St. Olav's Cathedral, Catholic cathedral in Hammersborg, Norway.
St. Olav's Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in the Hammersborg neighborhood of Oslo, built from red brick in the Gothic Revival style. The building has pointed arches and tall windows, and was designed by architects Heinrich Ernst Schirmer and Wilhelm von Hanno.
The cathedral was founded in 1852, when the Catholic community in Oslo was beginning to grow and establish itself after a long period without a formal presence. Its consecration was delayed until 1896 because Norway had no Catholic bishop at the time to perform the ceremony.
The cathedral is named after the Norwegian king Olav, who became the patron saint of Norway in the 11th century and is still venerated in the Catholic church today. During services, prayers are spoken in Norwegian, English, and Polish, reflecting a congregation drawn from many different countries.
The cathedral sits in the central Hammersborg neighborhood and is easy to reach on foot from most parts of the city center. It is open on most days and welcomes both worshippers and visitors who want to look around the building.
Inside the cathedral there is a case holding what is believed to be a bone fragment from the arm of Saint Olav, on display since the 1860s. It is one of the few religious relics still kept in Norway today.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
