History

Important landmark


The Fortress has always constituted an important landmark, towering as it did over the more modest dwellings of old Christiania. Akershus remains an important landmark in Oslo, forming its most distinctive silhouette against the sea together with the City Hall below. The central location makes the fortress grounds a popular recreational area for tourists and locals alike.

Growing public awareness towards the end of the 1800s of the cultural values represented by Akerhus Fortress, led to extensive renovation and restoration projects in order to highlight and refine Akershus’ standing as a national monument.

Typical for the sentiments of the time, the initial work concentrated on the Middle Ages; it was important to bring to light the tangible reminders of the fact that Norway was once a great nation. Gradually the awareness grew of the importance of the fortifications and buildings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries also.

Before the protectionist lobby had gathered enough momentum, however, nearly all the ramparts of Nedrevoll had been demolished, with the exception of Hornverket on the Kontraskjæret rock.

Original identity
Despite these reductions, however, both the central areas and the outer perimeters of the fortress have preserved their original identity to a large extent vis-à-vis the buildings in the grid-built streets below. The main reason for that is that the fortress area continued to be used for military purposes even after the demolition of the fortifications. In the 19th century new military buildings were constructed for other purposes (such as depots), and are therefore different from the original structures. These newer buildings were also given a military character in the form of a romantic “castle architecture” in brick and half-timbered houses.

Valuable and lively arena
The newly built headquarters for the Ministry of Defence historical and the evident and continued presence by the Defence at Akershus, means that it will remain a strategically important military stronghold also in the future. The presence of the Defence at the fortresses of Akershus and Bergenhus means that these two fortresses, together with the other forts across the country, may look forward to becoming valuable and lively arenas for cultural, military and civilian activities, as well as providing memorable experiences for the general public. In this way, the Defence ensures new life on historical sites.