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Akershus Fortress and Church

Information about the historic fortress

Akershus Fortress (Norwegian: Akershus Festning) or Akershus Castle (Norwegian: Akershus slott) is a medieval castle in the Norwegian capital Oslo that was built to protect and provide a royal residence for the city. Since the middle ages the fortress was the namesake and centre of the main fief and later main county of Akershus, which was originally one of Norway’s four main regions and which included most of Eastern Norway. The fortress itself was located within Akershus main county until 1919, and also within the smaller Akershus sub county until 1842.

The castle has also been used as a military base, a prison and is currently the temporary office of the Prime minister of Norway.

The Chapel is situated inside the fortress. The Royal Mausoleum lies beneath the chapel. The Chapel is formally the Royal burial chapel, and the Norwegian Armed Forces’ main Church. The castle’s Royal Mausoleum is the final resting place of a number of Norwegian royal figures. This includes King Sigurd I, King Haakon V, Queen Eufemia, King Haakon VII, Queen Maud, King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha.