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A country that has been inhabited for thousands of years but also a state that in its modern independence has only existed since 1905. Norway is a delicate mix of old and new and this of course is naturally reflected in the way Norway presents itself.
Lovers of classical music will be familiar with Grieg's Peer Gynt, art lovers will know Edvard Munch's painting The Scream and anyone who remembers the 1980s will know A-Ha and their gigantic hit Take On Me. But Norway hides more cultural treasures than just these. Trondheim-born Erlend Loe is one of Norway's most successful modern writers with his bestselling novel Naïve Super. Jo Nesbo is another recent literary giant from this country with his award-winning Oslo-based crime-novels.
Jostein Gaarder's Sophie's World is a must-read for any young person with a strong interest in philosophy.
Norwegian cinema can boast some notable figures, Sami-born Nils Gaup was nominated for an Academy Award in 1988 for his film Pathfinder and before him, director Anja Breien won critical acclaim for her work.
Norway also has an interesting music scene that should not be overlooked. Kaiser's Orchestra has achieved underground success in most of Scandinavia over the last decade as has Thomas Dybdahl with his enchanting soundscapes.