Castles, palaces and fortresses of Norway: the precious heritage of the harsh northern country. Where to go and where to stay. Memories of battles
Norway is a country of a kingdom of snow, fjords and magnificent waterfalls, the freshness of which makes it possible to breathe deeply. Unforgettable sunrises and picturesque sunsets, during the contemplation of which you understand the greatness of this cold but friendly mountainous country.
Akershus Fortress is located near the sea and was previously closely associated with maritime transport. So they said that whoever owns the fortress has all of Norway at his disposal!
Akershus Fortress is one of the most interesting sights of the Norwegian capital Oslo.
In addition, the fortress played the role of a protective structure of the city.
In 1308, the intention to seize the throne of the castle was carried out by the Swedish Duke Eric Knuttson, but after an unsuccessful attempt to conquer the fortress, he was forced to admit defeat.
An interesting fact is indicated in the chronicles: in 1537, lightning struck the castle, after which it caught fire and was completely destroyed. Here is such a life paradox: what technology and people failed to do, nature easily created.
Many who have been on excursions in Norway and visited the castle point to the modest simplicity of the interior decoration. According to European standards of that time, it should look secularly majestic, amaze with its variety and splendor of decoration. No, the castle breathes gray scarcity, which is fully explained by the history of this amazing region.
Norway during the Middle Ages was a poor country, as sea routes had their limitations, and times of abundance in Oslo were often replaced by periods of poverty. Nevertheless, some halls surprise with a rather chic interior with magnificent furniture and tapestry decor of that time, and the mystical smell of antiquity creates a special, unique atmosphere.
The fortress has over a dozen large, spacious rooms that once served certain functions. It has its own garrison church with a tomb, a room where the court bailiff was collecting taxes, and a royal kitchen.
Panoramic tour of the castle
In those days, the Renaissance style was in vogue, the splendor and rich decoration of which the court nobility was very fond of. Features of this direction can be traced in the medieval costumes exhibited in one of the rooms of the castle. They are used in our time for spectacular historical performances.
Akershus, like any castle or fortress, has secret passages. During the fighting, and especially during the siege of the castle, with the help of secret passages, it was possible to freely move between the northern and southern wings of the citadel. Superbly executed and securely fortified, the secret passages have retained their strength and reliability to this day.
By the way, earlier on them it was possible to get into the school class where the children of the local governor studied.
An interesting fact: the lower part of the walls was covered with a fabric like a canvas, and during the drawing lesson, the children could transfer their fantasies to the wall canvas. To this day, partly preserved drawings of that time can be seen on the walls.
Casemates in Akerhus occupy a special place and position. Under the old church, on the site of a powder magazine, four prison rooms were built, one of them was called the "witch's pit". It must have had something to do with the Inquisitions that were rampant at the time. The atmosphere hovering in some rooms of the castle is rather creepy. The basement prisons of the fortress preserved in their stones the suffering of those who were imprisoned for breaking the law.
Castle on the map
In 1948, the tomb of the Norwegian kings of the Glücksburg dynasty was built, which is located in one of the rooms of the castle. Two marble sarcophagi (white and green) are still there today.
According to local residents, the remains of the legendary king Sigurd Koltso, who defeated Harald Battletooth, were immured in the wall, after which he ruled the kingdom until his death. What a plot for The Lord of the Rings!
Akershus Castle retains its mystery to this day. And, it should be noted, it is difficult to call it hospitable. Often, while visiting the halls, tourists clearly hear the ringing of keys, calling to leave the fortress...
A person who expects to see a luxurious palace with knightly halls and elegant boudoirs, Akershus castle interiors may disappoint: the situation here is rather poor. By European standards, the castle is certainly empty, which is reminiscent of the poverty of Norway during the Middle Ages. However, there are still some interesting rooms. Some of them are remarkable for their history, others are impressive for their size or attractive period furniture and tapestries. There are simply charming corners that breathe the atmosphere of antiquity (photo source:).
Let's repeat: to see Akershus castle from the inside, have to buy admission ticket. Practical information for tourists about visiting the fortress and castle(hours of operation, ticket prices, etc.) is given.
Please note that the castle's opening hours are very limited; even in summer it closes at 16:00. In this regard, it is recommended to come with a margin, at least an hour or half an hour before closing (in principle, 40 minutes to inspect the castle should be enough for you).
After visiting the castle, you will be able to walk completely free until late in the rest of the fortress. But to the castle - and even to its courtyard! - you will not be allowed in after 16:00. So try to plan your route correctly. This will help you Akershus fortress plans .
When visiting the castle, a free booklet with a brief description of the halls is issued. You can also take a free audio guide in English or another language. Visit to Akershus Castle includes a visit to approximately 12 historical halls, as well as the garrison church and the royal tomb. Taking pictures in the castle allowed (no flash). Near the ticket office on the first floor there is gift shop(it seemed not very interesting; most of the souvenirs have nothing to do with Norwegian history, but are simply inspired by the motifs of "knightly times").
