Middelalderparken, Medieval ruins park in Gamle Oslo, Norway
Middelalderparken is a park in the Gamle Oslo district where stone foundations of medieval buildings and water features trace where the Alna River once met the sea. The outlines of churches, a royal palace, and other structures are marked across the grounds and can be explored on foot.
This part of Oslo served as the city's center from the Middle Ages until a fire in 1624 forced the population to move to a new location. The remains sank beneath the ground and were only brought to light again in the mid-1800s during railway construction.
Visitors can walk among the stone outlines of a medieval bishop's church and a royal residence that once stood at the heart of the city. Seeing both side by side gives a clear sense of how religious and royal power were intertwined in the old town.
The park borders the harbor and is reached by foot paths lined with information signs in several languages. The ground between the ruins can be uneven, so sturdy shoes are a good idea before setting out.
The ground of the park today sits several meters above the medieval shoreline, meaning the sea once came right up to buildings that now stand well inland. Markers in the park show where the water once reached, making the change in coastline easy to picture.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
