Akershus Fortress
History
The building of Akershus Castle and Fortress was commenced in 1299 under king Håkon V. The medieval castle, which was completed in the 1300s, had a strategical location at the very end of the headland, and withstood a number of sieges throughout the ages. King Christian IV (1588-1648) had the castle modernised and converted into a Renaisssance castle and royal residence. During the 17th and 18th century the castle fell into decay, and restoration work only started in 1899.
Guided tours
Guided tours of the Fortress are available to the public in summer, starting at the Visitor Centre.
May: Saturday-Sunday at 12.00 (Norwegian) and 14.00 (English)
June: Daily at 12.00 (Norwegian) and 14.00 (English)
1 July-14 August: Daily at 11.00, 13.00 and 15.00 (Norwegian/English), 14.00 (Norwegian, jail only) and 16.00 (English)
15 August-31 August: Daily at 12.00 (Norwegian) and 14.00 (English)
Free with the Oslo Pass.
Guided tours for groups are also available.
Events
The Fortress area is used for a number of big events, including concerts, holiday celebrations and ceremonies. Changing of the guards (HM The King's Guards) takes place every day at 1.30 pm.
Norwegian name: Akershus Festning
Nobel Peace Center
The Nobel Peace Center consists of an exciting combination of changing and permanent exhibitions. The Center seeks to promote popular interest in issues relating to war, peace and conflict resolution - in Norway as well as abroad.
The Peace Prize laureates are all presented on digital screens in the Nobel Field, a garden of 1000 fibre-optic lights. Don't miss the magical book about Alfred Nobel's life and work, the Electronic Wall Papers and the film room The Eye.
The new children's activity "Peace begins with..." focuses on what we all can do to promote peace. The activity is suitable for children accompanied by adults, and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. All participants get to bring home a piece of the Nobel Peace Center.
Scheduled events include lectures and open meetings, seminars and discussions, and a wide range of cultural and artistic activities.
On the first floor is the red museum shop with exciting and original design products, and the restaurant Alfred, which offers varied, healthy and tasty food for all ages.
Norwegian name: Nobels Fredssenter
The Peace Prize laureates are all presented on digital screens in the Nobel Field, a garden of 1000 fibre-optic lights. Don't miss the magical book about Alfred Nobel's life and work, the Electronic Wall Papers and the film room The Eye.
The new children's activity "Peace begins with..." focuses on what we all can do to promote peace. The activity is suitable for children accompanied by adults, and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. All participants get to bring home a piece of the Nobel Peace Center.
Scheduled events include lectures and open meetings, seminars and discussions, and a wide range of cultural and artistic activities.
On the first floor is the red museum shop with exciting and original design products, and the restaurant Alfred, which offers varied, healthy and tasty food for all ages.
Norwegian name: Nobels Fredssenter
Oslo Pass advantage: Free entrance
Tregaarden's Christmas house
Tregaarden's Christmas House in Drøbak is Scandinavia's only permanent Christmas shop.
Here you can find all kinds of Christmas articles like Christmas candles, Christmas napkins, nisser, Christmas mice, tablecloths for Christmas etc.
The Christmas house also has its own post office where you can stamp your letters or cards with their official Christmas stamp mark.
Here you can find all kinds of Christmas articles like Christmas candles, Christmas napkins, nisser, Christmas mice, tablecloths for Christmas etc.
The Christmas house also has its own post office where you can stamp your letters or cards with their official Christmas stamp mark.
Ventaja con el Oslo Pass: 10 % discount
Gol Stave Church Museum
Gol Stave Church Museum
A full-size replica of the Gol Stave Church, which was moved from Gol, Hallingdal to the Folk Museum in Bygdoy Park in Oslo, Norway about 100 years ago, has a place of honor in the Heritage Park. A groundbreaking ceremony, which was attended by many dignitaries from Scandinavia and America, was held on October 12, 1999. The church was dedicated on October 10, 2000 and the inaugural service was held on October 9, 2001. Myron D. Peterson, M.D. chaired the committee dedicated to building this 60-foot by 45-foot at the base by about 60-foot-high memorial to the pioneer immigrants who uprooted themselves from Scandinavia to make new homes in North America.
Noted wood carvers Philip Odden and Elsa Bigton of Barronet, Wisconsin have completed the intricately-carved front and side portals and doors.
Some 700-800-year-old stave churches in Norway still stand.
The Gol Stave Church Museum, in Scandinavian Heritage Park is a full-size replica of the original church built in about 1250, now in Bygdoy Park in Oslo.
Inside the church, the corner posts are essential. They are often accentuated, and are heavier and more richly decorated than the other structural elements. "They represent the four gospels whose teachings are the supporting foundation of all Christianity" is the description given in a sermon in the thirteenth century. This sermon was held during a church consecration, in which each section of the stave church's structure was related to spiritual values. The beams upon which the columns rest "signify God's apostles, the foundation of all Christianity." The floor boards represent "the humble men who bow in honour; the more they are exposed to the trampling feet of the congregation, the more support they provide."
The roof surface which protects the church from snow and inclement weather "represents the men...whose prayers protect Christianity from temptation."
-excerpts above from Norway's Stave Churches by Eva Valebrokk and Thomas Thiis-Evensen.
The Viking Ship Museum
The world's two best-preserved wooden Viking ships built in the 9th century. Small boats, sledges, cart with exceptional ornamentation. Implements, tools, harness, textiles and household utensils.
Norwegian name: Vikingskipshuset
Ventaja con el Oslo Pass: Free entrance
Vigelandsparken is one of Norway's most visited attractions with more than 1 million visitors every year.
The unique sculpture park is the life work of the sculptor Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943) with more than 200 sculptures in bronze, granite and cast iron. Vigeland was also responsible for the design and architectural outline of the park. A monumental artistic creation with a human message that is well worth seeing.
The park is open all year at all times and is a popular recreation area.
