Akershus Fortress

Akershus is a medival castle built in the 1290s by King Haakon V. It was constructed in response to Norwegian nobleman Earl Alv Erlingsson's earlier attack on Oslo that occurred in 1287. It was, for most of it's history, a military fort, but it also served as a royal palace and a prison.  All of these overlapped to some extent until about 1900, when it continued to house military personnel but everything else sort of evaporated, although it's not really clear why.

It's also the burial place for the royal family, which is not at all creepy (I'm lying).

King Haakon VII and Queen Maud on one side, King Olav V and crown princess (not sure how that is different from a Queen) Martha on the other.  On the other side of the crypt, which has no entryway, which is even more creepy, is King Hakon V, Queen Eufemia of Rugen (not sure why she get to be "of" someplace), and King Siguard the Crusader.

On a completely different note, I didn't put two and two together until I was writing this, because we read about Siguard the Crusader in one of the museums, and how he did this crazy-ass crusade that literally circled Europe.  And it was the same guy.  I could have seen his bones if I was willing to break through an iron grate, knock down a stone wall, and violate his coffin.  I mean, I was THAT CLOSE.

The royal residence / palace was interesting as well, not quite as ornate and extensive as some we've seen in Europe, but fancy enough.

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