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Akershus Fortress is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo, the capital of Norway. It has also been used as a prison.The first construction on the castle started around the late 1290s, by King Haakon V. It was constructed in response to the Norwegian nobleman, Earl Alv Erlingsson of Sarpsborg’s earlier attack on Oslo. The fortress was first used in battle in 1308, when it was besieged by the Swedish duke Erik of Södermanland, who later in the same year won the Swedish throne. The immediate proximity of the sea was a key feature, for naval power was a vital as the majority of Norwegian commerce in that period was by sea. The fortress was strategically important for the capital, and Norway as well. Whoever ruled Akershus fortress ruled Norway. The fortress has never been successfully captured by a foreign enemy. It surrendered without combat to Nazi Germany in 1940 when the Norwegian government evacuated the capital in the face of the unprovoked German assault on Denmark and Norway . During World War II, several people were executed here by the German occupiers. After the war, eight Norwegian traitors who had been tried for war crimes and sentenced to death were also executed at the fortress.

Akershus fortress is still a military area, but it is open to the public daily until 9pm. When I visited there , I was truly impressed with its size and the fact that the military still operated there. I have another view at a different POV and time in the workshop. I am not sure which I like better, but this is more complete.