Reviews about visiting Akershus Fortress and Castle you can also read (a lot of detailed reviews in Russian and photos).
Entrance to Akershus Castle
Recall briefly History of Akershus Castle(For more detailed information, I refer you to the note "History of the fortress"). The castle was originally built around 1300 to protect the city of Oslo, which had just become the capital of Norway, from attacks by foreign enemies and rebellious aristocrats. This complex of medieval fortifications became the core of the current castle. During the reign of the Danish-Norwegian "builder king" Christian IV in the first half of the 17th century, the castle was rebuilt in renaissance style and is surrounded by a system of bastions that was progressive at that time, turning into a real fortress. In the XVIII-XIX centuries, the castle fell into decay, and in the XX century it was restored. The restoration of some halls was completed only in the 1970s. Today the castle is not only a tourist landmark of Oslo. Its main function is to host official events involving Norwegian monarchs and the government.
Going around the courtyard, we go inside. Entrance to the castle for tourists - through west wing the castle (the arrow indicates where the ticket office and gift shop are located).
Interiors of Akershus Castle
Armed with tickets, we go to inspect castle interiors. We will see more than a dozen ancient halls, as well as the garrison church and the royal tomb. There is not a soul in the castle, except for the rare caretakers who, closer to closing hour, begin to hurry up and rattle keys behind your back.
A ticket office and a gift shop have settled in a building that once served as royal kitchen at the Renaissance castle of King Christian IV. The remains of stoves and fireplaces have been preserved here.
Inspection of the castle begins directly from the western wing, from small intimate rooms. Almost immediately we find ourselves in a cozy court bailiff's room, who, during the union with Denmark, collected taxes throughout Eastern Norway.
This room displays examples of antique renaissance costumes: exactly such clothes were worn in the middle of the 17th century by the royal governor (statholder, representative of the Danish king in Norway) ( Hannibal Sehested) (1609-1666) and his wife.
The governor and his family lived in the eastern wing of Akershus Castle, and his office was located in the western wing. The living quarters in the east wing were destroyed in the 18th century, but the cabinet was partly preserved: now it is the Rumerike Hall, which we will see a little later. Hannibal Sehested was one of the most famous statesmen of that era. He was a Danish nobleman married to the daughter of King Christian IV and Kirsten Munch, Princess Christiane (1626-1670). He was engaged to 10-year-old Christiana back in 1636, and the wedding was played only in 1642, in Copenhagen. Sehested served as governor in Norway from 1642 to 1651. The costumes displayed in this room were used in historical productions held at the castle from 1994-2007.
Through the corridor-tunnel we pass into a modest " school room”, where in the 17th century the children of the Danish governor, who lived and served in the fortress, studied. At that time, the lower part of the walls was covered with canvas so that children could draw. Now the walls are partially covered with murals that imitate fabric.
Then again we delve into the secret passage and fall into dungeons (casemates) - that part of the castle, where at the beginning of the 17th century, four underground prison cells were arranged on the site of the old powder magazine under the church.
It is known from written sources that one of the chambers was called the "witch's pit". atmosphere in these catacombs and now quite creepy, especially since there are no people around, and the lighting is ominous, so that thoughts of ghosts involuntarily begin to come to mind. What is a castle without ghosts! To complete the experience, you can take a free audio guide at the box office and learn in detail about all the spirits living in the castle. And there are plenty of them.
We leave the casemates into a vaulted corridor with whitewashed walls. We are in crypt castle church, in the south wing of the castle.
In the distance to the right there will be a beautiful forged lattice, behind which is located royal tomb (mausoleum) (Det kongelige mausoleum) (photo source:).
The tomb was built in 1948 (the work of Arnstein Arneberg), becoming the final resting place of several representatives of the ruling dynasty in Norway Glucksburg. So far, there are only two marble sarcophagi in the tomb with the burials of the first two royal couples since Norway gained independence (1905). A popular Norwegian king is buried in the central white sarcophagus Haakon VII(1872-1957) and his wife Queen Maud (1869-1938). In a nearby green sarcophagus rests their son, King Olaf V(1903-1991), and his wife Crown Princess Martha of Sweden (1901-1954) are the parents of the current reigning King Harald V.
In addition, the remains of King Sigurd I the Crusader (1090-1130), immured in the wall, are stored in the tomb, as well as Hakon V Saint(1270-1319), during which the construction of Akershus Castle began, and his wife Euphemia of Rügen.
These burials (skulls), transferred to the castle in the second half of the 20th century from the destroyed temples of Oslo, are marked with separate commemorative plaques on the opposite wall of the crypt.
