steamers go frequently to Gottenburg, Bergen, and Hammerfest, Hull and London.

ROUTE 164.

CHRISTIANIA TO BERGEN,

BY EIDVOLD, AND THE
FILLEFJELD.

The distance is 340 miles; we proceed to Eidvold, on Lake Mjösen, by railway, 43 miles; 1st class, 144sch.; 2nd, 96 sch.; 3rd, 60 sch.

EAVING Christiania we reach Lillestrøm (8 miles), (a branch goes to STOCKHOLM.) Passing Finstadbro (36 miles), where the line is carried through the hills by two tunnels, we reach Eidsvold (43 miles). We now embark on the steamer which traverses Lake Mjösen. This lake is about 72 miles long. The eastern shore is higher than the other, and indented with numerous fjords. The bills at the southern extremity are low, and are covered with well cultivated fields; those at the northern end are lofty, and remind the traveller of the scenery of some of the Swiss lakes. The lake is fed by numerous torrents, the largest of which flows out of a lake in the Dovrefjeld. Some miles from Minde, we see in the distance the ruins of the Cathedral of Stor-Hammer, a town burnt by the Swedes in the 16th century. Passing the island of Helgo, we see an old castle built by Hako IV. and an arsenal. We disembark at

GJÖVIG (good hotel) and the remainder of the journey is made by carriole. From Gjövig to Mustad, is 14 N. miles, over an excellent road; the scenery picturesque. Mustad to Lien, 1 N. mile. Lien to SKOLEN, 1 N. miles. (At this

station the route by land from Christiania joins our route). A first-rate station, one of the cleanest in Norway.

Sköien to Tomlevolden, 1 N. miles, good road, good station, and low charges. A little beyond Tomlevolden, the road attains a great height, affording beautiful views. The river is crossed about 4 English miles from Tomlevolden, by a new bridge. The road taken by the telegraph poles is not to be followed here.

Bradbury, in his excellent "Norway its Fjords, Fjelds and Fosses," thus speaks of the remainder of our route-" I must now say, that from Tomlevolden to Bergen lies one of the most strikingly grand journeys it has ever been my fortune to make. In no other land have I ever bebeld such a succession of grand pictures. For the entire distance, there is a continuous series of savage landscapes, solemnly grand lakes, bold defiant mountains, torrents and waterfalls of the most beautiful description and endless variety. It would positively be absurd to try to convey any idea of the sights which present themselves on this journey." Gravdalen, 1 miles, a good station, and extremely cheap. The view is beautiful. This bill separates the Etnadal from the Baegna valley. Freydenlund, 1 mile. Fagernoes. 1 mile. Good road, beautiful scenery. A day or two may be agreeably spent here in fishing. The lake abounds in trout. duck are also plentiful. Reien, 1 miles. Road on this station is rough. The scenery is grand, the road skirting several lakes. Stee. 14 miles. The scenery constantly becomes grander, more lakes are passed, and views are had of the Fille Fjeld range, crowned with snow. A stop is sometimes made

Wild

here by huntsmen to shoot bear and reindeer. Oiloe (Eyelo) 1 mile. Tune, mile, fair station. Landlord speaks English. The road from this to the next station is a splendid new one, following the windings of the Lille Mjosen, at times cut out of the almost perpendicular cliffs. The scenery is very fine. Skogstad, 1 miles, a bad station, at the foot of the Fille Fjeld. A good road ascends to NYSIUAN, 1 mile, on the top of the Fille Fjeld, an excellent station. By ascending the hill to the right of the road over the station, an hour's climb, and going a little way over the Fjeld, a fine view may be had of the Jotun mountains, 3 N. miles distant, and of several glaciers. Maristuen, 14 miles. This stage is over the plateau of the Fille Fjeld, an excellent road, following the windings of the river. The inn at Maristuen is good. Hoeg, 1 mile. Scenery along the Laerdal river exceedingly fine. The river is 200 ft. below the road, and is bordered on each side by precipices of enormous height. Between this and the next station lies a new and curious zig-zag road, called Vindhellen. Husum, mile, a clean station. An excellent road up and down a hill called Saeltunaasen, leads to Blaaflaten, 1 mile. The inn is not good.

