Stensparken

Stensparken is a park in Oslo, laid out on a limestone ridge close to Fagerborg church. The rise is formed by two hills, Korpehaugen and Blåsen, and the history of the ground is far livelier than the calm green space you see today.

Where is Stensparken?

The park sits in Oslo next to Fagerborg church, on a limestone hill. It should not be confused with the much better-known St. Hanshaugen park. They are two separate places, though both belong to the green network of the Norwegian capital. Stensparken is the smaller, more local spot, best suited to visitors who want a short break from city traffic or an interest in the history of Oslo's neighbourhoods.

How did it get its name?

The hill received the name Stensparken in 1891, taken from the farm Sten that once stood here. Before that the place was called Natmandshaugen. The older name referred to a night-soil worker who settled on the hill in the 1820s. The change of name in the late nineteenth century went hand in hand with turning the area into public greenery.

What is the history of the site?

According to the City of Oslo, the land was in turn a farm, a match factory, a burial ground and a waste site for the capital. Only afterwards was it developed as a park. The first landscaping work began around 1890 and was financed by Kristiania Brændevinssamlag. It was wrapped up around 1900, although the project was not fully completed at that point. The park reached its final form in the 1930s.

This changing past makes Stensparken a good example of how Oslo spent decades turning industrial and utility land into open spaces for recreation. The limestone bedrock and the two-hill landform still set the place apart from the flatter parts of the surrounding district.

What to know before you go

• The park is municipal green space maintained by the City of Oslo, so check the city's website for current rules on use.
• It combines well with a walk around Fagerborg church.
• If you want a longer stay in green surroundings, St. Hanshaugen, the oldest municipal park in Oslo, lies nearby and fits into the same outing.

Frequently asked questions

Is Stensparken the same as St. Hanshaugen? No. They are two separate parks in Oslo. St. Hanshaugen is larger and older, while Stensparken lies on a limestone hill by Fagerborg church.

Where does the name come from? From the farm Sten. The name came into use in 1891, and the hill was previously known as Natmandshaugen.

What stood here before the park? According to the City of Oslo, in turn a farm, a match factory, a burial ground and a waste site.

When was the park completed? Work began around 1890 and ended around 1900, without the project being fully finished. The park took its final shape in the 1930s.

Which hills make up the ridge? Korpehaugen and Blåsen, on a limestone ridge.

Stensparken is for those who enjoy discovering less obvious corners of a city and learning how an ordinary neighbourhood hill travelled from waste site to park.