Heritage

Norway’s architectural heritage encompasses many different types of structures, from ruins, stave churches and other types of medieval buildings, to various, more recent buildings and complex installations. A great deal of Norway’s older architectural heritage is related to agriculture. The preservation of architectural heritage is important for many reasons. Firstly, it provides a unique sourc... Read more

A country's cultural heritage includes all traces of human activity in the physical environment. These are irreplaceable sources of information on people's lives and activities, and on the historical development of crafts, techniques and art. Because monuments and sites and cultural environments are non-renewable resources, their management must be based on a long-term perspective. Cultural... Read more

The UNESCO World Heritage List contains areas or objects that constitute an irreplaceable component of the world's cultural or natural heritage. The World Heritage Convention was drawn up in 1972 to provide special protection to sites whose universal value qualifies them for preservation as part of the world heritage for future generations. Norway ratified the convention in 1977, and there are... Read more

Archaeological monuments constitute the oldest traces of human activity. The oldest find in Norway is the remains of a settlement on the island of Magerøy in Finnmark, dating from approximately 12 000 years ago. Legislation to protect archaeological monuments was first introduced in 1905. This legislation has been amended over the years in response to changes in society and improvements in the... Read more