Akershus Castle is the jewel of Oslo and a national treasure of Norway. The attraction attracts many tourists due to its unusual architecture and interesting history.
Historical Background
The history of Akershus Fortress dates back to the 13th century, when the Norwegian ruler Håkon V Magnusson took the initiative to erect a castle on one of Oslo's capes.
The citadel originally served as a personal residence for the king and was used as a fortification to protect him from external threats. Alongside the already built castles of Bohus and Tönsberg, the new castle quickly gained popularity and became a symbol of the country.
Specialists have long tried to find out why Akershus was built far away from Oslo. As a result of studying historical chronicles, scientists have come to the conclusion that the king decided to create a fortress away from the city after he was attacked by aggressive vassals.
Akershus was built in the distance from Oslo.
According to another version, Håkon V was a good warrior and realised that it was better to control his fjord from a high point. Therefore, a promontory was chosen for the construction, from where the surrounding area could be seen quite well.
The first siege on the castle took place in 1308, when the Swedish Duke Erik Knutsson attempted to attack Oslo. After this event, Akershus Citadel withstood several more raids until 1527, when a terrible fire destroyed almost all the buildings.
Ten years later, Mogens Guldenstierne, who served as commandant of the castle, by order of the king, destroyed the Cistercian abbey on the island neighbouring Oslo, and built a new fortress in its place.
In 1624 in another fire completely burns down the old Oslo. For small medieval Norway, this event was a tragedy. King Christian IV makes every effort to rebuild the capital and orders new buildings to be built around Akershus.
Over time, the fortress fell into disrepair and some of its buildings were converted into a prison in the 18th century. By the beginning of the 20th century, the local government planned to dismantle the remains of the castle and build a city market in their place, but in 1905 the citizens of Oslo voted in favour of preserving the cultural heritage monument.
In 1905, the citizens of Oslo voted in favour of preserving the cultural heritage monument.
Until 1976, Akershus was actively restored, adding new rooms, towers and gates. Today, the fortress is used as a museum and for official state receptions.
Architectural features
The castle is of interest to architects from the point of view that it is the first fortress structure built of stone and bricks. The fact is that in the tradition of Scandinavian construction, most buildings were erected from earth, clay and wooden slabs.
The architectural ensemble of Akershus occupies a space of more than 170 hectares. About 90000 square metres are allocated for the various buildings. The castle is surrounded by a massive wall and bastions.
The castle consists of an old and a new part. The new part includes relatively modern buildings, created during the reconstruction period on the initiative of the Oslo authorities. The Fortress Square is also located here. The outer and inner parts are connected by a strong bridge. In the old part you can see:
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Akershus Palace;
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main towers;
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bastions.
The architectural details are well preserved and are best viewed from the courtyard. The oldest structure of the castle is considered to be the north wing, where the king's chambers are located and the Rumerike Tower, known for its emerald-coloured spire.
The unusual architecture of the castle is complemented by a system of underground secret passages. Most of them connect the southern and northern wings of the citadel. As a rule, they were used during military operations, sieges of the fortress, as well as by representatives of the royal family to move from one tower to another.
Photo: Seabiscuits. Source: Pixabay
The Mystique of Akershus
Over its long history, many legends and beliefs have accumulated about the castle. Some of them are related to the ghosts that regularly appear within the walls of the castle.
The most famous ghost is considered to be a court lady in a white dress who served one of the queens. In the second half of the 14th century, there was a terrible famine in Norway, causing thousands of deaths, including those close to the royal family.
A lady of the court nursed the queen for a long time after a prolonged famine and did not notice when she herself began to lose her strength. She passed away and her ghost was seen in the corridors of the castle, leading to the kitchen and storage rooms.Another ghost is linked to the identity of an Akershus commandant named Knut Alvson. He became famous for leading a rebellion against his ruler in 1500. When the plot was discovered, the traitor was brutally murdered in the north wing tower and left there for a long 14 years.
Since then, the structure where the commandant was murdered has been called Knut's Tower. The poor man's ghost is often seen at the top of the tower. He moans loudly and cries for help. According to belief, one who sees Knut's ghost may be unhappy in love affairs.
Castle interiors
The interior of Akershus is filled with a special atmosphere of the past and a variety of rooms. In the castle complex can be seen:
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ancient offices;
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royal chambers;
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passages;
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churches;
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shrines.
The west wing is interesting because it houses the tax collector's office, where not only antique furniture but also 17th century clothing is on display. From the west wing it was easy to get to the east wing, where the royal family lived.
One of the secret passages leads from the east wing to the casemates, which occupy a special place in the history of the castle. They were built on the site of a cellar where gunpowder was stored.
Four rooms were built to hold the prisoners, where the prisoners were kept in ghastly conditions. In addition, one of the rooms was called the "witch's pit" because the Inquisition carried out torture there. Through the casemates you can walk to the royal tomb.
The southern wing of the castle is famous for the church, which occupies an entire floor. This room is considered to be the most colourful. The decoration of the church is the unique altar, framed by sculptures of Piety and Faith. Above the altar hangs the painting "The Mourning of Christ", symbolising the Christian religion of Norway."
Another important building in Akershus is the Daredevil Tower, which was partially destroyed in the Middle Ages. The structure that survived from the tower was added to the east wing. Inside the tower they made a hall where rare furniture, unique tapestries, and a miniature model of the fortress are displayed.
The southern wing of the citadel is occupied by spacious halls designed for official ceremonies and reception of noble guests. The walls of the halls are decorated with colourful tapestries depicting scenes from historical chronicles.
Photo: Richard Mortel. Source: Wikipedia
Modern Akershus
A tour of the castle complex provides an insight into the culture and history of Norway from the Middle Ages onwards. The castle still holds many mysteries, some of which are linked to secrets of the past.
The castle complex is a great place to visit.
Nowadays, the functionality of many of the castle's rooms has changed. For example, on public holidays and important events, the local government occupies the large halls of Akershus. Especially for official events, the ancient rooms are decorated in a modern style, and the medieval interior adds a special charm to the receptions.
The church of the fortress is an active church and regular services are held here. Everyone is welcome to attend the ceremony. There is also the possibility of christenings for local residents by prior arrangement.
In some exceptional cases, wedding celebrations are allowed to take place in the castle. This requires one member of the family to be military.Also located in Akershus is the fascinating Norwegian Armed Forces Museum, which houses a collection of weapons and other valuable exhibits that can be admired at any time. The museum offers guided tours that tell the history of the castle and the development of the Norwegian army. In the main building of the castle there are offices of the Ministry of Defence.
Visiting the castle is absolutely free for tourists, but a ticket is required at the entrance. In the museum pavilion, a booklet describing the different routes and the history of the complex is available for everyone. Audio guides are also available in several languages.
