The Nobel Peace Center will enable you to discover the achievements of all recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize, and to gain a greater insight into the philosophy behind this organisation. High-tech audiovisual exhibits will introduce you to figures such as Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama, who embody the core values of this world-famous award.
The centre was officially opened in 2005 by King Harald V. It occupies a grand 19th-century building that was once the Oslo West Station, which stands just a short distance from Oslo City Hall, the venue which hosts the Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony on the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, 10 December, each year.
You’ll be able to learn all about the founder of the prize in The Nobel Chamber. The centrepiece of this gallery is a large interactive book, in which you’ll discover how this extraordinary man, the inventor of dynamite, dedicated the fortune he amassed to establishing this award. This unique exhibit will bring each of his achievements to life in an engaging multimedia presentation.
Head to The Nobel Field, an enchantingly designed gallery in which an LCD screen for each laureate stands in a symbolic garden of fibre-optic lights. Move from screen to screen to see portraits of each Nobel Prize winner, and learn about their contribution to peace that led to their nomination.
The third gallery in the permanent exhibition is entitled The Wall Papers. This brings together a wealth of information about both the history of the Nobel Peace Prize and the laureates’ lives and work, all presented across five large interactive screens. You’ll be able to select and retrieve hundreds of videos, and thousands of images and articles, and even listen to extracts from Martin Luther King Jr.’s epoch-making “I have a dream” speech.
The Nobel Peace Center is located in the heart of Oslo, and is easily accessible by all forms of public transport. It is open every day during the summer, but closes on Mondays during winter. Guided tours are available in English, but check the official website for exact times.