Oslo - Norway - page 117

Akershus Castle & Fortress CASTLE
Offline map Google map S trategically located on the eastern side of the harbour, domin-
ating the Oslo harbour front, are the medieval castle and fortress, arguably Oslo's architec-
tural highlights.
When Oslo was named capital of Norway in 1299, King Håkon V ordered the construc-
tionofAkershustoprotectthecityfromexternalthreats,butithasbeenextendedandmod-
ified and had its defences beefed up a number of times since.
When Oslo was rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1624, 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 By 1818 the need for defence had been superseded by the need for space and most
oftheouterrampartwasdestroyedtoaccommodatepopulationgrowth.From1899to1963
it underwent major renovations, and nowadays the parklike grounds serve as a venue for
concerts, dances and theatrical productions - a far cry from its warlike origins and a wel-
come 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; Click
here ; adult/child Nkr65/25, free with Oslo Pass; 10am-4pm Mon-Sat, 12.30-4pm
Sun May-Aug, shorter hr rest of yr; guided tours 11am, 1pm & 3pm Mon-Sat, 1pm &
3pm Sun) 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,
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 fortress (Akershus Festning; Click here ; admission free;
6am-9pm) is through a gate at the end of Akersgata or over a drawbridge spanning Kon-
gensgateatthesouthernendofKirkegata.After6pminwinter,usetheKirkegataentrance.
The Akershus Fortress Information Centre Offline map Google map ( 9am-5pm
Mon-Fri, 11am-5pm Sat & Sun mid-May-mid-Aug, closes 1hr earlier rest of yr) , in-
side the main gate, has an exhibit recounting the history of the Akershus complex. Staff
alsoofferguidedtoursofthecastlegroundsonrequest.At1.30pmyoucanwatchthechan-
ging of the guard at the fortress.
Alsowithinthefortresscomplex,adjacenttoamemorialforresistancefightersexecuted
on the spot during WWII, is the Norwegian Resistance Museum Offline map Google
map (Norges Hjemmefront Museet; Click here ; www.nhm.mil.no ; adult/child Nkr50/
free, free with Oslo Pass; 10am-5pm Mon-Sat, 11am-5pm Sun Jun-Aug, shorter hr
rest of yr) . The small but worthwhile museum covers the dark years of German occupa-