Norway is a magical place. So magical in fact that Disney knew it was exactly where they would find their inspiration for the settings for the mega hit movie, Frozen. Just like New Zealand has become Lord of the Rings country, Norway is definitely Frozen. I’m sure you’ll have no trouble recognizing these places in the movie.
1 Bryggen
Bryggen provided the model for the town of Arendelle. The charming timber houses of the old merchant’s quarter and the Hanseatic wharf make up a UNESCO Heritage Listed area of the city of Bergen. Today visitors to the preserved business district can enjoy bustling little shops and restaurants.
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Bryggen is a historic district in Bergen, Norway, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was founded in the 14th century as a trading post for the Hanseatic League. This area of Bergen is known for its colorful wooden buildings, which are built in the traditional Norwegian style. Visitors to Bryggen can explore the old warehouses and shops, as well as sample local cuisine in the restaurants and cafes. There are also guided tours of the area, which provide visitors with an in-depth look at the history of the district. The area of Bryggen is also a popular destination for photographers, as the colorful buildings and waterfront make for stunning photos.
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2 St. Olaf’s Church
This darling little church is a Disney inspo double whammy. St. Olaf’s in the village of Balestrand (which only 819 people call home) was the model for the chapel where the coronation of Elsa took place. But not only that, it of course, inspired the name of our favorite, and very cute, snowman,
3 Akershus Fortress
Akerhus is less fairytale like than other Disney castles but it is the model for the exterior of Elsa and Anna’s home. Akerhus Fortress is 500 years old and overlooks Oslo harbor. It is open to the public for guided walking tours.
4 Stiftsgården
So if Akerhus provided the inspiration for the exterior of the princesses’ castle home, where did Disney look to for the interior? They found it in the royal residence of Stiftsgården. Stretching more than 190 feet along the main thoroughfare in the city of Trondheim, Stiftsgården dates back to 1778 and is one of the biggest wooden structures in Scandinavia. It is open for tours and I’m sure they’re used to girls standing up against doors singing “do you want to build a snowman?”
5 Norsk Folkemuseum
It wasn’t the building of the folk museum in Oslo, Norway’s capital, that played a part in the movie Frozen coming together. It was the vintage and folk costumes that were used to design Anna and Elsa’s (and the supporting cast) clothes.
6 Borgund Stave Church
Among the buildings of Arendelle, you will not only see the timber frame houses based on those of Bryggen, but also the triple-nave style architecture that is seen in many Norwegian churches, such as the stave church in Borgrund. This beautifully preserved wooden church has been welcoming worshippers through its doors since 1250.
7 Fetsund Lenser
It’s not a massive part of the movie but it has the honor of being the opening. Remember the ice cutting scene? Go to the museum at Fetsund Lenser and see how it used to happen for real. The museum is a 200-year old ice processing plant that stands on the Glomma River, from where the ice was harvested.
8 Sognefjord
You won’t spot it particularly, but the gorgeous landscapes and countryside of and around Sognefjord is rendered throughout the exterior scenes of the movie. Spot the deep still waters of the fjord, the towering cliffs and dramatic waterfalls.
9 Fløibanen
Careful where you tread in the trees around Fløibanen near Bergen, because that rock might be hiding a troll. Best take the funicular railway and look down to see if you can spot these famous creatures of Norwegian folklore in the Troll Forest.
10 Svalbard
If you’re up to feeling frozen yourself, head to the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. This incredibly stark place is when you’ll find Sven’s relatives and the background scenes for Elsa’s flight into the mountains. Don’t get frostbite as you gaze in awe at the wonder of the Northern Lights.
In case you are wondering why Elsa’s ice castle doesn’t appear in this list, it’s because that Frozen home was based on the Hôtel de Glace, in Quebec, Canada. Do you fancy a trip to Norway now or are you going to let it go? Let it go… Let it go …
