Edvard Grieg (1843 — 1907) was Norway's most famous composer. He was born in Bergen, and this is where he built the house Troldhaugen in 1885.

He had an annual schedule of travelling around Europe during autumn and winter, giving performances; and he lived at Troldhaugen during spring and summer, where he did most of his composing.

Troldhaugen is about 7 km south of Bergen's city centre, and is in an elevated position, giving very good views — which were no doubt insprational for a composer like Grieg.

There is a very informative and recently built Grieg museum at Troldhaugen, as well as a modern concert hall.

However Grieg's house and the hut in which he did much of his composing, are the most interesting things to see. The interiors of both are still very much as Grieg left them when he died in 1907.

Frank Stamford

Return to Norway trip menu

 

 

 

The walk from the bus stop to Troldhaugen is mostly along undistinguished suburban roads, but the last half-kilometre takes on a completely different character. Troldhaugen is a peaceful oasis from suburbia.

Edvard Grieg's house at Troldhaugen. It is open to the public and is still furnished as it was when Edvard Grieg lived here. There is a Steinway grand piano inside. Unfortunately photography of the interior is not permitted.

One of the views from the garden at Troldhaugen.


Another view at Troldhaugen.

Leading to bridge

Another view of Grieg's house at Troldhaugen.

bridge pier

View at Troldhaugen.

Grieg needed a quiet refuge to compose his music. To achieve this he built "huts" where he had privacy and peace. He created his first hut at the age of eleven, which he converted from a chooks' house (hen house). By the time he built his house at Troldhaugen he was able to build a much more sophisticated "hut" — seen here from the side of the entrance door. The hut was located to give Grieg an inspiring view from his desk.



The hut from the other side.


Interior of the hut.

Another view of the inside of the hut, showing a rocking chair on the lower right hand side. Both pictures of the interior were taken through the window of hut's door. This one was taken with an extreme wide angle lens, and on the right hand side, and top left-hand side, are reflections of foliage in the glass of the window. The lens was a fish-eye and special software has been used to take away the fish-eye effect.

One of the many garden paths around Troldhaugen.

Return to Norway trip menu

All photographs Copyright Frank Stamford, 2008, who may be contacted by email at: frank.stamford@bigpond.com

Last updated: 27 August 2008