Oscarsborg Fortress

Construction of Oscarsborg Fortress began in 1836 under the direction of General Ferdinand Graf Wedel-Jarlsberg and was completed in 1856. The complex spans the islands of Nord- and Sør-Kaholmen, as well as batteries on the eastern shore. Its armaments included three 28-cm cannons from the German manufacturer Krupp, dating from 1893, which bore the names Moses, Aron, and Josva. A notable detail was the Moses cannon, which received its name after falling into the water during transport in Oslo harbor. Around 1890, an artificial reef was also created west of the island, reducing the water depth to an average of two meters, thereby directing all ship traffic close past the fortress. On April 9, 1940, the fortress played a pivotal role when its cannons and torpedoes sank the German heavy cruiser Blücher as part of Operation Weserübung. This success allowed the Norwegian King Haakon VII and the national treasury to escape to exile in Great Britain.

Oscarsborg Fortress is situated in Drøbak, in the Akershus district of the Østlandet region, Norway, at an elevation of approximately 17 meters above sea level.

Visitors can explore and tour the historic Oscarsborg Fortress today.

• Skaugum Palace (Palace), approx. 22.1 km away
• Hovedøya Abbey Ruins (Sacred Building), approx. 25.7 km away
• Norske Løve Fortress (Fortress), approx. 26.5 km away
• Oskarshall Palace (Palace), approx. 26.8 km away