- Address: PO Box 1700 Sentrum N-0026 Oslo, Norge
- Phone: +47 23 31 30 50
- Website: www.stortinget.no/no
- E-mail: postmottak@stortinget.no
- E-mail for organizing excursions to the parliament building: befo@stortinget.no
- Excursions: on weekdays by appointment, occasionally on Saturdays (except June)
- Foundation date: May 17, 1814.
The Storting is the parliament of Norway . The word Stortinget from Norwegian translates as "a great meeting". The Storting was formed on May 17, 1814, on the same day as the adoption of the country's Constitution. Today, May 17 is Norway's main national holiday .
The Storting is the supreme body of state power. Elections to the Norwegian Parliament are held every four years; there are 169 people in it. Interestingly, the website of the Storting lists the e-mail addresses of all parliamentarians, and any Norwegian can refer to the people's choices with their questions. In addition, the website of the parliament can watch all meetings live, or in the video archive view any of the previous meetings.
Houses of Parliament
In 2016, the building in which the Norwegian Storting meets, celebrated its 150th anniversary. Preliminary held a competition of projects, and even the winner was determined - a tall building in the Gothic style. But after that, the Construction Commission reviewed the project of the Swedish architect Emil Victor Langlet, who was simply late to submit his project to the competition. The draft was adopted unanimously.
The construction of the building began in 1861 and was completed 5 years later, in 1866. The building of the parliament is not high, it does not prevail over the surrounding landscape. This, as it were, emphasizes that the parliament is the backbone of democracy, and that the people sitting in it are equal to all other citizens of Norway. And the fact that it is located on the main street of Oslo , in front of the royal palace, is also very symbolic.
In 1949 another competition was held - for the expansion project of the building, as it became too small. The reconstruction project belonged to the architect Nils Holter. Reconstruction began in 1951, and in 1959 it was completed. As the then President of the Storting, Nils Langelle, formulated, "The New has entered into a joyous union with the old."
Nine doors leading to a rounded building demonstrate that parliament is open to all. Three of them are facing Karl-Juhan Street.
How to visit the Norwegian parliament?
The Storting is located on Karl Johans Gate, the main street of the capital, which starts from the railway station; it is located at its intersection with Akersgata. You can get to it by metro (station "Storting" is on lines 1, 2, 3 and 4).
The building of the Storting is open to all comers. You can not only walk along the corridors and admire the interiors, but also attend political debates during parliamentary sessions: a special balcony is reserved for spectators. However, viewers do not have the right to speak. The grand opening of the Storting after the holidays takes place on the 1st Sunday of October.
Excursions for groups are held on weekdays on preliminary requests. Sightseeing tours are held during the day, and in the evening on certain days, an examination of art objects is conducted.
In addition, on some Saturdays there are also sightseeing tours of the building, but for single visitors, and not for organized sightseeing groups. On Saturdays, excursions (in English) take place at 10:00 and at 11:30; Pass only 30 people, the first in the "live" line. Duration of the tour is about an hour. At the entrance, a security check is mandatory. Photography in the Storting is allowed (except for the security control zone), and video shooting is prohibited. The schedule of excursions can be changed, usually the changes are notified on the site of the Storting.