– What is quite unique about this project is that stone by stone has been picked down. Every biting stone, says Rune Langås. He is the subject leader at Nidaros Cathedral’s Restoration Work (NDR), which is also the national competence center for buildings worthy of protection in stone. These days, they are in the process of doing the very final touches on what has been their biggest project since the famous western front of the cathedral was completely restored in 1969. It has taken almost 12 years and 30 craftsmen to restore the King’s Entrance in Nidaros Cathedral. . Nidaros Cathedral is Norway’s national shrine. The western front, as we see in the picture, is one of the most characteristic of the cathedral. Photo: Bent Lindsetmo / news Only a third of “fresh” stones The King’s Entrance is located on the south side of the cathedral’s choir, and got its name because it faces the Archbishop’s Palace, which has also been called the King’s Palace once upon a time. It was originally built in the 13th century, and has been described as perhaps the most beautifully decorated part of Nidaros Cathedral. If you examine the details carefully, you will find detailed figures carved in the soapstone – including Eve who tempts Adam with an apple. You will find a lot of Bible history in the King’s Entrance decorations – including this scene with Adam and Eve in paradise. Photo: Jøte Toftaker / news But Kongeinngangen has not always lived up to its good name and reputation. The portal has simply been in such poor condition that this is the fourth time it has been restored in 150 years. But this time they have gone to work really thoroughly. Work must begin on dismantling the entrance completely. The rose window over the main arch was plucked apart, the marble columns were lifted away, all the thousands of hand-forged screws in the wrought iron decoration on the doors were loosened, and not least each of the approximately 1700 soapstones in the King’s Entrance was plucked down. – One third of the stones have been diagnosed as “fresh”, one third we have repaired, and one third have been cut again, says Langås. The royal entrance to Nidaros Cathedral has hopefully been restored for the last time in a while. Photo: Jøte Toftaker / news Stonemasons, masons, plasterers, blacksmiths, carpenters, plumbers and lead glass craftsmen have done their part to preserve what can be preserved and make new ones when needed. The portal has been carefully rebuilt over several years, and now it is finally ready to remove the scaffolding for the inauguration of the King’s Entrance on 24 June. Langås in NDR calls this restaurant “the western front of our time”. – In my generation, this is the biggest and most prestigious job we have completed, he says proudly. Rune Langås is the subject leader in Nidaros Cathedral’s Restoration Work. In the background we see the top of the main arch in the King’s Entrance, and inside it a scene from the birth of Jesus carved in stone. Photo: Jøte Toftaker / news «Hjulbeint» portal NDR is a state building hut, which was established in 1869 to rebuild Nidaros Cathedral which was partly in ruins after fires and poor maintenance. At that time, Bygghytta has been responsible for restoring and maintaining the cathedral and the Archbishop’s Palace, in addition to developing expertise in the preservation of stone-worthy buildings. In 2020, NDR received UNESCO status for good conservation work. But it is questionable whether the conservation work was as good at the end of the 19th century. Many of the problems with Kongeinngangen can be traced back to the restoration in the 1870s, Langås says. A photograph from the restoration work in 1872. Before this work began, many of the old stone carvings were hidden behind wood, as we see in the picture. Photo: Jøte Toftaker / news Cement mortar was used which was too hard, and the stones they used were of very poor quality. The stones weathered quickly in addition to expanding in humid weather, so that they pushed other stones out of position. With further pressure from other parts of the building, they eventually ended up with a portal that Langås describes as “wheel-bone”, in addition to parts of it disintegrating. Therefore, it was no bomb that most of the stones that had to be replaced were of a slightly fresher date. The stones from the 13th century, however, they stand. – The medieval stone, Trondheimskleberen, it has very good quality, says Langås. This rose window hangs over the main arch in the King’s Entrance. Here you can clearly see which stones have been preserved from old times, and which stones are new. Photo: Jøte Toftaker / news He is confident that the work that has now been done is worthy of a king. As it should be, as Nidaros Cathedral – Norway’s national shrine – after all, is Olav the Saint’s grave church, and the place where Norwegian kings have been crowned and signed. – This is what we give a lifetime guarantee on. This will last for many generations to come.
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Has spent 12 years restoring the King’s Entrance in Nidaros Cathedral – news Trøndelag
