Fjell Fortress

Fjell, Norway

Fjell fortress was built by the German occupation forces during the Second World War. The construction works were commenced late summer 1942, and completed so far that they could fire the main gun for the first time as early as in June–July 1943. The fort was a significant link in the coastal defence of Norway.

The main gun was also to a certain extent employed in the interception of foreign aircraft raids against Bergen.The fortress has areas over and under the ground, with a network of tunnels two miles long on the surface and in the mountains.

The fortress area is today the property of the Norwegian Armed Forces, while Sotra og Øygarden Forsvarsforening (Sotra and Øygarden Defence Association) are responsible for conducting the preservation and maintenance.

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Address

Bankesteinsvegen 8, Fjell, Norway
See all sites in Fjell

Details

Founded: 1942
Category: Castles and fortifications in Norway

More Information

en.wikipedia.org
www.visitbergen.com

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Bryggen (15,5 km)
Korskirken (15,6 km)
St. Paul Catholic Church (15,1 km)
St. Mary's Church (15,6 km)
Christ Church Ruins (15,4 km)
Bergenhus Fortress (15,4 km)
Nonneseter Abbey Chapel (15,5 km)
Bergen Museum (14,9 km)
Bergen Cathedral (15,7 km)

User Reviews

Stian Olsen (13 days ago)
Beautiful
Robert Sand (6 months ago)
Fantastic historical place from the 2nd world war. It is recommended to book a tour, which are only available on Sundays. So visit on a Sunday and book in advance. This place has a terrible but interesting story. Worth a visit...
Tomas Bednarik (2 years ago)
Originally erman fortrees buid during word war II. Museum and cafe at this moment. You can take guide tour. Nornaly open on Sunday only, sometimes tour date possible other day in week.
Jens Ekerhovd (2 years ago)
Amazing place with a scary history
Mathias Kvinge (2 years ago)
Great museum, great hike to the museum and an amazing cafe with a great view. I love this place. So peaceful and calm. I do definitely recommend this place. It's the fløyen of Fjell kommune. I have been here multiple times and it never gets boring. Definitely worth the somewhat long drive.
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Glimmingehus

Glimmingehus is the best preserved medieval stronghold in Scandinavia. It was built 1499-1506, during an era when Scania formed a vital part of Denmark, and contains many defensive arrangements of the era, such as parapets, false doors and dead-end corridors, 'murder-holes' for pouring boiling pitch over the attackers, moats, drawbridges and various other forms of death traps to surprise trespassers and protect the nobles against peasant uprisings. The lower part of the castle's stone walls are 2.4 meters (94 inches) thick and the upper part 1.8 meters (71 inches).

Construction was started in 1499 by the Danish knight Jens Holgersen Ulfstand and stone-cutter-mason and architect Adam van Düren, a North German master who also worked on Lund Cathedral. Construction was completed in 1506.

Ulfstand was a councillor, nobleman and admiral serving under John I of Denmark and many objects have been uncovered during archeological excavations that demonstrate the extravagant lifestyle of the knight's family at Glimmingehus up until Ulfstand's death in 1523. Some of the most expensive objects for sale in Europe during this period, such as Venetian glass, painted glass from the Rhine district and Spanish ceramics have been found here. Evidence of the family's wealth can also be seen inside the stone fortress, where everyday comforts for the knight's family included hot air channels in the walls and bench seats in the window recesses. Although considered comfortable for its period, it has also been argued that Glimmingehus was an expression of "Knighthood nostalgia" and not considered opulent or progressive enough even to the knight's contemporaries and especially not to later generations of the Scanian nobility. Glimmingehus is thought to have served as a residential castle for only a few generations before being transformed into a storage facility for grain.

An order from Charles XI to the administrators of the Swedish dominion of Scania in 1676 to demolish the castle, in order to ensure that it would not fall into the hands of the Danish king during the Scanian War, could not be executed. A first attempt, in which 20 Scanian farmers were ordered to assist, proved unsuccessful. An additional force of 130 men were sent to Glimmingehus to execute the order in a second attempt. However, before they could carry out the order, a Danish-Dutch naval division arrived in Ystad, and the Swedes had to abandon the demolition attempts. Throughout the 18th century the castle was used as deposit for agricultural produce and in 1924 it was donated to the Swedish state. Today it is administered by the Swedish National Heritage Board.

On site there is a museum, medieval kitchen, shop and restaurant and coffee house. During summer time there are several guided tours daily. In local folklore, the castle is described as haunted by multiple ghosts and the tradition of storytelling inspired by the castle is continued in the summer events at the castle called "Strange stories and terrifying tales".

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