From the tomb we go up the stairs and find ourselves in a spacious, sun-drenched castle church (garrison chapel) (Akershusslottskirke/Garnisonskirken) with brick walls. Like some other premises of the castle, the church continues to be actively used. In particular, public worship services are held here, which are advertised in advance in major Norwegian newspapers. It is also possible to organize baptisms and weddings (in spring, autumn and summer - except in July when the church is closed). However, in order to qualify for a wedding in this church, the bride or groom must be related to the armed forces. Anyone who wants to get married here will not be, because this is not a simple temple, but an official Norwegian Armed Forces Church.
This church is definitely one of the most interesting places at Akershus Castle. As we already know from the history of the fortress, the temple was built in south wing of the castle as early as the middle of the 16th century. At first, the church occupied only part of the first floor, and after 1578 it spread to the entire floor. Under Christian IV, in the 1620s, the church was renovated. New changes occurred during the reign of Christian VI (perhaps in connection with the royal visit to Norway in 1733). A large-scale restoration of the church was undertaken in 1738-1740. It was then that the present appearance of the hall was basically formed: the present windows, the main altar, the pulpit and the font appeared. All these items of furniture were created according to the drawings of the German-Danish architect of the Baroque era. Elias David Heusser (Elias David Hausser) (1687-1745). The interior of the church was partially redone again in 1820, and in the 1920s the church was restored under the guidance of the architect Holger Sinding-Larsen (photo source:).
main altar(c. 1750) adorns the painting "Lamentation of Christ" (the Danish-German artist Johann Georg Zisenis is named as a possible author ( JohanGeorgeZiesenis) (1716-1776)). On the sides of the painting are allegorical figures of Piety and Faith, and the motto of Christian VI is placed on the base of the altar. Above the altar cloth are two medallions with the monograms of Christian VI and his wife, and even higher is the name of God in Hebrew (Jehovah). To the left of the altar on the northern wall is the royal box (1911-16) with the royal coat of arms. There is a preacher's pulpit against the right wall (photo source:).
In the rear (western) part of the church is organ firms Norsk Orgel- og Harmoniumfabrikk(1967). The organ is decorated with the monogram of King Olav V.
Near the organ can be seen benches with monogram Haakon VII(H7) on the backs. The monogram of this popular king, who ruled from 1905 to 1957, has become a symbol of the Resistance in Norway. During the occupation, the king, who refused to cooperate with the Nazis, headed the government in exile (photo source:).
Leaving the church, we climb the stairs again and find ourselves in a small room (cloakroom), which is located in the east wing - inside donjon tower, also known as " Daredevil tower» ( Vågehalstårnet/ Vaghalsen ). The stone walls of the room are what little remains of the once mighty tower that formed the core of the medieval Akershus castle. These remnants were "built into" the renovated interior of the east wing in the 1930s. On the south and north walls of the room are 17th-century Norwegian wedding tapestries, originally created to decorate a bed on their wedding night.
Behind this vestibule-cloakroom begins a series of dark rooms, memorable with a mysterious medieval atmosphere. Unfortunately, the illumination here is so dim that almost nothing could be photographed. All these premises east wing, rebuilt in the 1930s with the inclusion of some fragments of old medieval walls. In the first of these dark rooms, antique furniture and several paintings with historical views of the Akershus Fortress are on display.
The next hall - the heart of the former donjon - is interesting for its colorful tapestries depicting historical scenes.
Also here you can admire pieces of antique furniture: chests, chairs, cabinets. The semi-brick, semi-stone walls with the harsh stones of the old donjon and mysterious niches that hide secret corridors give a special charm to the room.
As for the tapestries, some of them were made in the 1940s, but there are also older examples. Especially valuable is the unique norwegian tapestry XVII century from the Gudbrandsdal area, donated to the castle in 2006. The tapestry depicts the large coat of arms of Christian IV with three leopards, surrounded by the coats of arms of 13 provinces. The coat of arms is supported by angels. The outer edge of the composition is decorated with figures of representatives of the Norwegian fauna and fantastic animals (photo source:).
Displayed in the center of the hall layout, which shows how Akershus Castle looked like in the 14th century - in the initial period of its existence (more details can be found in the note "History of the fortress"). Estimate how big was the donjon tower in which we are now.
This reconstruction was carried out by the architect Holger Sinding-Larsen, who led the restoration of the fortress and castle in 1905-1925 (photo source:).
On the same axis is light gallery Warehouse building ( Fateburgalleriet) with charming examples of antique furniture, chests and standards. This is the last room in the east wing. When official events are held in the castle, all dignitaries meet in this hall.
Here begins the passage to the main halls for official ceremonies. The first one will be huge hall of Christian IV (Christian IV's sal) (photo source:).
The Hall of Christian IV impresses primarily with its size. It is not surprising: in the 17th century it was not one, but several rooms that served as the private chambers of the Danish-Norwegian kings and their spouses (photo source:).
