Akershus: a proud fortress on the Oslo Fjord
Strategically located on a rock above the Oslo Fjord, the Akershus Fortress kept watch over the safety of King Håkon V and his Norwegian subjects during the Middle Ages. Akershus is still a military base, which is why you’ll see adolescents patrolling with bushy feathers on their heads. The fortress is open to the public. Foreign visitors take in its history here, while locals enjoy strolling around the area.
From medieval bastion to Renaissance palace
The angular buildings and stocky towers with battlemented walls several metres thick appear utterly medieval, but the inside of the fortress is less stringent. After all kinds of invasion attempts with countless cannonballs were fended off, more leisurely times arrived. King Christian IV took advantage of this possibility to convert the castle into a Renaissance palace with majestic ballrooms. The complex, which now extends much further than the fortress walls, still houses military barracks and also serves as the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence. When there are no state visits, military ceremonies or other official events taking place, visitors are welcome in the dungeons, royal rooms and castle chapel. A self-guided tour is always possible, but those wanting to learn about the 700 years of history of the fortress are advised to take a guided tour.
Picnicking on an execution site
Nowadays, it is a popular place to hang out, but quite a bit of blood has been shed in and around the fortress over the years. During World War II, Norwegian resistance fighters were executed by Nazi firing squads here, while the same happened to collaborators after the war. You’d never know. The fortress walls, covered in lush grass, are perfect for walking or picnicking while enjoying panoramic views of the harbour and city. There are 2 museums that can be visited. During the summer, there is an outdoor café where you can enjoy a cup of coffee, sandwich or cold beer.
Related articles
Nature
The great outdoors beckons from all sides when you're in Oslo: from the waterside, the Oslo Fjord is filled with shady islands perfect for island hopping while, from the inland side, the city borders on the Oslomarka. This wooded area 1,700 square kilometres in size – with many kilometres of marked trails through cool valleys, across green hills and past red houses on blue lakes – is only 15 minutes from the city centre.
Arts & Culture
Even though Oslo is a small city with a population of only 600,000 people, it contains a lot of art; not only are there dozens of galleries, but also around 50 museums and exhibitions varying from Edvard Munch to Viking ships and the Nobel Peace Prize. However, modern art enthusiasts need not be disappointed either: with the opening of the Astrup Fearnley Museum, Oslo now boasts yet another top attraction.
Discover other destinations in Europe
*The displayed prices are for one adult. All amounts are in THB. Taxes and surcharges are included. No booking fee is applicable, but a payment surcharge may apply. Prices shown may vary depending on fare availability.
The weather forecast information is provided by World Weather Online. Air France-KLM is not responsible for the reliability of this data.