Europe Travel Guides

Points of interest

Vikingskipshuset (Viking Ship Museum)

This magnificent museum houses three Viking ships excavated from the Oslofjord region. They had been brought ashore and used as tombs for nobility, who were buried with all they would need in the hereafter - jewels, furniture, food and servants. Built of oak in the 9th century, the ships were buried in clay, which preserved two of them amazingly well.

The impressive Oseberg ship, buried in AD 834 and festooned with elaborate dragon and serpent carvings, is 22m long and took 30 people to row it. A second ship, the 24m-long Gokstad, is the world's finest example of a longship. Of the third ship, the Tune, only a few boards remain.

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Akershus Slott & Festning

This medieval castle and fortress was built in 1300 and reconstructed several times after many attacks (including the 1563-70 War of the North). As you wander around the castle you'll find tiny rooms where outcast nobles were kept, in stark contrast to the far more elaborate dining halls and staterooms on the upper floors.

Akershus was one of the sturdiest castles in northern Europe. Its unique layout, as well as the difficult terrain, made it almost impregnable. At the fortress you can see the changing of the guard each afternoon. Nowadays, the fortress grounds play host to concerts and theatre productions.

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Munchmuseet

Dedicated to the life work of Norway's most renowned artist, the Munchmuseet contains 5000 drawings and paintings that Munch bequeathed to the city of Oslo. Ten years after The Scream was stolen from Nasjonalgalleriet, masked gunmen pulled a similar caper on another version of the famous painting here in 2004. It too was recovered, in 2006.

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