The hall, as you might guess, is named after the king ChristianaIV who ruled from 1588 to 1648. This king favored Norway, understood its interests and sought to strengthen the position of the country.
In the middle of the 18th century, the three rooms located here were occupied by the Supreme Court of Norway. Then the premises were combined into one large hall, decorated in the Scandinavian baroque style.
On one side, the hall is decorated with large portraits of Danish-Norwegian kings. Along the opposite (northern) wall there are three giant tapestry. These are some of the most valuable exhibits in the castle. The tapestries were created in the middle of the 17th century in Brussels (master E. Leyniers) and are dedicated to the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.
The tapestries were discovered in a Norwegian manor and then restored (photo source:).
Further we can see two rooms, originally part of royal chambers. (These rooms connect the Christian IV Hall in the south wing with the Rumerike Hall in the west). The exposition is quite worthy: you cannot blame these rooms for the emptiness. First room - adjoining the hall of Christian IV prince's apartments (Princes rom), or Southern Chancellery (sondre skriverstue).
The restorers did not seek to recreate the original interior with beds, etc. here. Their primary task was to arrange the premises so that the castle could perform its main function - representative (holding state receptions, banquets and other events). However, in this room, as in many other rooms of the castle, you can see genuine furniture and other objects of arts and craftsXVI-XVII centuries. All these things did not belong to the original setting of the castle, but were acquired after restoration. As an example, let's take a grandfather clock made by one of the leading Norwegian masters of the 18th century, Jorgen Römer ( Jørgen Romer). At one time he was engaged in the control of all clockwork in Akershus.
Behind the Southern Chancellery is green room, she is a guest room or the Northern Chancellery ( Gjesterommet/Nordre skriverstue), also with interesting pieces of antique furniture, portraits, mirrors and chandeliers.
These two charming rooms belong to that part of the castle that is called the Office Wing (part of the western wing). Behind them, in the Rumerike wing ( Romeriksfloyen), is one of the most famous halls Akershus Castle - romerike hall (Rumerike) (Romerikssalen). The hall is named after the region of the same name northeast of Oslo, where the peasants came from, who were forcibly involved in the repair of this wing after a fire caused by lightning in 1527. They say that the spirits of those peasants still roam the castle, and this, as already mentioned, is far from the only local ghost.
In 1633 the hall was restored again. This time the half-timbered walls were replaced with brick ones. Then the hall was divided into three rooms and decorated with wooden wall panels. In 1642-1651, the middle room served as the office of Hannibal Sehested, already familiar to us, the royal governor in Norway (statholder). In 1738, when a temporary church was built here, the premises were again combined into one large hall (photo source:).
The Rumerike Hall occupies the main part of the second floor of the eponymous wing ( Romeriksfloyen). It is a very long and rather empty room with a giant table for 180 people, various portraits of statesmen, Flemish tapestries and a wonderful fireplace. Today, official banquets are held here with the participation of the royal family of Norway and members of the government, so, in essence, this banqueting hall and place of reception of official delegations.
Let's move now to north wing. This is the oldest part of the castle. In the Middle Ages, the living quarters of the king and courtiers were located here. Here you can see Hall Margareta (Marguerite) (Margretesalen) - perhaps the most empty of all the rooms of the castle.
The hall is named after the Queen Margaret I (Margaret I of Denmark) (1353-1412), who lived in Akershus Castle in her youth. Margarita was the wife of the Norwegian king Hakon VI Magnusson (they were engaged when Margarita was only 6 years old, and the wedding took place when she was barely 10). It is possible that their common son Olaf Hakonsson was born just in the Akershus fortress. Olaf was king of Denmark and Norway until 1387, when he died at the age of 17. Margarita then united Denmark, Norway and Sweden under one crown. This period ended Norway as an independent kingdom: the country joined Kalmar Union(1397), becoming dependent on Denmark. One of the attractions of the hall is the carved and painted wooden coat of arms of Christian IV hanging on the eastern wall (the work of a modern master).
At the end of our little tours of Akershus castle climb the stairs and look into the majestic neo-Gothic Hall of Olaf V (Olav V) (Olav V. Halle/Olavshallen), located above the Margareta Hall, on the top floor of the north wing. The restoration of the hall was completed only in 1975. Around the same time, it received its current name in honor of the King of Norway (previously the room was simply called the North Hall, nordhallen). Pay attention to the beautiful carved wooden ceiling (photo source:).
It is believed that just on the site of this hall is the Large Banquet Hall of the medieval castle. The current appearance of the building is the result of a 20th-century restoration. The decoration elements are based on English and Norwegian Gothic originals of the 14th century (photo source:).
Particular attention is drawn to the great stained glass rose window(photo source:). These stained glass windows were created by the artist Emmanuel Vigeland (Emanuel Vigeland) (1875-1948), brother of the sculptor Gustav Vigeland (author of the famous sculpture park in Oslo). Others no less impressive stained glass windows, created from his drawings, can, for example, be seen in the Oslo Cathedral.
