Akershus Castle, medieval fortress on the Oslo fjord

Akershus Castle dominates the Oslo fjord from its strategic position on a rocky promontory. Built in the late 13th century to defend the city, it was later transformed into a Renaissance royal residence. The grey stone and brick structure presents various architectural stratifications testifying to centuries of Norwegian history. Visitors stroll along the cobblestone paths of the complex under a typically Scandinavian variable sky. Today the castle houses the Norwegian Resistance Museum and the Armed Forces Museum, as well as being a venue for state ceremonies.

Akershus Castle, Oslo fortress, Norwegian medieval, Norway history