The Hidden North
North European travel guide
self-guided walks
Akershus Fortress
Explore the medieval palace of Akershus with our Akershus Fortress self-guided walk.
What you get
Historic overview of Akershus Fortress with historic photos.
Printable map with the route and major landmarks highlighted
Link to a Google Map that can be loaded into your phone for easier navigation
Clear directions with English & Norwegian names of places, addresses, and step-by-step guides
Photos of each point of interest
This guide is 9 pages and comes in a PDF format.
Explore the long history of Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress is one of the most important historic buildings in Oslo. It was built for King Haakon V around 1300 and became the palace when Oslo became Norway’s capital shortly after. During the Danish union, the fortress was modernised under King Christian IV, and during the Swedish union in the 19th century it was militarised and converted to a prison. Today Akershus Fortress is still an active military base, but there are also a number of museums here. There is a lovely walking loop that circles the fortress, and this guide follows that path.
Trip Highlights
- Learn about the life of the prisoners in the 19th century
- See elements from the 13th century & 17th century
- Explore the development of the fortress
Distance
1km (0.6 miles)
Activity Level
Level 2 – two sections with steep hills with cobblestone ground. Some uneven surfaces.
Start Location
Akershus Fortress entrance
End Location
Akershus Fortress Visitor Centre
Itinerary
This is a summarised itinerary. More stops are included in the walk.
Akershus Prison
The prison has been here since the 17th century, when King Frederik III said that all convicted of “petty larceny” should work on a chain group in Akershus, and eventually the prison got the nickname ‘The Slavery’ as prisoners could be rented out for the day. They were set to all kinds of public works and some were even hired out to private parties.
The Guard House
The guardhouse is from 1724 and has the Norwegian coat-of-arms above the front door. The building was used as prison facilities. Today the building is used as a guardhouse and museum for His Majesty the King’s Guard.
The Medieval Castle
It is not known when Akershus was constructed, but it was first mentioned in documents around the year 1300, when it was completed. Håkon V of Norway was the King who moved the capital from Bergen to Oslo.
The Romerike Wing
The lower part of the building was the storeroom with two fortified gates for taking in supplies. It was rebuilt in 1633 as the royal kitchen, while the second floor was used as living quarters for the viceroy. Between 1841 and 1845 the poet Henrik Wergeland had an office on the ground floor. At the time he was working as the national archivist.
Norwegian Resistance Museum
The building was originally the Double Battery and is from the late 17th century. It has housed Norway’s Resistance Museum since 1967. The museum is a fantastic insight into what the war was like in Norway, and the collection was arranged by ex-military and members of the Norwegian resistance.
Example of what the guide looks like.
