Bogstad Manor in Oslo

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Bogstad Manor is a listed and protected cultural monument and one of the few country estates in Norway. It holds a central position in Norwegian history, both as an industrial estate and as a center during important periods of our political history.

While Norway was still Catholic the land was rented out to tenant farmers by Hovedøya Monastery. After the reformation in 1536 it was confiscated by the Crown.

Bogstad Manor early spring
Bogstad Manor early spring

In 1649 the Danish-Norwegian king Fredrik III sold Bogstad and number of other farms to Morten Lauritzen. These forest holdings provided raw material for sawmills and the timber trade, both rapidly expanding enterprises in the 17th century.

Activities at Bogstad Manor
Activities at Bogstad Manor

Bogstad remained in the same family from its establishment in 1649 until it was presented to the Bogstad Foundation in 1955 as a public museum administered under the aegis of the Norsk Folkemuseum; a unique gift, they left everything as it was so it’s an authentic place with layers of layers of significant history.

The Bogstad Manor garden
The Bogstad Manor garden

The name that most Norwegian associate with Bogstad Manor is Peder Anker, who became the first Norwegian Prime Minister in Stockholm in 1814 during the union with Sweden (1814-1905).

Statue of Peder Anker
Statue of Peder Anker

1814 is a remarkable year in Norwegian history. The country left the union with Denmark after nearly 450 years and got its own constitution, at that time the most liberal one in the world. Norway was forced into a personal union with Sweden. In November 1814 the Swedish crown prince Karl Johan visited Bogstad, and Peder Anker was asked to become prime minister. His son-in-law, the only count in Norway, Herman Wedel Jarlsberg, became the minister of finance.

Arbour at Bogstad Manor
Arbour at Bogstad Manor

From 1773 to 1780 Peder Anker made some alterations and additions to the main building in the best European tradition. He made his ballroom with inspiration from Versailles, bought a huge collection of paintings in Rome and created the first English landscape park in Norway. He experimented with rare trees and tried different plants to see if they could manage the climate. He created a model farm with several greenhouses and orangeries with exotic plants from all over the world.

Farmers' market at Bogstad Manor
Farmers’ market at Bogstad Manor

Free entry to the area – the fees below apply to guided tours only.

The manor’s animals include cows, sheep, pigs, goats, chickens and rabbits. The grounds also include a play area for children, walking trails, a café, a historic park and changing exhibitions in the lobby.

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The Café Grevinnen
The old bakery has been restored and is now café. A lit fireplace creates the right atmosphere. Serves excellent cakes and specialities as well as soup and open faced sandwiches.

The Museum shop

The artifacts for sale in the museum shop do relate to the history and tradition at Bogstad manor. They may be copies of actual pieces found in the manor itself. The museum shop sells glass, pewter and porcelain. All excellent pieces and nice gifts.

The park
Here we see the remnants of the baroque garden descending directly down from the main house to the lake. It was established in the first part of the 18th century. The romantic English style park was created by Peder Anker around 1780. It has winding canals, ponds for carp and ducks. Peder Anker introduced more than 400 rare trees and plants from abroad. This park became a model for number of parks in Norway.

Today the ponds have been restored with cascade and bridge. After the archeological excavations,registration and import of correct plantmoderial, it now expresses the feeling and atmosphere of a true 18th century park.

Farming at Bogstad
The farm at Bogstad is managed by the city of Oslo. Here the public can visit the barn and enjoy watching a number of different live animals. The barn with animals is open Tuesday until Friday from October until May. During the remaining part of the year the livestock are out in the fields grazing.

The farm at Bogstad is run by the Municipality of Oslo, and thousands of children come to visit every year.

Norwegian name: Bogstad gård

Hours

Café and shop:
All year: Tue. – Sun.: 12:00 -16:00

Guided tours of the museum
18 May– 28 September.
Tue. – Sat. at 13:00 and 14:00
Sun. every hour 12:30-15:30.

Fees, daily tours

Adults: NOK 60
Reduced rate: NOK 50
Children: NOK 20

Program days

Adults: NOK 30
Children: NOK 20

Guided tours for groups can be ordered all year.

Compiled by Admin. All photographs (except painting – Bogstad Manor) Tor Kjolberg

Bogstad Manor in Oslo, source: Bogstad Manor
All photographs: Tor Kjolberg