The official residence of the king in Trondheim is Stifsgården Mansion, built in the late 18th century. It is the largest wooden palace in Scandinavian countries to date.
Stifsgården was commissioned by Cecilia Christine Scheller, the widow of a member of the of Trondheim's secret society. The construction of the mansion cost her 5 barrels of gold, or about 78 million kroner by today's standards. Stifsgården, located in the heart of the city, is 58 metres long and consists of 140 rooms. After Cecilia Scheller's death, her son-in-law, General Georg Frederik von Krogh, sold the mansion to the state in 1800, and the governor of the district and the district court moved here.
During the coronation of Karl Johan in 1818. Stifsgården served as the starting point of the solemn procession to Nidaros Cathedral. Stifsgården officially became Royal residence in 1906, and the county governor along with the county court left the building.
Stifsgården is in an exquisite style, making it a true palace, albeit a wooden one. The mansion is built in the Baroque style, but there are elements of Rococo and neoclassicism. The exterior of Stifsgården has not changed much over time - some of the hearing windows, which were damaged in a small fire in 1841, have been replaced. As for the interior, the halls of the mansion have been renovated several times. However, some original features are still are still present. For example, rococo plasterwork has been retained on some of the ceilings and walls, the panels above the doors painted with landscapes have been left intact, some original wall decorations were also preserved, etc. All furniture in the residence today was acquired in the 19th century and later.
The royal residence is open to visits by organised tour groups except on days when the royal family is at the palace.
