CHRISTIANIA, kres-te-i'ne-a, Norway, capital, city and port, province of Aggershuus or Christiania, at the head of the long narrow inlet called Christiania Fjord, about 60 miles from the open sea or Skager Rack. High hills rise around it on both sides, excepting toward the bay, but at considerable distances, particularly on the north. The most interesting building in the town is the fine old castle of Akershus {built about 1300), with its church and planted ramparts crowning a point jutting out into the fjord and commanding a fine view, but of no military value. It now serves as an arsenal and prison. On a gentle elevation and in the midst of a beautiful park stands the royal palace— a massive square building, without any architectural ornament, but commanding delight ful views of the fjord and its beautifully wind ing shores. The hall in which the Storthing holds its sittings is a very plain building. The other public edifices are the military academy, cathedral, university, etc. Attached to the uni versity is a museum, containing a fine collection of antiquities. The climate of Christiania is de lightful. It is screened from violent winds; and even in winter, though the cold is severe, the -weather is seldom variable, but bright and ' settled and free from damp and fog. • In summer it is warm but not sultry, with a light and buoyant atmosphere. The few manufactures of the city consist of woolen cloth, furniture, liquors, iron-ware, tobacco, paper, leather, soap, spirits, glasi, etc. There
are also some extensive breweries. The ex ports are principally timber deal planks and iron. • The environs of the city are exceedingly beautiful, the approach to it by the magnificent fjord, at the head of which it is situated, ex citing the admiration of all visitors. The fjord is frozen for upward of two months in the year, for about 20 miles from Christiania to the sea; and the harbor is kept open by means of ice breakers.' 'Christiania forms a separate offi cial district and is achninistered by a magistracy composed of the burgomaster and two council men. It has good waterworks and several trit-car lines, The educational institutions in clude, besides the university, two higher military schools, a 'gymnasium, a technical school and a number. of Latin schools and Realsthuleni The, Museum of Art contains many meritorious paintings by Scandinavian and foreign artists, but no great masterpieces. The Industrial Art Museum has fine ancient and modern specimens of Norwegian handicraft. There are three theatres and a municipal library of 55,000 volumes. The city was founded in 1624 by Christian IV, on the site of the town of Oslo, which dated from 1048 and was burned in 1624. Pop. 247,588. Consult Anneus, 'La ville de Knstiania, son commerce, sa navigation et son industrie: Résumé historique' (Christiania 1900).