Top 12 Charming and Picturesque Castles in Norway

Norway in a nutshell is a paradise for every age group. There are so many historic and architectural monuments in Norway that make this country culturally wealthy. There are mansions, fortresses, and castles to visit in Norway most of which are built between the 13th and 20th centuries. These rugged architecture are standing straight to date and are accepted as a true sign of the bravery and spirited attitude of the country. Most of these picturesque castles in Norway are now converted into museums and open for visitors. Plan a visit to these charming and picturesque castles in Norway to explore their impressive architecture. Here are the top outstanding Norwegian castles you can visit this vacation.

1. Akershus Castle

Akershus Castle is one of the impressive Norway castles that everyone should visit during their trip to Norway. It is a medieval castle that opened in the 13th century and is presently famous as a residential place for dignified people. However in the initial days, this castle was used as a prison for criminals, later it became a fortress after the attack of the Swedish. Inside the Akershus Castle premises, there is a Mausoleum where many Norwegian royal figures take their last breath. 

Nearby the castle, there is the office of the Norwegian Prime minister, which was relocated here after the attack of 2011. 

Located in: Oslo, Norway 

Opened: 1300

Architectural style: Mediaeval architecture

Read more: Killer Ways to Enjoy Nightlife in Norway

2. Egeberg Castle

It is another architectural beauty in Norway built using high-quality granite and soapstone. This beautiful castle is designed by a famous Norwegian architect named Halfdan Berle in 1899-1901. The castle looks more like a mansion and Einar Westye Egeberg a Norwegian businessperson who owned a famous lumber company named Westye Egeberg & Co used to live here with his family. His wife Birgitte Halvordine had seven children in 1901 when they moved into this castle for the first time and every one of them had reached adulthood at that time. 

After the death of Einar Westye Egeberg, his family didn’t want to live in a massive house and hence decided to sell it, after many complications the castle was purchased by Bolig-Bygg AS. he made modifications to the basic architecture, and two more floors in the castle. Presently this castle has been turned into a residential apartment for 24 families. 

Located in: Akersveien 24F, Oslo, Norway

Architectural style: Italian Architecture

Opened in: 1901

3. Fredriksten Fortress

Fredriksten is a border fortress in Norway built in the 17th century. The groundbreaking of the fortress started in 1661 and it took almost four decades to complete the construction of this amazing castle in Norway. In all these years the fortress has been turned into a military installation from a gorgeous fort. Despite being situated on a small area of 2,000 sqm, the deck of the Fortress offers the best panoramic view of Halden city. 

Initially, the fortress was used as a military base camp but in 1905 all military significance was taken back, and then this fortress was turned into a museum. Several art exhibitions have been organized by the admin members in the summer season. Visitors can visit this gorgeous fortress in summer to witness the classic and contemporary music concerts organized in the museums.

Located in: General Vien 27, Halden, Norway

Opened: 17th century

4. The Royal Palace

The Royal Palace is one of the stunning castles in Oslo Norway. Also, a significant building in the country. It is not actually a castle but a massive structure presently dedicated to residential use only. Initially in 1825, this royal palace was built for King Charles XIV. after his death many royal families lived here in this palace utilizing all the modern amenities. But nowadays the 173 opulent rooms of this palace are occupied by various Norwegian families. The main attraction of this place is the guard changing ceremony that takes place here at 1.30 pm every day. 

Tourists visiting the royal palace in Norway are recommended to witness the guard changing ceremony here as it has now become a popular tourist attraction in these years and your visit to the royal place is incomplete without witnessing this ceremony. 

Inside the palace premises, there is pleasing greenery with ample numbers of pine trees, ponds, and statues of famous rulers. 

Address: Slottsplassen 1, Oslo, Norway

Opened: 26 July 1849

Architectural style: Neoclassical architecture

Read more: Best Things to do in Norway

5. Gamlehaugen Castle 

Gamlehaugen is among the best castles in Norway if you want to feel the royal treatment of the Norwegians. This gorgeous castle was built in the 19th century procuring Scottish architecture. This fairytale castle is most recently owned by Christian Michelsen, a politician who later became the first Prime Minister of Norway. 

You can anytime visit this beautiful castle in Norway to capture the ultimate scenic views. Most of the parts of this castle have been closed for visitors but still, some sections are open for explorers. 

Located in: Gamlehaugvegen 10, Paradis, Norway

Architectural style: Scottish baronial architecture

Opened: 1900

6. Oscarshall Castle

This castle in Oslo looks more like a palace for the royal community because of its exquisite interiors. It was built by a famous Danish architect named Johan Henrik Nebelong in 1852. The entire castle was built using white marble with one tall tower. Later in 2005 renovation work has been done to restore its original beauty. The furniture is replaced with the original one and the castle is whitewashed in vibrant blue color. The restoration work was completed in 2009 and the castle was again open to the public. Presently, you can visit the Oscarshall Castle in Norway with the help of a guided tour 

Located in: Oscarshall Veien 15, 0287 Oslo, Norway

Architectural styles: Gothic Revival architecture, Neoclassical architecture

Opened: 1852

7. Steinvikholm Castle

Steinvikholm Castle in Norway is built on barren land on the Skatval peninsula. This charming castle of Norway was designed by Olav Engelbrektsson between 1525 to 1532 and he is the last Catholic archbishop in Norway. Steinvikholm Castle is famous for organizing Norway’s most significant historic event of midnight opera. Since 1993 this event has been held here every year in the month of August. This midnight opera was arranged to shed light on the travails, struggles, and life journeys of the Norwegian archbishop. 