Now in the Olaf V Hall they organize state receptions, banquets and other official events. The hall is also used for concerts and theatrical performances (photo source:).
We go down the stairs and through the souvenir shop we leave Akershus Castle.
Courtyard and towers of Akershus Castle
As promised, we will now tell about the courtyard of Akershus Castle.
Many architectural features of the building are visible only from here, and you can only guess from the outside, so for a complete acquaintance with the castle, we advise you to definitely go to the courtyard (even if you don’t want to spend money on inspecting mediocre interiors).
north wing (Nordfloyen), through which we entered the courtyard, is one of the oldest buildings of the fortress complex. It was built ca. 1300 for the royal chambers. In 1527, the wing was badly damaged by a lightning strike and was then rebuilt. In 1825-1905 the building was used as an arsenal. Restoration continued from 1917 to 1967.
The western facade of this wing is distinguished by an elegant rose window, behind which is the solemn hall of Olaf V, which we saw during a visit to the castle. View of the north wing from the outside:
From the inside, this wing adjoins a strict Renaissance Rumerike tower (Romerikstarnet) with a green spire (like the western wing of the same name, the tower is named after the region northeast of Oslo). The tower was built in 1633 under King Christian IV. Thus, it is three centuries younger than both wings to which it is attached. At the end of the 18th century, the tower lost its roof. It was replaced by a simpler, smaller design. Another restoration took place in the 1920s under the direction of the architect Holger Sinding-Larsen ( Holger Sinding-Larsen), and in 1932–1958 Arnstein Arneberg ( Arnstein Arneberg) (author of the famous Oslo City Hall) installed a new spiral staircase.
West Wing, in which is located entrance to the castle for tourists, actually consists of two buildings: closer to the tower is the Rumerike wing ( Romeriksfloyen), and then - Stationery Wing ( Skriverfløyen/Skriverstuefløyen). Rumerike Wing, like the north wing, was built around 1300. In 1633, under Christian IV, the second floor and the upper part of the first floor were demolished and rebuilt in their current form. On the second floor, a room and an office of the royal governor (statholder) were equipped. Then they were converted into three offices and a corridor. From 1825 to 1866, part of the premises of this castle building was used by the Royal Archives of Norway (it owned the first floor). At one time, the famous Norwegian poet Henrik Wergeland worked here as an archivist ( Henrik Wergeland) (1808-1845). His office has been preserved in the castle. While the archive was located on the first floor, the second floor was used as an armory. In 1905-1925 the roof was repaired, and in 1932-1963 the architect Arnstein Arneberg took care of the new interior. The last major work in this wing of the castle took place in 1996.
The donjon tower, whose name can be roughly translated as "Daredevil's tower" ( Vågehalstarnet), was built around 1300 and was originally 20 meters high. In 1527 lightning struck the castle and the tower was badly damaged. A few years after the fire, the tower was cut in height, and in the 17th century, the main part of the structure was completely demolished. The former dimensions of the donjon, which divided the castle courtyard into two parts, are marked on the pavement using special masonry. Only the lower part of the eastern wall of the tower has been preserved from the medieval period. Otherwise, the current building appeared during the restoration of Arnstein Arneberg. He also came up with a stepped completion for the former donjon, reminiscent of the fact that the tower was not restored to its full height.
To the right of the donjon is a building called The female half (Fruerstuefløyen), probably built in the 16th century. In 1570-1636 there was a residence of the statholder, then there was a knight's hall. In the 18th century, the dilapidated building was partially demolished and only restored during the restoration of the beginning of the 20th century. Today, this part of the castle performs several functions, mainly household ones: there is a wardrobe, toilets, a kitchen, etc.
Housing with a porch (to the left of the donjon) - the so-called warehouse wing (Fadebursfloyen). This one-story building appeared around 1300. In the Middle Ages, the royal archive and other valuables were probably located here, and the basement served to store coins (therefore, the building was nicknamed the “Money Hat”, Pengehatten). When lightning struck the castle in 1527, the building burned down and was then rebuilt. The current version of the building appeared relatively recently, during the restoration of Arnstein Arneberg. However, the basement has been preserved since the Middle Ages.
Finally, let's look at the south wing, which adjoins blue tower (Blutårnet). This staircase tower renaissance style was erected in 1623 as an extension to the south wing and the castle church (which is why the tower is also called church). It was restored in the 1920s under the direction of the architect Holger Sinding-Larsen, and in 1932-1958 Arnstein Arneberg installed a new spiral staircase. There are three church bells in the tower.
