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Exploring the ancient fortress ruins in Oslo, a step back in time amidst the city's modern energy. Walking through the weathered stone walls of Akershus Fortress, I couldn't help but imagine the centuries of history that unfolded here. From medieval defenses to royal ceremonies, these ruins hold stories of Oslo's past, offering a fascinating glimpse into the city’s rich heritage and a peaceful escape from the bustling streets.
[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]
Akershus Fortress is a medieval castle in the Norwegian capital Oslo that was built to protect and provide a royal residence for the city. Since the Middle Ages the fortress has been the namesake and centre of the main fief and later main county of Akershus, which was originally one of Norway's four main regions and which included most of Eastern Norway. The fortress itself was located within the Akershus main county until 1919, and also within the smaller Akershus sub county until 1842.
The castle has also been used as a military base, a prison and is currently the temporary office of the Prime minister of Norway.
A panoramic image of Akershus Fortress, located in the city centre by the Oslo Fjord, in Norway.
The building of Akershus Castle and Fortress was commenced in 1299 under king Håkon V. The medieval castle, which was completed in the 1300s, had a strategical location at the very end of the headland, and withstood a number of sieges throughout the ages. King Christian IV (1588-1648) had the castle modernised and converted into a Renaissance castle and royal residence.
Akershus castle and fortress, Oslo, Norway This medieval castle, which was also a royal residence, dates from 1299. The castle was further developed into a fortress in 1592 and was rebuilt into a renaissance castle between 1637 and 1648.
Oslo
Akershus Fortress is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo, the capital of Norway. It has also been used as a prison.
The fortress has successfully survived all sieges, primarily by Swedish forces, including those by forces led by Charles XII in 1716. In the early 17th century, the fortress was modernized and remodeled under the reign of the active King Christian IV, and got the appearance of a renaissance castle.
The fortress was first used in battle in 1308, when it was besieged by the Swedish duke Eric of Södermanland, whose brother won the Swedish throne in 1309. The siege was eventually broken by a local Norwegian army in a battle. (This battle forms a forms a major part of the plot of Sigrid Undset historical novel "In the Wilderness", the third volume of her tetralogy The Master of Hestviken.)
In 1449-1450 the castle was besieged again, this time by the Swedish king Karl Knutsson Bonde, but he had to lift the siege after a while. The castle wasn’t besieged again until 1502 when Scottish soldiers in service of the Danish king besieged the castle in order to regain it from the hands of the Norwegian nobleman Knut Alysson.