Posts Tagged Gamlebyen
Art and history in the Old Town
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature, Photos and videos on June 19, 2010
Focus on Gamlebyen: Bastion 5
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature on June 19, 2010
Bastion 5 in Gamlebyen is a complex run by local artists and craftsmen, consisting of a cafe, exhibition galleries and workshops. The building furthest from the river was originally a bakery, while Cafe Magenta is where Gamlebyen’s slaves were kept when they were not working in the fields outside the city. The Provianthus or storehouse, the largest of the three buildings, is also Gamlebyen’s oldest. The wall facing the river is an impressive 4m-thick in places. The building was completed in 1691, and today houses the main exhibition space. Here you will find pottery, sculpture, jewellery, paintings, and other arts and crafts for sale. A great place to browse, and maybe find an unusual souvenir to take home.
Bastion 5 is open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat-Sun noon-4pm. Toldbodgaten, Gamlebyen. Tel: 98 63 91 49, www.bastion5.com
Feeding the goats just outside Gamlebyen
Posted by admin in Travel and practical stuff on April 28, 2010
Where to eat: Mormors Café, Fredrikstad
Posted by admin in Food and drink on April 5, 2010
This cosy cafe in Gamlebyen, which incongrously used to double up as a shoe shop, has long been the locals’ favourite. And while it could be tricky to find a table at weekends in the past, after a refurbishment this autumn, which saw the above-mentioned shop move next door, Mormor’s is now bigger, and better, than ever. Choose from an excellent selection of teas and coffees, yummy home-baked cakes and truffles (a house speciality) for a light bite in the afternoon, or opt for one of the gorgeous filled ciabattas for a laid-back lunch. Great news: Mormor’s is now open for dinner too, with a tempting evening menu that changes every week, but could include the likes of rack of lamb with root vegetables and Amandine potatoes, or scallops with celeriac cream and tarragon oil. Mmmmm… Tapas also feature on the menu.
Corner of Voldportgaten and Rådhusgaten. Tel: 69 32 16 60, www.mormorscafe.com. Expect to pay around 100Kr for a filled ciabatta, and 250Kr for a main course for dinner. Open for lunch daily, and for dinner Wed-Fri.
Østfold in Pictures: Gamlebyen’s church
Posted by admin in Photos and videos, Travel and practical stuff, Uncategorized on February 10, 2010
Top 5: Things to do in Fredrikstad
Posted by admin in Travel and practical stuff on February 10, 2010
- Shop til you drop at the newly renovated, expanded Torvbyen shopping centre, the only one of its kind in the city centre. It’s bigger, better and more popular than ever. www.torvbyen.no
- Catch a match at the local stadium, housed in a former shipyard, and watch Fredrikstad Football Club (FFK) supporters paint the town red as they cheer their team on. www.fredrikstadfk.no
- Discover the work of talented local artists at the Østfold Kunstnersenter on Fergestedsveien. Exhibitions change regularly, and entry is free. www.kunstnersenter.no/oks/
- Take a stroll in beautiful Gamlebyen, Scandinavia’s best preserved fortress town, on the eastern side of the river Glomma. Or join a guided tour (organised by the tourist office) if you’d like to learn more about the history of this fascinating place.
- Meet some locals in the cosy Verdenspeilet Cafe in winter, or watch life go by from one of the many bars/restaurants along the river in summer.
For more info visit www.opplevfredrikstad.com
Østfold in Pictures: Gamlebyen’s drawbridge
Posted by admin in History and architecture, Photos and videos on February 3, 2010
Focus on Gamlebyen: The drawbridge
Posted by admin in History and architecture on February 3, 2010
The drawbridge, at the entrance to the Old Town, is the first thing visitors see on approaching Gamlebyen. As many as 30 soldiers were once required to raise the bridge at dusk and lower it at dawn. Anyone arriving after the bridge had been drawn would have to wait until the next day to get into the town. The bridge is still there, but because it’s built of wood it has burned down and been rebuilt many times. Today it’s a popular spot with locals, who come here to feed the ducks in summer, and take sunset pictures in winter. The guardhouse outside the bridge has been converted into a glassblower’s cabin. A selection of hand-blown glassware is on display – on certain days during the holidays you can even see the glassmith at work.
Østfold in Pictures: Ice-skating on Gamlebyen’s moat
Posted by admin in Photos and videos on January 12, 2010
