- Address: 0150 Oslo, Norway
- Phone: +47 23 09 39 17
- Working hours: 06.00-21.00
A wonderful way to get acquainted with the history of Oslo is to spend a summer day in the Akershus fortress. Most Norwegians consider it one of the most famous landmarks in the country . The fortress itself is a beautiful, powerful building, a real stronghold of Scandinavia.
National Symbol
Akershus fortress is located on the cape of Oslo. It has the status of a national symbol as a place of royal and state power. There have been important and dramatic historical events for 700 years.
Akershus was originally built in the 13th century as a medieval royal residence. In the XVII century it was transformed into a Renaissance castle, surrounded by a bastion. He survived several sieges, but was never conquered.
In 1801, the castle was registered 292 residents. Most of them were military with families and prisoners.
Fortress architecture
The fortress occupies an area of about 170 hectares with buildings covering an area of 91,000 square meters. m. It is surrounded by a wall with bastions. The territory is divided into internal and external parts. The outer part is what passed to the city for building. The old buildings were demolished, and new ones and the Fortress Square were built instead.
The fortress bridge leads to the inner part of the fortress. Here are:
- tower Rumerike, Blue and Powder;
- Akershus Castle;
- bastions of the prince and Charles Kronprinets.
The towers rise above the castle and are visible from afar. They were built in the XVII century. The fortress elements are well preserved throughout the territory.
The best architectural features are visible from the patio:
- The north wing is the oldest building. In it are the royal chambers. From the west to the north wing is adjoined the Rumerike tower with a green spire;
- the western wing is the first thing that tourists see. There is an entrance in it. Here are the wing of Rumerike and the office wing;
- the tower of Daredevil is quite unlike the tower. Once it was struck by lightning, and now, after the restoration, it looks like an extension;
- the southern wing and the Blue Tower. They have a church and royal halls.
Several times in history the fortress was a prison, and during the Second World War the Gestapo was located here.
In the first half of the 1900's, extensive restoration work was carried out. The castle is named after the farm Aker, on whose land the castle is built. This farm was in the center of the parish of Oslo, here was the old church. Thus, the parish is also called Aker.
Interiors of Akershus Castle
It is very interesting to see the ancient rooms and halls of the fortress:
- In the west wing are the rooms and the office of the chief tax collector. Here are the costumes that were worn in the XVII century. The viceroy and his family lived in the eastern wing. From here through the underground passage you can get into the "school room". Then the secret passage leads to the casemates. The situation is eerie, there is little light, and ghosts are everywhere. From the casemates along a wide corridor you can go to the royal tomb, which is located under the church.
- In the south wing of the castle there is a church. At first she occupied a small room, but eventually spread to the whole floor. This is one of the most interesting and beautiful rooms. The altar is decorated with the painting "Lamentation of Christ", on the edges are figures of Faith and Piety. On the left is the royal box, on the right is the preacher's pulpit. In the church there is an organ with the monogram of King Ulan V.
- In the Daredevil tower , which was destroyed (the remains of it are built into the eastern wing) leads from the church staircase, which was destroyed. Here is a room with tapestries, it has old furniture, and a mock-up of the castle is placed in the center. Nearby is the gallery, where you can also see old furnishings.
- You can also get to the south wing from the church. Here there are halls for official ceremonies. On the walls hang portraits of Norwegian kings and huge tapestries. In the neighborhood you can see the royal chambers.
- The hall of Romerike is the most pompous hall of Akershus. It is so called by the name of the region from which the peasants who built this tower were. The hall occupies almost the entire wing.
- In the northern wing there are royal rooms: the halls of the queen and the king.
Fortress today
A walk through the fortress of Akershus is a walk through the history of Norway from the Middle Ages to the present day. Here are the remains of a medieval castle with apartments that were part of the residence of the former kings, long narrow aisles, majestic halls and gloomy dungeons.
Akershus is currently a castle used by the government for representation purposes. There are official receptions here. The local church regularly holds open worship services with opportunities for christenings. The military can use Akershus Castle for weddings.
In the fortress of Akershus there are the Museums of the Armed Forces and Resistance of Norway , the castle chapel, the burial vault of the Norwegian kings, the offices of the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense.
For those wishing to visit the fortress of Akershus, the entrance is free, but you need to have a ticket to enter the room. When visiting the castle tourists are given a free booklet with a description of the premises, you can take an audio guide. Can I take photos. The ticket office and souvenir shop are nearby and are located in the former castle kitchen.
How to get there?
To the Akershus Fortress you can get on city buses Nos. 13 and 19, you need to get off at the Wessels plass stop. The fare is $ 4.