Name: Akershus Fortress
Address: 0150 Oslo, Norway
Telephone: 23 09 39 17
Rating: 4.5

Originally constructed in the 13th century, this fort contains 2 military museums & hosts events.

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Akershus Fortress saw its first battle in 1308 against Swedish forces led by Duke Eric of Södermanland. The Norwegian army successfully repelled the invaders.

First Battle

Akershus Fortress has never been conquered by force by a foreign enemy. It remained undefeated until 1940 when it surrendered to the Nazi invaders without a fight.

Unconquered

For a significant period, Akershus Fortress served as a prison, housing both ordinary criminals and political prisoners.

A Place of Confinement

After Norway's liberation in 1945, eight Norwegian traitors, including Vidkun Quisling, were executed on the grounds of Akershus Fortress.

Post-War Executions

Akershus Fortress is said to be haunted, with visitors and staff reporting strange occurrences like footsteps, disembodied voices, and unusual smells.

Haunted History

Today, Akershus Fortress houses the Museum of Defense and the Royal Mausoleum. It also serves as the Office of the Norwegian Prime Minister.

Modern Purpose

Akershus Fortress, perched dramatically above Oslofjord, served not merely as a defensive structure but as a tangible expression of Norwegian sovereignty. Its strategic importance lay in controlling access to Oslo, a vital trade and political center. Unlike many medieval fortresses, Akershus evolved significantly over centuries, transitioning from a medieval castle to a Renaissance palace-fortress under Christian IV. This transformation involved incorporating Italian architectural styles, evident in the grand halls and courtyards, a stark contrast to its original austere design.

Intriguingly, the fortress has never been successfully captured by force, a testament to its formidable defenses and strategic location. During World War II, it was occupied by the Nazis and served as a prison, a dark chapter in its history. Post-war, it became the site of executions for Norwegian traitors, a somber reminder of the conflict's aftermath. The fortress also houses the Norwegian Armed Forces Museum and the Resistance Museum, offering unique perspectives on Norway's military history and wartime experiences.

Introduction

Akershus Fortress in Oslo, Norway, is reputed to be one of the most haunted locations in the country, a belief fueled by its extensive history as a stronghold, royal residence, prison, and execution site. Whispers echo through the fortress's dark corridors, where staff members have reported unexplained sensations, such as being pushed or hearing strange noises. Chilling tales recount screams and the rattling of chains in the night, contributing to its haunted reputation.

Among the spectral residents is a vengeful ghost dog, said to haunt the Maiden Tower after being buried alive as a guard dog. Soldiers once feared this "Malcanisen," believing a bite from it meant certain death within three months. Another prominent ghost is the Mantelgeisten, a faceless woman in a long, dark cloak who appears in the Margaretasalen. Visitors have also reported hearing battle sounds and feeling phantom breath near the drawbridge, attributed to the ghost of an old gatekeeper. A drunken Swedish man who stormed the castle on horseback, attempting to seize Norway, is said to have left behind a ghostly horse that still terrifies those who encounter it. The Virgin Tower is also known for its numerous apparitions. The fortress offers ghost tours for those seeking to explore its haunted history.

Akershus Fortress, a medieval stronghold built to protect Oslo, Norway, has a notable history of siege resistance. Constructed in response to an attack on Oslo in 1287, the fortress was first tested in 1308 when besieged by Swedish Duke Erik Magnusson. A local Norwegian army broke the siege, marking an early victory. The fortress faced further sieges in 1449-1450 by Swedish King Karl Knutsson Bonde, and again in 1502 by Scottish soldiers serving the Danish king, both of which were unsuccessful.

In 1523, Swedish soldiers besieged Akershus once more, but Oslo’s inhabitants burned their own houses to drive them out. King Christian II laid siege from 1531 to 1532, but forces from Denmark and Lübeck lifted it, leading to improvements in the castle's defenses. During the Northern Seven Years' War in 1567, Swedish forces besieged the castle again. Christen Munk, the Danish-Norwegian king's lord lieutenant, burned the city to deprive the Swedes of supplies, forcing their retreat.

Akershus Fortress notably never fell to a foreign enemy through siege. However, it surrendered without combat to Nazi Germany in 1940 during Operation Weserübung. Despite this surrender, the fortress's historical resilience against sieges underscores its strategic importance in Norwegian history.

Siege Resistance

Akershus Fortress in Oslo served as a royal residence, initially constructed in the late 1290s by King Haakon V to provide a secure royal dwelling. King Christian IV modernized the castle into a Renaissance-style royal residence during his reign from 1588 to 1648, adding towers, halls, chambers, and gates. The fortress played a vital role when the king was absent, functioning as the seat of the Steward of Norway.

Although no longer a royal residence, the Royal Mausoleum within the castle remains the final resting place for significant Norwegian royals, including King Sigurd I, King Haakon V, Queen Euphemia, King Haakon VII, Queen Maud, King Olav V, and Crown Princess Märtha. The castle is frequently used for official events, dinners for dignitaries, and foreign heads of state.

Following attacks in 2011, the Office of the Norwegian Prime Minister was relocated near the fortress, housed in a building formerly belonging to the Norwegian Ministry of Defence. His Majesty The King's Guard maintains a permanent presence, guarding the fortress with stationary posts and patrols. The fortress provides a tangible link to Norway's royal history, blending its roles as a historical site, military area, and a venue for significant state functions.

Norwegian Royal Residence

Akershus Fortress, initiated in the late 1290s by King Haakon V, replaced Tønsberg as a crucial Norwegian castle, strategically responding to Earl Alv Erlingsson's attack on Oslo in 1287. The fortress was first tested in 1308 when besieged by Swedish Duke Erik Magnusson, highlighting its early defensive role. Its coastal proximity was key, enabling naval power projection, vital for Norway's commerce and military control. The fortress withstood sieges, including those by Karl Knutsson Bonde in 1449-1450 and Scottish soldiers in 1502, demonstrating its robust defenses.

Originally a medieval castle, King Christian IV modernized Akershus into a Renaissance royal residence and fortress complex in the late 1600s, adding Italian-inspired bastions. The fortress design evolved to incorporate new towers, halls, chambers, and gates, enhancing its military capabilities and palatial functions. Its structural integrity allowed it to function as a prison, even housing rebels and criminals. Following a fire in 1624, the city of Oslo was relocated closer to Akershus Fortress, underscoring its central role in the region's defense and governance.

Medieval Military Architecture

During the Second World War, Akershus Fortress was seized by occupying German forces, becoming a prison and execution site. Prior to this, the fortress had already served as a prison, housing notable early Norwegian socialists. The Norwegian Resistance Museum, located within the fortress, documents Norway's domestic World War II history from 1940 to 1945 through recreated exhibitions using pictures, documents, posters, objects, models, original newspapers, and recordings. The museum is in a 17th-century building, next to the memorial for Norwegian patriots executed during the war.

Oslo's City Hall murals depict Norway's history, including the Nazi occupation and the heroic underground resistance, which is further explored at the Norwegian Resistance Museum in Akershus Fortress. Germany presented Norway with an ultimatum to capitulate, but the King refused and commanded the Norwegian resistance from London. Norway spent five years under Nazi occupation, with a Norwegian traitor, Quisling, installed as the country's leader. The museum's design, arranged chronologically, guides visitors from the pre-war 1930s to the liberation in 1945, offering a comprehensive understanding of the Norwegian resistance during World War II.

Akershus Fortress

Did You Know?

First Battle

Unconquered

A Place of Confinement

Post-War Executions

Highlights from Reviews

Location