Akershus Castle & Fortress

Lonely Planet review

Strategically located on the eastern side of the harbour, dominating the Oslo harbour front, is the medieval Akershus Castle & Fortress ( slott and festning ; M03BF), arguably Oslo's architectural highlight.

When Oslo was named capital of Norway in 1299, King Håkon V ordered the construction of Akershus to protect the city from external threats. Since it suffered repeated fires, sieges and battles, the fortress was reconstructed to withstand the increased fighting power of the day, including the 1559 addition of the Munk gun tower. Between 1580 and the mid-18th century, it was further fortified with moats and reinforced ramparts. When Oslo was rebuilt after the 1624 fire, the city, renamed Christiania, was shifted to the less vulnerable and more defensible site behind the protective fortress walls. By 1818 the need for defence had been superseded by the need for space and most of the outer rampart was destroyed to accommodate population growth. From 1899 to 1963 it underwent major renovations and, nowadays, the park-like grounds serve as a venue for concerts, dances and theatrical productions - a far cry from its warlike origins and a welcome departure from its grim history. Note, however, that this complex remains a military installation and may be closed to the public whenever there's a state function. In the 17th century, Christian IV renovated Akershus Castle (Akershus Slott) into a Renaissance palace, although the front remains decidedly medieval. In its dungeons you'll find dark cubbyholes where outcast nobles were kept under lock and key (one dungeon still holds a rather miserable-looking model wrapped in sackcloth), while the upper floors contained sharply contrasting lavish banquet halls and staterooms. The castle chapel is still used for army events, and the crypts of King Håkon VII and Olav V lie beneath it. The guided tours are led by university students in period dress and, while not compulsory, they do offer an entertaining anecdotal history of the place that you won't get by wandering around on your own. Entry to the expansive Akershus Castle Fortress is through a gate at the end of Akersgata or over a drawbridge spanning Kongens gate at the southern end of Kirkegata. After 18:00 in winter, use the Kirkegata entrance. The Akershus Fortress Information Centre, inside the main gate, has an exhibit entitled New Barricades, which recounts the history of the Akershus complex. Staff also offer guided tours of the castle grounds. At 13:30 , you can watch the changing of the guard at the fortress. Also within the fortress complex, adjacent to a memorial for resistance fighters executed on the spot during WWII, is the Norwegian Resistance Museum (Norges Hjemmefront Museet).