Royal Palace, Oslo

The neoclassical Royal Palace Oslo is owned by the state and is the king of Norway provided. It lies at the end of Karl Johans gate and is surrounded by a 22 acre park. The castle has to fulfill several functions. It serves as the residence of the king, as a place of state representation, management of the monarchy and also as a most distinguished guest of the country. When building is a three-wing building, which was built of brick and plastered. The three-storey main wing is broken up by three risalits, with only the central projection stands out through the columns front. This wing is 100.80 meters long and 24.10 meters wide. The two two-story wings are 40.70 meters long and 14.30 meters wide. The castle comprises 173 rooms and is one of the smaller residences in Europe.

Construction under Charles III. Johann

1814 Norway was a union with Sweden under one king one. Capital was Christiana, now Oslo. The monarch of the country lived mainly in Stockholm, but should also have access to a permanent residence in the Norwegian capital. The new constitution required the head of state every year to spend some time there. For the Paléet was available. This, the largest private house in the city, however, was not suitable as a royal residence.

1818 Charles XIV John ( 1763-1844 ) from the House of Bernadotte King of Sweden and thus also King of Norway as Charles III. Johann. In October 1822 the Storting approved Daler 150,000 to rebuild the castle without a plan or building site would exist. The king chose the Bellevue Heights west of downtown. The hilly terrain requires elaborate leveling work. As an architect Hans Ditlev Franciscus Linstow 1823 ( 1787-1851 ) was elected. He submitted four proposals. The king decided to use a two-story building on H-shaped floor plan. The government gave up a cost estimate and approved the start of construction 1824.

The foundation stone was laid on October 1, 1825. Thus began now the largest construction project since the establishment of the Nidarosdomes in Trondheim. Since Norway had few suitable craftsmen, Linstow had to rely on specialists from Sweden and Denmark. Already in 1827 were 120,000 Daler consumed and the completion of another 272,000 Daler would have been required. A committee of the Storting spoke out against the approval of additional funds until the next regular meeting, 1830. This Decision felt the king as an affront and lost interest in the project. Linstow was forced to lay off its workers. As well as at the meeting of the Storting no funds were approved, Linstow saw the only solution in a radical cost savings and simplified his plans. Two wings and the front pillars have been removed, but increases the main building by one floor. The costs have been reduced by 100,000 Daler. 1833 approved the Parliament annually Daler 30,000 for the period of three years.

After a break of six years, in 1834 the construction was resumed. In the summer of 1836 the building was in the bag. The topping out ceremony was held on 1 October 1836.

Interior decoration

At that time it was still common practice to set up separate suites for the royal couple. So the apartment of the queen and directly above it was located on the ground floor on the main floor, the apartment of the king. As usual, the state spaces located in the main floor. This building shell, it was now equip.

The architect was released and went on a 15 - month trip to Copenhagen, Hamburg, Munich and Dresden. The main purpose of the trip is to gain ideas for the interior of the castle was, but he also learned new materials and styles of know. The result was a series of 66 drawings with suggestions for the design of the main rooms including description and cost estimates. This work is known under the name "The great composition." The decoration of the ballroom is influenced by Karl Friedrich Schinkel's Concert Hall at the Schauspielhaus in Berlin and the White Salon has the first Neorokokoausstattung Norway. A significant contribution to the equipment was made by the decorative painter Peder Wergmann. The work was recorded in 1839 and ended in 1848.

Expansion measures

1844 was followed by Oscar I. ( 1799-1859 ) his father on the throne. The new royal couple had five children, and so the castle was too small. Since the modest exterior also sparked protests in public, the Parliament approved additional 108,000 Daler to enhance the architecture. The monumental columns front has now been built and solved the problems of space by extending the wing.

Between 1846 and 1848, the residence received their furniture. For 53,000 Daler were provided. The magnificent gilded furniture for the state rooms were made in Stockholm and Berlin, while the simpler furniture were produced domestically.

On 26 July 1849, the opening of the building was carried out with a big ball for 1,200 guests.

