A Brief Visit to Norway
Ellös, where the boat was built, isn't far from the Swedish border with Norway. Before we ventured out in the other direction, we decided to take our shakedown cruise across the border.
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We'd barely crossed the border when we saw a Coast Guard boat approach and then this submarine. Turns out they weren't really there for us.
This 13th-century castle, called Isegran Fort, is mentioned in old Norse tales. It is the site of the castle of earl Alv Erlingsson, who has to go through history known as Lesser Alv. Until 1680, Isegran was the only naval base in Norway.
Fredrikstad came to be in 1567 as the backup town for nearby Sarpsborg, which had been burnt to the ground by Sweden. The town didn't need enemies to keep it in cinders; fires kept destroying the wooden buildings, which were promptly rebuilt, in wood. Frederikstad assumed a larger role when a fort to the south was ceded to Sweden. King's Square, in the center of the old town, honors its founder, King Frederik II.
The Glomma River separates the Old Town from the newer part of Fredrikstad. On the other side of the river, you can see the 1880 cathedral, and if you look really hard, you can see a light in the steeple. That light flashes on an interval. It's the only cathedral we've ever seen that also serves as a lighthouse.
The building on the left side of this photo is the 17th-century Stone Storehouse, the oldest building in town. The building's purpose was to store gunpowder. Now it's a gallery and a venue for social events. The sliver of a building on the right is the old Convict Prison.
Like many buildings in town, this 18th-century church has been rebuilt after its destruction by fire. The bells, from the 14th and the 16th century, were presented to the church by the Queen Dowager Juliane Marie, who ruled Denmark and Sweden in the 18th century.
to view each photo and its description.
Click a thumbnail to lock the photo for a longer look.
We'd barely crossed the border when we saw a Coast Guard boat approach and then this submarine. Turns out they weren't really there for us.
This 13th-century castle, called Isegran Fort, is mentioned in old Norse tales. It is the site of the castle of earl Alv Erlingsson, who has to go through history known as Lesser Alv. Until 1680, Isegran was the only naval base in Norway.
Fredrikstad came to be in 1567 as the backup town for nearby Sarpsborg, which had been burnt to the ground by Sweden. The town didn't need enemies to keep it in cinders; fires kept destroying the wooden buildings, which were promptly rebuilt, in wood. Frederikstad assumed a larger role when a fort to the south was ceded to Sweden. King's Square, in the center of the old town, honors its founder, King Frederik II.
The Glomma River separates the Old Town from the newer part of Fredrikstad. On the other side of the river, you can see the 1880 cathedral, and if you look really hard, you can see a light in the steeple. That light flashes on an interval. It's the only cathedral we've ever seen that also serves as a lighthouse.
The building on the left side of this photo is the 17th-century Stone Storehouse, the oldest building in town. The building's purpose was to store gunpowder. Now it's a gallery and a venue for social events. The sliver of a building on the right is the old Convict Prison.
Like many buildings in town, this 18th-century church has been rebuilt after its destruction by fire. The bells, from the 14th and the 16th century, were presented to the church by the Queen Dowager Juliane Marie, who ruled Denmark and Sweden in the 18th century.