Side Trips from Oslo - Norway - page 155

VISITOR INFORMATION The Fredrikstad Turistkontor is on Turistsen-
teret, Østre Brohode, Gamle Fredrikstad ( & 69-30-46-00; www.fredrikstad.
no). It's open June to September, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, Satur-
day 11am to 5pm, and Sunday noon to 5pm; October to May, Monday to Fri-
day 9am to 4:30pm. You can also rent bikes here. Your driver's license or a credit
card number is required as a deposit.
SPECIAL EVENTS During the second week of every July, the Glomma Fes-
tival, named for the town's river, takes place in Fredrikstad. Many Oslovians
drive south to attend this 1-week program of events, highlighted by musical per-
formances. Ritual “duels” are staged, along with sailing-ship exhibitions and
regattas.
GETTING AROUND Across the river on the west is a modern industrial sec-
tion; although a bridge links the areas, the best way to reach the Old Town is by
ferry, which costs 6NOK (85¢). The departure point is about 4 blocks from the
Fredrikstad railroad station at Strandpromenaden. Follow the crowd out the
main door of the station, turn left, and continue down to the bank of the river.
You can also travel between the two areas by bus (no. 360 or 362), although
most pedestrians prefer the ferry. The ferry operates Monday to Friday from
5:30am to 11pm, Saturday 7am to 1am, and Sunday 9:30am to 11pm.
To call a taxi, dial & 69-36-26-00. If the weather is fair, we recommend rent-
ing a bicycle. They're available at the tourist office (see above), which requires
your driver's license or a credit card number as a deposit.
SEEING THE SIGHTS
Fredrikstad was founded in 1567 as a marketplace at the mouth of the River
Glomma. Gamlebyen (the Old Town) became a fortress in 1663 and con-
tinued in that role until 1903, boasting some 200 guns in its heyday. It still
serves as a military camp, and is the best-preserved fortress town in Scandinavia
today. The moats and embankments make for an evocative walk, recalling the
days when Sweden was viewed as an enemy and not a friendly country across the
nearby border.
The main guardroom and the old prison contain part of the Fredrikstad
Museum, Toihusgate 41 ( & 69-30-44-75 ). At the southwestern end of Gam-
blebyen is a section of the museum in a former guardhouse from 1731. Inside is
a model of the old town and a collection of artifacts, both civilian and military,
collected by city fathers over a span of 300 years. It's open May to September,
Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday noon to 5pm;
closed October to April. Admission is 40NOK ($5.70) for adults, 10NOK
($1.40) for children.

Insegran: Famous in Norse Sagas
If you like to read Norse sagas as we do, visit the ruins of the 13th-cen-
tury fortress, Insegran, on an island directly west of Gamlebyen. This
once-mighty fortress stood as a fortification against advancing Swedish
armies in the mid-1600s. Various exhibits are mounted here in the sum-
mer. Insegran is only 400m (1,312 ft.) west of the old town, but there is
no ferry link. You have to drive south on Route 108 until you see the sign-
posted turnoff.

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