In Narvik the designated business area was in Oscarsborg (i.e. the central area) and a large section of the adjacent residential areas, which were destroyed by fire at the start of the Second World War in 1940. Other areas of the town were also damaged, but the level of destruction was not so great.

One of the requirements of the town-plan for the rebuilding of Narvik was that the main street, Kongens gate, should follow the shape of the land, thus curving slightly from the top, where the old Grand Hotel had been, downhill towards the sea. For large sections of this downward movement Den sovende dronning (sleeping queen) mountain is in view, drawing the eye towards the horizon.