San Lorenzo Castle is surrounded by ancient external walls, dating back to the 9th century. It is protected by a moat. The Gothic style castle has been restored several times during centuries.
The castle is visible from very far away, even if it is not on a hill, thanks to its six towers and wide crenellations, which were used by the defenders to protect themselves. A small avenue of 150 meters, which enters in the northern part of the park, leads the visitor to the façade of the big building. The central tower has painted on it the symbol of the castle’s owners.
The Royal Palace was built in the first half of the 19th century as the Norwegian residence of King Charles III, who also reigned as king of Sweden and otherwise resided there, and is the official residence of the present Norwegian monarch. The crown prince resides at Skaugum in Asker west of Oslo. The palace has 173 rooms.
Until the completion of the Royal Palace, Norwegian royalty resided in Paleet, the magnificent town house in Christiania that the wealthy merchant Bernt Anker bequeathed to the State in 1805 to be used as a royal residence. During the last years of the union with Denmark it was used by the viceroys of Norway, and in 1814 by the first king of independent Norway, Christian Frederick.