The castle is permanent residence

An important event in the history of Norway was 1905, the dissolution of the union with Sweden. It was decided by referendum to retain the constitutional monarchy and elected Prince Carl of Denmark (1872-1957) from the House of Schleswig -Holstein -Sonderburg- Glücksburg king. He ascended the throne as Haakon VII. His wife Maud of Great Britain and Ireland was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. From now on, the castle was constantly inhabited. In order to adapt it to the new requirements, performed in the years 1906-1907 extensive modernization. Thus, a common family residence has been renovated on the main floor, as separate apartments were no longer necessary. A central heating and modern sanitary facilities were also installed.

During the Second World War, the Royal Family was in exile and the castle was used as a German headquarters. Reich Commissioner was since April 24, 1940 Terboven Josef ( 1898-1945 ). He appointed the Norwegian fascist Vidkun Quisling (1887-1945) on 1 February 1942 the Prime Minister. Quisling used the living room of the royal family as an office.

By neglecting the building during the occupation, renovations were needed again with the succession of Olav V. 1957. The restorations in the 1960s were then made with a new approach. To date, rooms were remodeled in contemporary taste while now looked to restore the historic decoration. The castle has since been regarded as an important part of the national heritage.

The castle under Harald V.

In 1991, Harald V King of Norway. But he continued to live on Skaugum. The castle is now needed major restoration, since electrical and sanitary facilities were totally outdated. This was carried out in several phases during the 1990s and included the restoration of traditional interior decorations.

For the royal couple a modern apartment has been decorated with a winter garden on the 2nd floor of the main southern wing. The move took place in 2001. Throughout the rest of the floor to guest suites and rooms are equipped with modern bathrooms. The main floor houses the state rooms and south of the gallery the work of King Harald V and Queen Sonja. Just north, close to the offices of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette- Marit. The former family home with a south wing was abandoned and converted into offices for the courtiers. The most important areas are the official bird room, the mirror room, the Daily Dining Room, the Small Festival Hall ( 255 m²), the 10 meter high Grand Ballroom (360 m² ), and the large dining room (300 m²). The ground floor is the hall of the State Council, where every Friday at 11 clock together meets the cabinet to the king. For guests of state is here Haakon VII- suite and the Dronning Maud suite available. These spaces include partially the former apartment of the queen. In the northern wing just below the big dining-room, the chapel has its place. Supply rooms, offices, canteen and kitchen are located in the basement.

Thus the Royal Palace Oslo is a good example of an occupied from cellar to roof lively residential palace. Since 2000, found in the summer months from June to August tours of the castle instead.

Environment

The surrounding the park was created as a romantic landscape park with ponds and different vegetation from the castle gardener Martin Mortensen from 1840. The great square before the palace was intended as a strict rectangle and but was mitigated by the gardener to a horseshoe-shaped plant. With the establishment of the equestrian statue of Charles John 1875 a division into upper and lower square was made by a stairway. Other statues in the park were the mathematician Niels Henrik Abel in 1908, the writer Camilla Collett 1909 (both were created by the eminent Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland ), placed Queen Maud and Crown Princess Märtha 1959 2007.

North of the castle is built in the Swiss style wooden guardhouse. It was built in 1845 by Linstow. From 1845 to 1848 the historicist Marstall originated in the southwestern corner of the park. The addition of a riding hall was garages and 1909 until 1912.

Other Residences in Norway

Bygdøy Kongsgård; Stiftsgården; Oscar Hall; Skaugum;

Residences European monarchies

• Belgium Royal Palace (Brussels), Royal Castle of Laken;
• Denmark Amalienborg Palace, Fredensborg Castle;
• United Kingdom Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Palace of Holyroodhouse;
• Liechtenstein: Vaduz Castle;
• Luxembourg: Grand Ducal Palace, Castle Hill;
• Monaco: Palais Princier;
• Netherlands: Paleis Noordeinde, Huis ten Bosch, Paleis op de Dam;
• Sweden: Stockholm Palace, Drottningholm Palace;
• Spain: Palacio Real ( Madrid), Palacio de la Zarzuela;
• Vatican Apostolic Palace, Castel Gandolfo;