LOERDALSÖREN, 1 mile, is a telegraphic station. The inn (Peterson's), is excellent. Hence to Gudvangen our route is over the Sogne Fjord by steamer. The author of the book above quoted says of this part of our route,

The scenery on the journey from Laerdal to Gudvangen is grand beyond all conception, and never have I beheld in any other country sights that so impressed me with the awe-inspiring majesty of nature as did these on

this journey. We left Laerdalsören at eight o'clock, and for four and a half hours were sailing down the sublime fjord, this part of which is unquestionably the finest piece of jord scenery in Norway. During the journey we passed some thirty waterfalls or cascades, falling in an endless variety of graceful shapes from various altitudes down the enormous mountains, which form the sides of this truly grand fjord. These mountains rise almost perpendicular 4,000 or 5,000 feet high from the surface of the fjord, which is the 'sea level.' Their summits were crowned with snow and ice, and stood out sharp and clear against the bright blue sky -for it was a day long to be remembered for its serenity and beauty-and their gigantic forms from base to peak stood deep reflected in the calm, clear fjord water, perfect as in a mirror. Never have I witnessed so perfect a reflection. It was impossible in many parts to discern, even with the aid of our glass, where the land and water joined. At the junction of the Aurlands and Noroens fjords the scenery defies description. Here an amphitheatre of mighty mountains rises upwards of 4.000 feet sheer from the silent fjord, and the solemn grandeur which this sight imposes is quite overpowering. No storm can enter here; all is still as death; not a sound is heard; even the waterfalls which here present themselves appear to hang in silence all around. We could think of no place that would compare with this most wonderful sight."

At GUDVANGEN carrioles are again taken. The station is excellent. Behind the station is the Keelfos, a fall of 2,000 feet. The body of water is small, but it is a fine sight. After leaving Gud

vangen the river is crossed, and the road enters the wonderful valley of Noerodalen. The mountains rise 4,000 feet nearly perpendicularly on each side of the Noerofjord, leaving just room for

the road and the river. The wildness and grandeur of the scenery defies description. Stalheim, 1} miles. Bad" station. Vinge, 1 mile. Also a bad station. Tvinde,

mile. A bad station, near which is the Tvindefos. VOSSEVANGEN, 1 mile. Fleischers inn here is excellent. Herr F. speaks English well. The house is just beyond the village by the side of the lake. Vassenden 17 miles. Station not good. It is at the head of Vassenden lake, celebrated for trout. An excellent road along the lake brings us to EIDE 4 mile. Station hotel excellent. The town is beautifully situated at the end of one of the forks of the celebrated Hardanger Fjord, which abounds in fine scenery. Steamers to Bergen and to the various landing places on the Fjord. The usual course is to take steamer to Utne, down the Sör Fjord to Lofthuus and Odde and thence to the Skjaeggedalfos. The distance to Odde is made in a little over four hours. After touching at Utne, which is thought to resemble Belaggio on Lake Como in its position, the Sör Fjord is entered. For 20 English miles, to Odde the scenery is of the grandest description. On the right are seen the glaciers of the Folge Fond, and watercourses are seen in many places running down the sides of the mountains for 2,000 feet.

ODDE (excellent inn). Should the inn be full, very good quarters and food may be had at the Lensmand's. The innkeeper's son, about 17 years old, is a very intelligent guide to the Skjæggedalfos, and across the Folge Fond to

Overhuus; the latter is a most laborious excursion, and the descent particularly bad; the road to Bondhuus direct is better. Good trout fishing may be had by crossing the lake about 14 English miles behind the hotel, and working up the stream.

"The Skjæggedalfos, or more properly the Ringedalfos, is a very fine fall, and should on no account be missed. There is an hour and a half's boating from Odde to Tyssedal, and thence about ten hours walking and boating to the fall and back to Tyssedal, viz. three hours' ascent to a farm called Skjæggedal, then two hours boat across a splendid lake to the fall. The walking on return being on a descent takes rather less time. Hard day's work to and from, but still accessible for ladies. Some American gentlemen have considered it very nearly if not quite as well worth a visit as the falls of Niagara, though very different in appearance. Observe the Tyssestringene on the way to it. This day's excursion is considered to be the best of any that can be made in the Hardanger Fjord.”—Bennet.

The Laathefos can be visited from Odde, by walking twenty minutes, boat three-quarters of an hour, and carriole forty minutes, or walk an hour and a half. There are three fine waterfalls in sight of one another, the Laathefos, the Espelandsfos, and the Hildalfos. On Lake Sandven (the threequarters' hour boating) there is a very fine view of the Folge Fond between the hills. The road is also very fine beyond the Laathefos.

The Buerbrae is a very beautiful glacier, and to go thither and back from Odde occupies only five or six hours. This as well as the Laathefos may be seen in the same excursion, but two days should be given to them, if possible.