Strategically located on a rock above the Oslo fjord, the citadel of Akershus watched 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 teenagers on patrol, their heads topped with feather toupees. The fortress is open to the public. Here, foreign visitors are interested in the history of the place, while locals enjoy a quiet stroll around the estate.
Erected in 1299 by King Håkon V, the fortress saw its heyday during the victorious siege by Swedish King Charles XII in 1716. Under Christian IV (1588-1648), the castle was modernized and fitted out as a Renaissance castle. The fortress fell into serious disrepair during the 18th century, and it wasn’t until 1899 that restoration work began.
The visit to the Akershus citadel was made on December 23, 2018.
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