The castle is located on a peninsula and tourists can access this magical castle through a boat or antique wooden bridge. 

Located in: Steinvikholm Vegan 41, 7510 Skatval, Norway

Opened: 1532

Architect: Olav Engelbrektsson

Read more: Some Interesting Facts About Bergen

8. Bergenhus Fortress

Bergenhus Fortress is one of the oldest castles in Norway opened in the 12th century and opened for common visitors after the 15the century. The castle was designed with the best form of stone fortification to protect it from foreign invaders. Inside the castle, there is a museum that showcases the history of the benefaction of women during the German invasion. Additionally, there is Haakon’s Hall inside the fortress which was built after the construction of the fortress in the 13th century. There is a massive hall which is then used as a feast hall or concert venue for public events. We must say this is worth watching if you love to know about medieval architecture. 

Located in: Holmen, Bergen, Norway

Opened: 1514

Architectural style: Mediaeval

9. Stiftsgården 

Stiftsgården is a royal residential castle in Norway spread out over 4000 square meters of land in Trondheim. This beautiful-looking castle in Norway was designed by Christian Lerche between 1774 and 1778 using wooden materials.  This may be the biggest wooden building in Northern Europe. There are 140 colossal rooms in this castle equipped with all modern facilities. After a century of its construction in 1800, the castle was occupied by members of royal families for residential use and until now this castle has served as a residential palace for royal families and their guests. Every pedophile should definitely visit this charming wooden castle in Norway. 

Located in: Munkegata 23, Trondheim, Norway

Opened: 1778

Architectural styles: Baroque architecture, Neoclassical architecture, Rococo architecture

10. Vardøhus Fortress

Vardøhus Fortress in Festningsgata is a picturesque architecture located in Vardø town on Vardøya Island. It is a star-shaped Fortress built by 40 Bergen soldiers and it took 4 complete years (from 1734 to 1738) to construct this Fortress completely. The architecture of this fortress is best known for resisting cannon fire and hence used by the Norwegian authority to guard the Finnmark and surrounding regions.

Later in 1939, when world war 2nd started, this fortress was used by military persons to keep prisoners. The most unique thing about Vardøhus Fortress in Norway is its gunshots. That was used at the end of Polar night to salute the sun.

Located in: Festningsgata 20, 9950 Vardø, Norway

Opened: 1300

Read more: Fascinating Facts About Norway

11. Kristiansten Fortress

Kristiansten is a castle-looking fortress in Norway located in Trondheim city. The construction of this fortress was started in 1681 and completed in 1685. After the construction, this fortress was built on the eastern side of Trondheim city to protect it from the attack of enemies. Kristiansten Fortress fulfilled its purpose for the first time in 1718 when the Swedish troops besieged Trondheim. Later, the fortress was put out of operation in 1816 by King Charles XIV John.

The charm of the Kristiansten fortress is unique and implicit as it is built using high-quality defensive material by two military engineers named Johan Caspar von Cicignon and Anthony Coucheron. Two major attraction of this fortress is the museum and dungeon that everyone should visit here. From the terrace of the fortress, you will get a breathtaking view of the town towards the fjord and the mountains from its high location.

Address: Kristianstensbakken 60, 7014 Trondheim, Norway

Opened: 1685

12. Båhus Fortress 

Båhus Fortress is another castle in Norway built in the early 13th century by a talented Norwegian architect named Guthorm Kavli. This beautiful fortress is an exemplary masterpiece built using wood, Granite, and brick. This fortress was built along the Norwegian-Swedish border splitting the Göta river into two parts. It is a 7-century-old castle that stands still even today and is used as a fortress. 

This fortress had been attacked by enemies around 14 times, but invaders wouldn’t be able to capture it for a single time. Additionally, it has also sustained damage in the war. The first damage caused to the Båhus Fortress was in the 16th century in the Northern Seven Years War. After this in the 18th century, the fortress was completely demolished and authorities ran out of budget to renovate the fortress.

If you love to explore ancient culture then you should definitely visit this famous castle in Norway. You can visit Norway in the summers to explore the Båhus Fortress. Since 2015 this fortress has been converted into a museum and is open to the public in the summers.

Address: Fästningsholmen, 442 31 Kungälv, Sweden

Opened: 1308

If you are really inclined to know about the best country to see castles then visit Norway. There are enough charming and picturesque castles in Norway that will keep you spellbound. Europe itself has more than ten thousand castles and around 37% of them are located in Norway. Hence you can consider Norway as the epicenter of castles in Europe. Visit these mesmerizing castles in Norway this vacation to boost your knowledge about the biggest Norwegian castles.

If you want to know more about Europe and Norway visit our adequate travel website. There are many more blogs and articles related to travel and tourism that help you to explore the world conveniently. 

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