As for the south wing (Sydfloyen), then it is much better seen from the outside, and not from the courtyard. The wing dates from 1299–1304 and is best known for the castle church. Here is also the hall of Christian IV, which we will see during the inspection of the castle from the inside. The current height of the southern wing has acquired approx. 1540. In the 1550s, a castle church was opened on the ground floor, which from the 1570s occupied the entire floor. The second floor under Christian IV was occupied by the magnificent chambers of the king and queen. In the years 1738-1740, the upper floors were partially dismantled and rebuilt, as the abandoned building needed repairs. Three rooms were occupied by the Supreme Court (exactly on the site of the current hall of Christian IV). Also in the middle of the 18th century, a hip roof was erected over the southern wing. In 1920-1958 the entire building was restored.
Other interesting materials about Akershus Fortress and Castle
Akershus fortress plan
Next, we bring to your attention a plan of the Akershus fortress in its current state (in Russian). The map shows all the main fortifications and sights. In some cases, the period of construction is indicated in brackets.
The following diagram gives a more detailed plan of the Akershus fortress in Russian with a list of all the buildings that have survived to this day, belonging to various historical eras, starting with medieval towers and Akershus Castle and ending with buildings erected in the 20th century.
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Tourist map of Oslo with landmarks
Below we bring to your attention detailed tourist map of Oslo with attractions. This map shows the names of all the main streets, significant buildings, museums, parks, squares and other important tourist sites. In particular, the location of Oslo Central Railway Station is indicated on the map.
Below is a detailed plan of the city center of Oslo with the designation of such attractions as the town hall, parliament, cathedral. The map also shows the location of Oslo Central Station.
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What to see in Oslo (main attractions)
What to see in Oslo? The capital of Norway has a number of interesting museums, temples and other architectural monuments. List of the most notable objects that worth seeing in Oslo is suggested below:
Old Town (Kvadraturen district, Karl Johan street, Royal Palace)
Akershus Castle and Fortress (Norwegian Akershus Festning, Akershus slott), usually they just say Akershus Fortress - an ancient fortification that has long protected Oslo, the capital of Norway.
The first work on the construction of the castle began in the 1290s, during the reign of King Haakon V (H a kon V). It became one of the most powerful Norwegian castles on a par with the Tønsberg fortresses. (T o nsberg) and Bohus (B o hus, now in Sweden).
The reason for the construction was the attack of Alva Erlingsson (Alv Erlingsson) from Sarpsborg (Sarpsborg) to Oslo.
The main advantage of the castle was its proximity to the sea, since all trade in Norway at that time was carried out by water. The castle was of great importance for the capital, so much so that it was believed that whoever rules the Akershus fortress rules Norway.
The castle received its first baptism of fire in 1308 when he withstood the siege of the Swedish Duke Eric Knutsson (Erik Knutsson) from Sodermanland (S o dermanland), who a little later ascended the Swedish throne.
IN 1527 the castle caught fire from a lightning strike and was almost completely destroyed.
In the winter of 1537 the commandant of Akershus Castle, a staunch Lutheran Mogens Güldenstjerne, by order of the king, ravaged and burned the Cisterian abbey on a neighboring island. The possessions of the monastery were transferred to the royal treasury, its buildings were dismantled, and the stones were used to strengthen Akershus Castle.
September 24, 1624 a big fire completely destroyed Oslo, after which the Danish-Norwegian king Christian IV decided to move the city close to the walls of the fortress in order to protect it from the invasion of the Swedish troops. Christian designed the new city himself and ordered the locals to populate it no later than Easter. 1625. The townspeople had to obey - now this area of Oslo is called Kvadraturen (Quadraturen) and adjoins close to the fortress.
At the same time, an additional ring of defensive structures was built around the castle, called Akershus Fortress. (Akershus festival), and the castle itself was rebuilt and acquired a modern Renaissance look.
He also built two new towers: Blut o rnet(Blue Tower) and Romerikst o rnet named after the locality romerike in the northeast of Oslo.
Two centuries later, the castle was demoted to a royal prison, and at the beginning of the 20th century it fell into such a deplorable state that it was planned to build shopping arcades in its place.
IN 1900 Work began on the restoration of Akershus Fortress. Patriotic movements in Norway began to gain strength and therefore all the monuments associated with independent Norway (for 700 years it was ruled first by Denmark and then by Sweden) acquired special significance.
The enemy could never be inside the walls of the Akershus castle. Only once did the fortress surrender to the enemy without a fight. It was in 1940, when the Norwegian government evacuated the capital after an unexpected attack by Nazi Germany on Denmark and Norway, countries that declared their neutrality in World War II (Danish-Norwegian operation, Operation Weserebung).
February 1, 1942 Vidkun Quisling (Vidkun Quisling) In the fortress of Akershus, he proclaimed himself Prime Minister of Norway and urged not to resist the German troops. After the end of the war, Norwegian traitors who were convicted of complicity with the Nazis were shot within the walls of the castle. Among them was Vidkun Quisling.
IN 1976 Hall restoration work has been completed. Olavshallen, official receptions and celebrations are currently held here.
