Gamle Aker Kirke, Old Aker Church, is the oldest standing building in Oslo. It was built in the mid-twelfth century, around 1150, as a Romanesque basilica in local limestone. Some sources attribute its founding to King Olav Kyrre around 1080, but most historians now date the current structure to a few decades later.
The church sits on a small hill above Akersbakken, surrounded by an old cemetery, just a short walk from Telthusbakken and Mathallen. It has survived a turbulent history: pillaged several times, struck by lightning in 1703, losing its tower and bells in the resulting fire. The exterior was restored in 1861 by architects Schirmer and von Hanno. Despite all the damage and repairs, the thick Romanesque walls and the basic plan of the three-naved basilica are original.
It is still an active parish church, with regular services. Visitors can step inside when it is open; the atmosphere is simple and old, without the grandeur of a cathedral but with nearly nine centuries of quiet history. Combined with a visit to nearby Telthusbakken and a walk along Akerselva, it makes for a pleasant detour off the main tourist track.
The church sits on a small hill above Akersbakken, surrounded by an old cemetery, just a short walk from Telthusbakken and Mathallen. It has survived a turbulent history: pillaged several times, struck by lightning in 1703, losing its tower and bells in the resulting fire. The exterior was restored in 1861 by architects Schirmer and von Hanno. Despite all the damage and repairs, the thick Romanesque walls and the basic plan of the three-naved basilica are original.
It is still an active parish church, with regular services. Visitors can step inside when it is open; the atmosphere is simple and old, without the grandeur of a cathedral but with nearly nine centuries of quiet history. Combined with a visit to nearby Telthusbakken and a walk along Akerselva, it makes for a pleasant detour off the main tourist track.