Akershus fortress

Akershus Fortress, in the centre of Oslo, has served as a centre of power and a national symbol for over 700 years. Construction began around 1290, likely under King Håkon V Magnusson, who made it a royal residence when Oslo replaced Bergen as the capital. In the 16th and 17th centuries, especially under King Christian IV and Governor Hannibal Sehested, it was modernised into a bastion fortress and the castle became a Renaissance palace; its last military action came in 1716, when Charles XII of Sweden attacked. It is a protected site managed by Forsvarsbygg, the Norwegian Defence Estates Agency.

Within the fortress are Akershus Castle, the Armed Forces Museum and the Norwegian Resistance Museum. The Renaissance castle, with its royal mausoleum, is among Norway's most valuable cultural monuments, and Emanuel Vigeland's rose window in the castle church has been reconstructed and restored. The Liberty Bell in the Romerikstårnet tower, a gift from Norwegian women in the USA marking Norway's freedom after 1905, rings every 10 December from 12:45 to 13:00 during the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. During the German occupation of 1940–1945, 42 Norwegian resistance members were executed here.

The main gate to the fortress grounds is open from 06:00 to 21:00 all year. From 1 May to 30 September the side gates open from 07:00 to 21:00 Monday to Friday and from 08:00 to 21:00 on Saturday and Sunday; from 1 October to 30 April the side gates open from 07:00 to 18:00 every day. When darkness falls over Oslo, new LED lighting picks out the fortress walls, towers and the city skyline.

Akershus Fortress is a historic military site, and conduct rules apply on the grounds: drone use is prohibited, grilling and open fires, including disposable grills, are banned all year, and dogs must be kept on a leash at all times. The fortress walls are high, so keep an eye on children. The Norwegian version of the rules also states that photography must be cleared in advance and approved by the fortress command ([email protected]).