Posts Tagged Fredrikstad
Gamlebyen ducks win photo competition
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on December 2, 2010
I’m chuffed. One of my pix won this month’s photo competition on The Guardian travel website. The theme for November was ‘crowds’, and this picture of the ducks in Gamlebyen was the winning entry.
The resident population of ducks in the Old Town of Fredrikstad is a popular local attraction. In winter the moat freezes over, and the ducks, no longer able to find food there, relocate to the quayside by the River Glomma, where they wait for handouts from visitors and locals alike. They make quite a sight – particularly against the white background of freshly fallen snow.
‘This is a nice simple image which made me smile. The picture would work even better with the top distractions cropped of. I’d like to see just enough to know where the road ends and the hedges start, but anymore is just distracting the eye from the fun part of the photograph’, said judge Nathalie Meyer. Well, I kind of agree re. the cropping, but this is a travel photo competition, so I figured it was important to give a sense of the place too. These are not just any ducks – they are the Gamlebyen’s ducks! Great ambassadors for Fredrikstad don’t you think? 
See all the shortlisted entries at http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/gallery/2010/dec/01/been-there-photography-competition#/?picture=369197741&index=15
Design Forum, Fredrikstad
Looking for clothes a little bit out of the ordinary, preferably in bright colours, and made of quality, natural materials? Then head to the Design Forum, a chain of Norwegian shops with 22 outlets in Norway – including one in Fredrikstad. Here you will find original, fun clothes by Scandinavian designers such as Desigual (my favourite) and Blæst, as well as other popular European names, including Save the Queen, Aventures des Toiles and Lilith. Gorgeous shoes by Camper, El Naturalista and Think (among others) and a good selection of accessories ranging from jewellery to woolly hats. The Design Forum also sells its own range of clothes, produced in Denmark with environment-friendly materials. Only marginally pricier than some of your high street chains, but considering the quality on offer, well worth that little extra.
Bryggeriveien 1A. Tel: 69 31 55 55, www.designforum.no
Kongsten Fort, Fredrikstad
Posted by admin in History and architecture on November 9, 2010
It was general Caspar de Cicignon, originally from Luxembourg, who planned, drew and built Kongsten (literally ‘The King’s Stone’) as a frontline fortress to defend the fortified town of Fredrikstad (today’s Gamlebyen). Construction was completed in 1685. One of the fort’s distinctive features were the hidden ‘kasematts’ – underground shelters for the army personnel – connected to shooting platforms along the outer walls. A novelty at the time, the kasematts soon caught the attention of leading architects and fortress builders on the continent, who travelled from all over Europe to take a look at them.
In addition to the kasematts, Kongsten also had a depot for gunpowder, grain and guns, a well, barracks, and the live-in-house of the fortress’ commanding officer (complete with a working bakery oven in the basement). A sheltered (underground) road also used to lead from the fortress to the fortified town.
The fortress is still more or less as de Cicignon built it in 1685. It was in use in WW2, but in 1947 it was put under the protection and supervision of Fredrikstad Museum. For several years it served as the city’s official banqueting hall. Today Kongsten is used for open air theatre performances in summer, and as a popular recreational grounds by locals – the fortress’s strategic location on a hill means it affords good views of the surrounding area.
Did you know? About Gamlebyen
Posted by admin in Uncategorized on October 24, 2010
- Gamlebyen is one of Norway’s most popular man-made attractions, visited by hundreds of thousands every year. But the Old Town also counts 300 permanent residents.
- The statue in the middle of Gamlebyen’s main square is that of Frederick II. The Danish king founded the town, which is named after him, in 1567, although he never actually visited Fredrikstad!
- Gamlebyen was ravaged by fire several times throughout the course of its history. The town burnt to the ground no fewer than five times in the first two centuries of its existence, the last time in 1764.
- 200 canons once guarded the Old Town, which was until as late as 2002 still used as a garrison town. Today around 80 canons (most of them replicas of the original weapons) can still be seen on the ramparts, although their use is no longer military, only decorative.
- Local businesses in Gamlebyen include shops, restaurants, cafes, galleries, a post office and a museum, but also three schools, various offices, a doctor and a dentist surgery, and even a funeral parlour.
- Gamlebyen’s latest attraction is its model railway. The work on a local enthusiast, who took five years to build it, it is one of Scandinavia’s largest, with almost 3kms of tracks. And it’s already a huge success – visited by 5,000 curious rail enthusiasts in the first month of opening alone.
- In cold winters the water in the moat around Gamlebyen freezes over, turning the star-shaped moat into a huge ice rink, much to the delight of local children.
The view over the Oslofjord from Blåsopp
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors, Photos and videos on October 17, 2010
Walking in Østfold: Blåsopp, Fredrikstad
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors on October 17, 2010
An easy walk that’s perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon, and offers great views over Mærrapanna and the Oslofjord from the top of a rocky promontory. It’s marked all the way from Oksrødkilen, as it is part of the Coastal Trail (Kyststien), so just follow the signs/marks on the rocks or tree trunks. If you are feeling energetic you could continue on to the little harbour at Slevik, about 1km further to the north. You can then either retrace your steps, or come back by doing a loop and eventually walking back to Oksrødkilen following Rv117 for a couple of kilometres, but this will significantly add to the length of your outing. Up to you 
How to get there: From Fredrikstad, follow Rv117 (Vikaneveien) until you see a sign for Foten on your left, then take the first dirt road you see on your left after the bend, leading to Oksrødkilen. Continue on this road for about 200m, take it right at the fork, and park at the little car park you will see on your right. From here it’s a short walk to the kilen, where you will find signs for the path.