Old Town Bridge (Norwegian: Gamle Bybro or Bybroa) is located in Trondheim, Trøndelag County, Norway.

History

Gamle Bybro crosses the Nidelva River from the south end of the main street Kjøpmannsgata connecting to the Trondheim neighborhood of Bakklandet. Gamle Bybro was constructed by Johan Caspar von Cicignon in 1681 in conjunction with the reconstruction of Trondheim after the great fire of 1681. Johan Caspar von Cicignon laid out plans for the reconstruction of Trondheim as well as its fortification. Kristiansten Fortress was built at this time after his plans. The bridge location was of military-strategic significance. King Christian V of Denmark assumed the cost of construction. It was completed in 1685. The bridge was built in the vicinity of the original Elgeseter Bridge. When it was opened the older bridge was allowed to decay and collapse. Since then Gamle Bybro has undergone many changes. Originally Gamle Bybro was constructed of wood, but the wood was supported on three stone piers. In the middle of the bridge, an iron gate was placed. This remained a guarded city gate until 1816. At each end of the bridge there was a toll and guardhouse. The access house on the west end still stands, but that on the east side was taken down in 1824. Gamle Bybro was reconstructed in 1861 by the engineer

Carl Adolf Dahl Carl may refer to: * Carl, Georgia, city in USA * Carl, West Virginia, an unincorporated community *Carl (name), includes info about the name, variations of the name, and a list of people with the name * Carl², a TV series * "Carl", an episode of ...

(1828-1907). Today ''Gamle Bybro'' is one of Trondheim's characteristic landmarks. Gamle Bybro is also known as ''Lykkens portal'' (Gate of Happiness), after the lyrics of the popular waltz ''Nidelven stille og vakker du er'' ( "Nidelven quiet and beautiful you are") by Norwegian singer and composer

Kristian Oskar Hoddø Kristian is a name in several languages, and is a form of Christian. Meaning in different languages The name is used in several languages, among them Albanian, Slovak, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Bosnian, Macedonian, Bulgarian and Cr ...

(1916-1943). According to tradition, Hoddø wrote the waltz about the Nidelva River one night in late April 1940 while he was standing at Gamle Bybro. Oskar Hoddø was a member of the resistance movement against the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany. He was executed in Trondheim on 17 November 1943 along with eight other Norwegian resistance fighters.

References

Other sources

* Øksendal, Asbjørn (1969) ''Lurøy-affæren - Operasjon Oleander : Gestapo i Trondheim og Leksvik-affæren 1942-44''

External links

''Nidelven stille og vakker du er'' by Oskar Hoddø
Buildings and structures in Trondheim Bridges in Trøndelag Bridges completed in 1685 Bridges completed in 1861 1685 establishments in Norway Tourist attractions in Trondheim Former toll bridges in Norway {{Norway-bridge-stub