Gamlebyen i Fredrikstad

Bench of the week - Gamlebyen Fredrikstad

For more benches - visit Rune at "Visual Norway".

SkyWatch Friday - Gamlebyen i Fredrikstad

For more Sky Watch photos, visit the Sky watch site - Sky watch was Dots idea, now hosted by Sandy, Wren, Klaus, Fishing Guy, Louise and Sylvia.

Monochrom Mondays

More photos from the old town of Fredrikstad

The Monochrom monday concept came from Aileni at LOOSE ENDS

The old town of Fredrikstad # 2

The old town of Fredrikstad

The best preserved fortress town in the nordic countries is both vivid, charming and very interesting.

In these pictures, I have used topaz adjust filter and converted to black white.

Broer som binder - Bridges Between

The Fredrikstad Bridge is an arch bridge in the Norwegian city of Fredrikstad. It crosses the river Glomma, and connects the western and eastern parts of the city. The bridge is 824 metres long, with a main span of 196 metres. The sailing height is 39,5 metres. The bridge was opened August 18, 1957, by crown prince Olav V of Norway.

Broer som binder - Bridges Between concept came from RuneE. Say "G'day" to him.

The Old Town Fredrikstad

Gamlebyen i Fredrikstad - The Fortress Town # Part 3

It may be over-simplifying its history somewhat, but the old Fortress Town can be regarded as a designer town. Founded by a king fond of parties; developed by officers with continental swagger and a penchant for powdered elegance and military aesthetics.

Plenty of Norwegian towns have their old districts, but only Fredrikstad has the Old Town. Don´t be misled by the antiquated name, this place is nobody´s maiden aunt! On the contrary, the Old Town is still young and promising, having recently hung up its army uniform for good – after 350 years of military discipline - and slipped into its civvies. With history as a springboard the Old Town is putting itself on display, in its markets, carnivals and culture.

The End

Gamlebyen i Fredrikstad - The Fortress Town # Part 2

It all began in 1567 when the king of Denmark-Norway decreed that the town of Sarpsborg, burned to the ground by arch enemy Sweden, should be rebuilt. The king bent his ear to a popular appeal to have the town resituated at a place that was easier to defend and had better living conditions.

The east bank of the Glomma estuary was the obvious choice, and for the first time in Norway a king let a town take its name from a person. That person was the king himself; and Fredrikstad would prove itself a town worthy of a king. The inhabitants didn´t even complain that the man who christened the town never stopped there, but merely sailed past a couple of times. Then again, during his lifetime the place was more a building site than an arena in which this most social of kings could enjoy himself. He should have been around a century or two later, by which time he would have no difficulty getting his glass filled for a toast to a well-proportioned and attractive town. And a fortress that deterred the enemy.

The old Fortress Town is a part of our European heritage, and many regard it as an obvious candidate for a place on UNESCO´s World Heritage list. Why isn´t the Old Town on the list? There are several reasons, not least of all Fredrikstad´s desire to keep it an integrated part of the city´s life. The Old Town has existed and continues to exist without the aid of any "tourist attraction"-label with all the dangers of commercialisation that brings with it.

Source : Opplev Fredrikstad

Gamlebyen i Fredrikstad - The Fortress Town # Part 1

The best preserved fortress town in the nordic countries is both vivid, charming and very interesting.
Not only is the Old Town Scandinavia´s best preserved fortress town, but it is also a dynamic quarter of the city. Within the frame of its ramparts the Old Town´s cobbled streets will take you past buildings from four centuries, intriguing small shops with designer goods, arts and crafts, furniture, food and curiosities. In the Tøihus you will find both Fredrikstad City Museum and the Tourist Information office. The flea market every Saturday on the town square is well worth a visit!

Year of construction 1667

Year of construction 1779

To be continued