Karl Johans Street

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Karl Johans gate (Karl Johan Street), named after King Karl Johan, is the main street of the city of Oslo. In its current route, it connects the main railroad station in Oslo and the Royal Palace, changing its direction and width halfway between them.

Today's Karl Johans gate is a composite of several older streets that used to be separate thoroughfares. The eastern section was part of Christian IV's original city near the ramparts surrounding the city. When the ramparts were removed to make way for Oslo Cathedral, three separate sections eventually became Østre Gade. The wider western section was built during the 1840s as an avenue connecting the newly erected Royal Palace with the rest of the city. In 1852 it was named Karl Johans gate in honor of the recently deceased king, whose equestrian statue was later put up in front of the Palace. When the Norwegian parliament building was completed in 1866 at the junction of the two formerly separarate streets, they were joined and the whole length was named Karl Johans gate.

The street includes many of Oslo's tourist attractions.