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Founded by King Olav Tryggvason at the mouth of the river Nid in 997 AD, Trondheim - now Norway's third largest city - was the first Norwegian capital.

King Olav Haraldsson was slain in the battle of Stiklestad in 1030. Declared a saint a year later, pilgrims began to flock to his grave buy the river Nid . Work on erecting the first stone church at the burial site commenced around 1070. The cathedral was probably finished sometime around 1300. For centuries, travellers came seeking consolation, help and miracle cures, making the city the largest and richest in Norway.

It was - and remains - one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Europe. The acoustics of the structure, with its high vaulted arches, also make it a near-perfect venue for music recitals. This national shrine also became the traditional burial site for Norwegian monarchs; and later, for their coronations, although the two most recent kings chose to be anointed rather than crowned. Since 1814 it has been a constitutional requirement that the Norwegian monarch be proclaimed at the cathedral.

For all its magnificent history, and its renowned districts of beautifully preserved old wooden buildings, Trondheim is also a thoroughly modern city, with a highly respected university, a research community ranking among the best in Europe and above average cultural, recreational and business facilities. The city is also renowned for its districts of beautifully preserved old wooden buildings, including the beautiful Stiftsgården, one of the royal residences and the third largest wooden building in the Nordic countries.

A short boat trip to the austerely beautiful island of Munkholmen - variously the site of a prison, fort and ancient monastery, and now a popular recreational and bathing area - provides a comprehensive view of Trondheim from the seaward side, and an exquisite panorama of the city and its surroundings from the 120-metre-high Tyholt tower.

Beyond Trondheim are the wide open spaces stretching towards the Swedish border in the east and the Dovre plateau to the south, a landscape of expansive mountain highland and majestic peaks. The northern coastline is a medley of islands in all shapes and sizes, battered by rough seas.

On the eastern side of the county, by the Swedish border, Røros offers another kind of living history. Founded in 1644 after copper ore was discovered in the area, the town's carefully preserved wooden buildings and mining works - long since discontinued - are among the cultural treasures on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The old Christianus Quintus (Christian V) copper mine is a particularly impressive sight. The surrounding countryside is known for its large herds of domesticated reindeer and some of the coldest winters in Norway.

Sør-Trøndelag's rich and fascinating history should not blind visitors to the other attractions of the county, not least its splendid landscapes. On a fine summer's day the fertile and luxuriant fields shimmer inland along the Trondheimsfjord, framed by forest-clad ridges which stretch up towards the mountain range at the Swedish border. The coast, blessed by cool summers and mild winters, is home to vast colonies of seabirds; the isles of Hitra and Frøya are known for their excellent fishing.