June 1, 1989 Pope John Paul II, the only head of the Catholic Church in history to visit Norway, celebrated a solemn Mass on Fortress Square near the Akershus fortress.
Akershus Fortress has not lost its military significance, but is open to the public every day. The Norwegian Ministry of Defense and the headquarters of the armed forces are located on its territory. Also, many royal persons are buried on the territory of the fortress, such as King Sigurd I (Sigurd I), King Haakon VII (Haakon VII) and etc.
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Strategically located on the eastern shore of Oslo harbor, Akershus Fortress and Castle is undeniably one of the masterpieces of historical architecture in the Norwegian capital and one of the city's most popular attractions. The massive walls of the fortress hide a surprisingly elegant Renaissance palace, the kings of Norway rest in the chapel of the castle, and inside the building there is a very good Museum of the Norwegian Resistance, dedicated to the events of the Second World War. An additional "chip" is a rather spectacular changing of the guard, as they say, find the difference with the Alexander Garden.
A bit of history
In 1299, Oslo became the capital of medieval Norway, and in order to protect the city from external threats from the sea, the then King Hakon V ordered the construction of a military fortress. Together with the fortress in Tønsberg, Norway, they were the strongest strongholds in Scandinavia. This was only the beginning of the architectural history of the citadel - over the centuries it was repeatedly completed and redesigned, so today one can only guess about the original plan of Hakon V. After a devastating fire in 1624, Oslo was practically rebuilt - and most of the city blocks of the then Christiania were transferred to land areas behind the fortress. The suburbs grew even more in 1818, with an increase in population, and external enemies diminished, so that in the period from 1899 to 1963 the space around the citadel was mostly cleared.
The last modifications to the castle were made by King Christian IV in the 17th century - then magnificent Renaissance interiors appeared here: luxurious banquet halls and reception rooms. But the cellars were used for a much more practical purpose: objectionable nobles were kept in narrow cell-cells.
In 1989, Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass on the square of the Akershus Fortress - this was the first time in history that the head of the Roman Catholic Church visited Norway.
What to see
In Akershus Castle, it is worth visiting the main halls, decorated in the Renaissance style, with many historical artifacts - the Romerike Hall is especially interesting. In the castle chapel, built under Christian IV, there are tombstones of Kings Hakon VII and Olaf V, by the way, it is still active, services are held here for the glory of the Norwegian army.
You should definitely take a walk along the walls of the Akershus fortress - from here you can see a beautiful view of the city and Oslo Bay, and at 13:30 see the changing of the guard.
In the small museum of the fortress, located inside the main gate, you can learn more about the history of the construction of the complex. Another interesting museum is dedicated to the history of the Norwegian resistance during World War II - among the artifacts are underground newspapers, maps and photographs, as well as an amazing exhibit - a set of dentures, with which a Norwegian prisoner in a Polish prison received radio broadcasts.
Akershus Fortress
Address and opening hours
Address: Akershus Slott, Akershusstranda, Akershus Festning.
Opening hours: Akershus Fortress - daily, from 6:00 to 21:00. Akershus Castle: Monday to Saturday - from 10:00 to 16:00, Sunday - from 12:00 to 16:00 in summer, in winter the opening hours are reduced. Tours are held at 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 from Monday to Saturday and at 13:00 and 15:00 on Sunday.
Entrance to the fortress is free, to the castle - 70 NOK, for children - 30 NOK, or free of charge with the Oslo Pass card; to the Norwegian Resistance Museum - 50 NOK (25 NOK for children) or free with the Oslo Pass.
Prices on the page are for September 2018.
Akershus is a fortress in Oslo, the main city of Norway. Initially, the building performed protective functions, but in the 17th century it was given more refined features characteristic of the Renaissance and the Renaissance. There was a wall all around. We learn a lot of historical facts about this fortress further from the article.
History of this place
Akershus is a fortress in Norway, founded by Haakon the Saint, a famous king. The building is located on a cape, which is washed by the waters of Oslo Ford, thus divided into two bays. The Akers River flows nearby, the building on the banks of which is called the oldest in the city. It has been here since 1308.
For Scandinavia, it was a citadel of strategic importance, contributing to the military power of the state. The legend says that the residence was founded by the king after the attack of Erlingsson Alf, who arrived from Sarpsborg in 1287. Akershus is a fortress (Norway), which is also unique in that before that in this country they had not been building from stone and brick, so it was a significant step in the development of architecture. History is silent about when the foundation was laid. This happened approximately at the end of the thirteenth century.
Mentions
You can learn about this object from written sources created in 1300, namely from the message of Haakon, the king of these lands, to the church authorities in the capital. There, however, the information is also quite vague. It is impossible to understand at what stage the construction is, but the purpose for which Akershus was created, a fortress with enormous power and protective potential, is well clear.
