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Akershus fortress in Oslo

When you visit Oslo on one of our roundtrips, make sure to see Akershus Fortress. Its central location makes the fortress grounds a popular recreational area for tourists and locals alike.
2 min readUpdated: Feb 27, 2026By: The Fjord Tours team
Nighttime cityscape with historic castle illuminated, waterfront reflections, modern buildings, and distant hills under deep blue sky.
Akershus Fortress is a medieval castle situated in Oslo city centre. Throughout its history it has had great strategic and symbolic value for Oslo and Norway. Akershus Fortress is still a military area, but it is open daily to the public until 21.00
The building of Akershus Castle and Fortress commenced in the late 1290s under King Haakon V. The medieval castle, which was completed in the 14th century, had a strategic location at the very tip of the headland, and withstood a number of sieges throughout the ages, primarily by Swedish forces. Its immediate proximity to the sea was very important as naval power was vital in protecting the interests of Norwegian commerce, which was largely carried out by sea during the period.
The castle was modernised under King Christian IV (1588-1648) and converted into a Renaissance castle and royal residence. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the castle fell into disrepair and restoration work did not start until 1899.
Historic stone castle with tall towers, brick walls, and tiled roofs, partially covered with snow under grey sky.
Akershus Fortress is still a military area, but it is open daily to the public until 21.00. In addition to the castle, the Norwegian Armed Forces Museum and the Norwegian Resistance Museum are located there. The Norwegian Ministry of Defence and Defence Staff Norway also share modern headquarters in the eastern part of Akershus Fortress.
Norwegian Royalty are buried in the Royal Mausoleum in the castle. They include, King Sigurd I, King Haakon V, Queen Eufemia, King Haakon VII, Queen Maud, King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha.

Facts about Akershus Fortress:

  • Akershus Fortress was built to protect Oslo
  • It has also been used as a prison
  • Work started on the castle around the late 1290s under King Haakon V
  • The fortress has successfully survived many sieges, primarily by Swedish forces
  • It houses the Royal Mausoleum
White sailing ship and wooden boat with Norwegian flags docked by stone fortress and trees under cloudy sky.

In Akershus Fortress you can:

  • See the fantastic medieval castle
  • Get insight of the Norwegian military in the Norwegian Armed Forces Museum
  • Learn about the war at the Norwegian Resistance Museum
  • Relax in beautiful surroundings

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From world-class museums to outdoor experiences, Oslo offers activities for every interest and season. Our hand-picked recommendations help you experience the city like a local while ensuring you don't miss any must-see attractions.
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