Stortinget, Oslo

The Stortinget building (whose name translates to 'the Great Thing') is the seat of the Norwegian Parliament (Storting).

Initially, the parliament, established in 1814, led a nomadic existence for nearly fifty years, meeting in various locations, including schools and university halls. Eventually, the need for a designated building was recognized, leading to the acquisition of land between the Royal Palace and Oslo East Station in 1857. An architectural competition held in 1856 resulted in the selection of a design by Swedish architect Emil Victor Langlet in 1860, after an earlier red brick, classically Scandinavian design by Schirmer and von Hanno was rejected for resembling a church. Construction began in 1860, and the parliament moved into its new home in March 1866.

Made of yellow brick and light gray granite, the Stortinget architecture combines several styles inspired by French and Italian designs. The opulent interior abounds in red and gold, while on the outside the uniqueness is characterized by the plenary chamber in a semi-circular section at the front (rather than at the center) and arcade-style archways. The building's back mirrors its front.

Initially, the property was considered too large for its purpose, so other government agencies were also housed there. During World War II and the Nazi occupation of Norway, the country’s parliament fled abroad and the Stortinget was taken over by German forces and administration. Following liberation, from 1951 to 1959, the edifice was fully renovated and a modern four-story building was added at the back.

The approach to the entrance, called 'The Lions Hill' (Løvebakken), is named after the granite lion statues present there. The Lions Hill is also sometimes used as a metaphorical phrase to refer to the building itself.

Guided tours of Storting are available on a regular basis.