Hello friends, we used our time in Oslo very efficiently to get the most out of the city in the limited time we had and we visited many places worth seeing. I am happy to share them with you when I have time, thank you for your kind comments. Today I'm going to show you a place that you shouldn't leave Oslo without visiting: Akershus Castle. When we came to Oslo, we had already researched the places we would visit and we realized that Akershus castle is one of the most important historical places that tourists are interested in. Of course, I couldn't not share such a beautiful and historical place with you. Let's start if you are ready!
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Akershus Castle impressed us as much as it impressed everyone with its unique architecture. This place is really beautiful and worth seeing, especially from an architectural point of view. As we got closer to the castle, I saw its stone walls in the heart of the city center, right next to Oslo Harbor, and since it was located by the sea, the view was really good, I will show you the view in the rest of the post.
At its entrance in the garden of the Castle, there is an impressive statue with deep traces of the war: The National Monument to the Victims of War 1940-1945. This monument, designed by Gunnar T. Janson, is dedicated to the memory of the Norwegians lost in World War II. The bronze sculpture depicts a large female figure, next to a smaller male figure. This composition symbolically expresses the pain and loss of the war.
The statue was unveiled on liberation day, May 8, 1970, and has been Norway's national monument ever since. Wreaths are laid at the monument every year on May 17, Constitution Day, and during visits by foreign heads of state.
Source: guide
The memorial has become an important reminder of the devastating effects of the war, as well as an important symbol to pay tribute to Norway's past and its losses.
The huge door welcoming me at the entrance was like a window into the depths of history. There were numbers placed at certain points in the castle and there was a QR code on these numbers. Opening this QR code with your phone and reading the information box about the place on your phone made the trip meaningful and I really liked this system.
As we were walking around the Castle we came to a place with a great view and this was one of the most unforgettable moments for me in the castle, watching the magnificent view of the Oslo Fjord from the top of the castle, the calm waves of the sea, the colorful houses on the opposite shore and the mountains in the distance... This view was really unforgettable for me.
I read that there is normally entrance to the inside of the Castle, but recently the entrances to the Castle were closed and we could only visit the outside of the Castle and see its garden and architecture, but even this was very pleasant and enough for us.
Built in 1747, it is a barracks building. It was mostly used as a barracks where soldiers and the garrison were housed.
Munk's tower was built in the 16th century, named after Ludvig Munck, a Swedish priest of that time. This is defensive tower and probably according to the history there was cisterns for drinking water
This structure is called Corps de Garde. The purpose of this building was to control and protect those coming to the castle.
The architectural structure of these passages inside the castle was one of the most interesting structures for me. Especially with the sunlight in the previous photo, this place looks really great.
It is very difficult to take a photo of the castle from the outside because it is in a large area and I think you need a professional camera to take a whole photo of it. This was the photo that I could take with the most effort to capture the whole view.
Keep in Mind Before You Go!
Entrance to Akershus Castle is free.
Before you visit, check on Google whether the Castle is open or not.
There is a museum inside the castle and entrance is 160 NOK per adult.
There is a small shop inside where you can buy souvenirs and have a tea and coffee break.
You will come across this shop before you go too far in the Castle and you can buy a free guide booklet inside, if you visit the Castle with this booklet, your trip will become more meaningful.
After you enter the huge gate of the castle, the tour starts from the right side, but you can go to the left and get this guide booklet, then go back and continue on the right side. You will be thankful to me afterwards :)
We really liked Akershus Castle, it was a bit unlucky that the inside was closed on the day of our visit, but the outside and the garden were definitely worth a visit and we learned some interesting informations. I hope you enjoyed reading this post, I look forward to your comments. Love from Osloš§”