Audunborg, Medieval castle ruins at Jølstravatn Lake, Norway
Audunborg is a medieval stone castle built on the shores of Jølstravatn Lake in Norway. The rectangular fortress contained three levels with storage areas, living quarters, and a feast hall, with water on three sides providing natural defense.
The fortress was built between 1276 and 1286 by English craftsmen sent from Bergen. It remains one of only two private stone castles ever constructed in medieval Norway.
The site is named after its builder Audun Hugleiksson, and a 1960 memorial stone honors his legacy in the landscape. The waterside location reflects how medieval power and wealth were expressed through fortified architecture.
The site is accessible via a waterside walk and offers open access to explore the remains. Visitors should allow time to wander through the area and be prepared for uneven ground on the archaeological site.
An original door from the fortress is preserved and displayed at the nearby Ålhus church. This architectural element reveals details about 13th-century building methods and craftsmanship.
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