One of the most important municipal buildings in the Norwegian capital, the Oslo Town Hall can be spotted standing next to the iconic Akershus Fortress on the famous Rådhusplassen that overlooks Oslo's picturesque harbor and waterfront. Its soaring twin towers, measuring 216 feet (66 meters) and 206 feet (63 meters), make it one of the more unique edifices in the city. Completed in 1950, the building was designed by the renowned Norwegian architects Magnus Poulsson and Arnstein Arneberg, and built primarily using red bricks that give it a distinctive hue. Some of the building's main attractions include Henrick Sorensen's wall decoration, the astronomical clock, and the north side entrance. The city hall has had the privilege of hosting the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize ceremony every year since 1990.
Built on the site of a wooden church which dates back to 1022, the Skedsmokirke of Skedsmokorset was consecrated in 1180. The interiors of the church full of artifacts which originate in different centuries, like, the pulpit is from 1578 where as the altarpiece is from 1693. Devoted to St. Olav, it the oldest building in the county and therefore a must visit for history lovers.
Consecrated in 1932 by Bishop Lunde, Ris kirke is a local church in the town of Ris. While most churches face west-east, this one, facing north-south can be spotted from almost anywhere in Oslo. It seats about 500 people and is not only a place of worship but also a haven for many community activities.
Those with an interest in medieval stone churches should see Haslum Church, which celebrated its 800-year anniversary in 1990. Behind its imposing stone walls (1.5-meters, or 5-feet thick), the wooden statues of the Virgin Mary and the Bishop are copies of Medieval originals that have been moved to the Antiquities Collection at the University of Oslo. Also of interest are the Renaissance altarpiece (1631) and pulpit (1590-1642), as well as the baroque baptismal font (1736). The paintings on the ceiling were executed by Axel Revold in 1920. The thirteenth-century church bell is still going strong. Underground line 3 (in the direction of Kolsås) or bus 143 will take you there from the city center in about 25 minutes.
The medieval part of Oslo, right at the foot of Ekeberg hill, was neglected for decades, with main traffic arteries cutting through this exciting part of town. The whole area is now being completely upgraded and restored, and has center for Medieval Studies. Oslo Manor House, dating from 1720, presents an opportunity to see interiors, furniture and paintings from different periods. In the attic there are several models of Oslo in the Middle Ages, and also a light and sound show on the burial rites of that period.
Inside the new police station there is a wall from the old Tukthuset (house of correction) from 1850. Tukthuset was built in 1737-40 as a social institution, to stop begging and crime. It was also Norway's first asylum for mentally ill people. From 1800 it began to be used more as an ordinary prison, and as a women's prison from the beginning of the 1880s. It was demolished in 1938 to become offices and shops. Inside the police station you can see 15 meters of the stone wall, but most of it is outside. Four and a half meters high, it was taken apart and the stones numbered when they built the new police station, and rebuilt afterwards. This is what is left of the 500 meters (1640 feet) of wall that used to go round the whole prison. The building is situated 20 meters (65 feet) from Youngstorget and a two-minute walk from Regjeringskvartalet (the Government Quarter).