The Parliament of Norway Building with Wessels plass in the foreground.

Wessels plass ("Wessel's Square") is a square in Oslo, Norway, located south of the Parliament of Norway Building.

History

Originally on the site was a knoll with a house surrounded by a garden. The Parliament of Norway Building was completed in 1866, ad in 1873 Oslo municipality bought the knoll. It was demolished around 1880 to give room for a park-like square. Named Stortingspladsen ('The Storting Square'), it was given its current name in 1891. It was named after Johan Herman Wessel, and a bust of him was raised here in 1891. A statue of Johan Sverdrup was raised in 1964. Under the square is a walking tunnel between the Parliament of Norway Building and office buildings across the street.[1]

Transport

Wessels plass had a light rail station on the Briskeby Line of the Oslo Tramway. It was served by lines 13 and 19, while it was active;[2] westbound trams skipped the station. The square is also served by buses, and the Oslo Metro station Stortinget is not far away.

References

  1. Tvedt, Knut Are, ed. (2000). "Wessels plass". Oslo byleksikon (4 ed.). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. p. 488. ISBN 82-573-0815-3.
  2. Oslo Sporveier. "Linjekart" (PDF). Retrieved 18 March 2009.


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