She had to defend the city from external attacks, because from 1299 Oslo became the capital of the state. The preparations were just in time, since in 1308 the city had to endure a siege, which he successfully coped with.
The Swedes, led by Erik Knutsson, were forced to retreat. In 1527, the building suffered a misfortune - it was engulfed in a fire and caused colossal damage. The reconstruction was carried out using stone brought from the island next door, where there was a Cistercian abbey.
Settlement formation
Studying history, it is worth mentioning the moment when Christian IV, who ruled in 1624, the king, ordered the laying of the city near the walls of Akershus castle. The fortress from a military post gradually began to turn into a residential area, where life was in full swing. The new settlement was named Christiania in honor of the ruler.
The construction was carried out at the beginning of the 17th century in the style of the Renaissance. Exploring this architectural monument, it is extremely interesting to look at the barracks, the creation of which dates back to 1747-1778, as well as the bastion in the inner part of the complex. Later there were reconstructions.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, decline reigned, since this place was used as a prison, so they did not worry much about its beauty and grace. Lofthus Christian was imprisoned here in the period 1787-1797, he was called a prisoner of conscience.
Fortress renovation
The capital restoration of the building was carried out at the beginning of the 19th century. After the modifications, receptions for government officials began to be carried out here. Akershus is a fortress whose image has changed significantly thanks to P. Blix, who became the creator of the renovation project developed in 1896.
In 1897, the plan was approved and a grant was provided for its implementation from outside. At the beginning of the 20th century, a museum complex began its work here. Restoration did not stop until 1976. The final touch was the renovated Olav Hall, where events on official occasions are held to this day.
Inaccessible power
The unique feature of this structure is that no enemy has ever managed to subdue it to their will. The siege always ended with a retreat. The only surrender occurred in 1940, when the Germans approached the walls.
There was no battle, so there was no real chance to test the power of the structure. Then the Oslo government voluntarily left the city.
Akershus is a fortress, the description of which inspires true respect and admiration for the military power of the building. While the settlement was occupied, the Gestapo met here, where executions were sometimes carried out. The German authorities left this place in May 1945, when Norway regained control of it. After that, 8 people who aided the Nazis were put to death here.
In 1945, the traitor Quisling Vidkun met his death within these walls. In 1989, he came here to serve Mass on the square, who at that time held the post of Pope. This event was the first in history when the ruler of the Catholic world came to this state. Within the walls of the castle chapel there are burial places of the monarchs who once ruled the country.
What to look for
Inside the building there is a bastion where you can visit a number of interesting museums that can expand your horizons and historical knowledge. For starters, the Akershus (fortress) itself is an architectural monument. Photos of the building are able to show how many curious elements are here, which, of course, are better to look at live. Then the impressions will be even more vivid.
You can quite freely look at the old-style guns and cannons standing on the street. Sentinels, who are drilled on the territory of the complex, have an ancient form. Some places are closed, but the main part of the territory is available for free.
It will be interesting to go to the museum, where it tells a lot about the prison history of this building. There is a separate building under it. There is also information about the entire fortification, the stages of its construction and development up to the Second World War. To get here, you will need to pay an entrance fee. You can roam freely around the castle, which is extremely pleasing to curious tourists. There are chic banquet halls, official-type residences, cells for imprisonment.
Memories of battles
A separate exposition is devoted to weapons that were used to resist the Nazis during World War II. There are documents here that were used during the fighting from the Viking era until the 20th century.
There is also an exhibition outside the bastion inside the fortress, dedicated to the history of military events that took place on this territory. Today, the place has not lost its significance for the armed forces, since the state headquarters of Norway, as well as the Ministry of Defense, are located here.
Where to go and where to stay
The complex can be accessed from 10 am to 4 pm. A ticket for an adult costs 65 kroons, for a pensioner or student - 45, for a child aged 6 to 18 years - 25. Akershus (fortress) is open every day. Where is this building located? The official address is Akershus festning. You can get there by public transport by getting off at Wessels plass.
For such a trip, you will need to spend 26 crowns in case of pre-purchasing a ticket. If it is purchased from the driver, you need to spend 40 crowns. Visitors usually have a wide choice of accommodation, since there are more than 50 hotels in Oslo.
There is no rating scale for apartments in this city by the number of stars, so for comparison it is only worth saying that the service here is excellent and the atmosphere is pleasant. This state is widely famous for its developed infrastructure and good living conditions, so you will start to relax before you get to the fortress. And when you find yourself there, you will get a huge amount of positive impressions, learn a lot of new things, please your imagination with the scale and beauty of architecture.
Today, Akershus Fortress (Oslo) includes several buildings belonging to the garrison. Also here is the headquarters for the military affairs of Norway, the Ministry of Defense. There are powerful cannons, whose barrels are aimed at the Oslo Fjord, museums in two buildings.
All this is waiting for you. Treat yourself to a fascinating journey into the mysterious world of the Middle Ages.
