During the seven-years Nordic War, Sarpsborg was burned down in 1567 by Sweden. Sarpsborg was founded by King Olav Haraldsson (Saint Olav) in 1016. It was the third-largest city in Norway. And the nation’s capital at that time. Following the destruction in 1567, King Fredrik II permitted the residents to relocate the town to the banks of the Glomma River. The idea behind this new location was that the new site would be advantageous for trade, shipping, fishing, and defense against foreign invasions. The city was designed in the Dutch architectural style and became a fortress in 1663 with bastion walls, now known as Gamlebyen. By 1860, Sarpsborg had evolved into an industrial powerhouse.

Last month, we planned a trip to visit Fredrikstad. We chose to drive there and took the Horten-Moss car ferry instead of driving around Oslo. (There is a direct connection from Oslo by E6 highway) The ferry journey was very pleasant; the weather was good, and the timing made it quite relaxing.

Once we arrived in Moss, we drove through the intersection that connects to the E6 highway towards Sweden. After about 30 kilometers, we took exit 6 and connected to Rv110, which led us to the center of Fredrikstad. We reached Fredrikstad at around 12:15 PM.

We had booked accommodations in the new town, a private house a check-in time was 2 PM, so we decided to head directly to Gamlebyen, the old town.

The center of Fredrikstad and the Old Town are separated by the River Glomma. To cross the river by car, you must use the Fredrikstad Bridge, an arch-shaped bridge that is less than one kilometer long with a span of 40 meters. There is also a free regular ferry service available for locals as well as visitors to cross the river.

There are two ways you can enter, you can drive a car directly inside the Gamlebyen and park your car there. Or park the car outside and walk around 500 meters to get to the entrance.

At the entrance, there is a small wooden bridge that spans the river Glomma. Many wetland birds can be seen enjoying themselves fearlessly in the area, which is not as crowded by visitors as it is in the summertime.

The town is well-planned. As soon as you enter the port, the right side has a children's playground. Ramparts line the cobblestone streets, nice wooden houses, some of converted into small shops, a café, a museum of art, and delightful Norwegian culture. Many buildings from that time are well preserved. It is known for being one of the best-preserved fortified towns in Northern Europe.

Many places are displayed Important historical artifacts at various locations.

The main square has a big open area, and at the center is located the statue of King Fredrik II, some special residences around, and nearby Østre Fredrikstad Church

This beautiful building was a former convict prison, and City Hall it occupies a big area.

1825, the building served as a prison for fortress convicts; in 1848, it was used as military barracks for soldiers. And now artist collective Gallery 1845,

Many military and government buildings are well preserved and taken care of by the Norwegian Defense Estates Agency. some of used for museums, social meeting places, art galleries, and cafes.

This Provision Magazine building was built in 1675, and it was used for provisions, storage, and warehouse, which is now used for a meeting place, café, and art.

Tøyhuset was a massive storage for artillery equipment and uniforms. Now it is a Fredrikstad museum about the history of the city.

The town is designed so that people can easily cross the river with free ferry service from east to west, and take a long tour all the way to the Fredrikstad border at the north side.

From the Provision Magazine building, we can see Isegran Fort situated on an island, the shipbuilding industry, a view of the southern end, and the new town of Fredrikstad.

The area is not only well-preserved but also vibrant and full of life, with visitors, shops, galleries, and cafés bustling with activity. The rich history of Fredrikstad feels new again.

Thank you very much!

[//]:# ([//]:# (!worldmappin 59.20365 lat 10.95588 long d3scr))