Akershus Fortress in Oslo, Norway Poster

The medieval stone fortification of Akershus Fortress looms on the shore of Oslofjord in Oslo, the capital of Norway. Also known as Akershus Castle, the fortress has also been used as a prison. King Haakon V started construction on the castle in the late 1290s in response to a major attack on the city of Oslo. Akershus Fortress became one of the two most important Norwegian castles of the period. The fortress has successfully survived all sieges, primarily by Swedish forces. In the early 17th century, King Christian IV modernized and remodeled the fortress in a renaissance style. Although 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 when the Germans attacked Denmark and Norway. The German occupiers surrendered in May 1945. In modern times, Akershus Fortress has been used for official events and dinners for dignitaries and foreign heads of state. Several members of Norwegian royalty are buried in the royal mausoleum there.