Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Fredriksten Festning; GOOGLE MAP ; www.fredrikstenfestning.com ; fortress free, adult/child all mu-
seums Nkr60/20, guided tour Nkr70/30;
fortress 24hr, museums 11am-5pm daily mid-May-Aug,
guided tours 2pm year round)
Crowning the hilltop behind Halden is the 1661 Fredriksten Fortress, which has resisted
six Swedish sieges and never been captured.
On 28 July 1660 King Fredrik III of Denmark issued a declaration ordering a more
sturdy fortification above Halden. The pentagonal citadel (as well as the adjoining Gylden-
løve Fort to the east) was constructed across two parallel hills from 1661 to 1671, and aug-
mented between 1682 and 1701. Its crowning event came on 11 December 1718, when the
war-mongering Swede King Karl XII was shot dead on the site (a monument now marks
the spot).
The fortress covers a large area much of which is grassy expanses and tumble-down
walls, but there are a couple of interesting museums, a restored cobbled street and great
views. The whole place is brought entertainingly to life through the guided tours.
The museums in the castle grounds cover various facets of the fortress' history. Down-
hill from the main entrance, the War Museum contains military artefacts and a variety of
information on Halden's experiences of war from 1660 onwards, including details about
the Norwegian independence movement in 1905. A tunnel leads up into Prince Christian's
Bastion - the main vantage point for the fortress' defenders. A broader sweep of Halden's
history is outlined in the Byen Brenner Museum ('City in Flames' Museum) about
halfway down the main thoroughfare. Displays in the Gamle Kommandantbolig (Com-
mandant's Residence) cover the history of trade and relations with neighbouring Sweden.
The building itself was constructed between 1754 and 1758 and damaged by fire in 1826.
After renovation it was used as a powder laboratory, armoury and barracks. Note the Fre-
drik V monogram over the doorway.
Perhaps the most interesting sites are the brewery , which once produced up to 3000L of
beer a day, and the bakery ovens , which baked bread for up to 5000 soldiers. There's also
a multimedia presentation and shop at the Infosenter , just inside the main entrance of the
fortress.
There are many intriguing old buildings dotted around the fortress, but even better are
the views over Halden.
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