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Fortress or bust!

Since we were so close to Norway, we decided to grab a backpack and take the train for an overnight visit to Halden, Norway. Halden is a 17th-century city and has changed hands multiple times between Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. A source of national pride, Halden is one of two places referenced explicitly in the Norwegian national anthem.



Halden has a beautiful marina, and there is also a canal that divides the town. We were fortunate to visit during good weather and enjoyed looking at the boats, ducks, and other birds! We had a wonderful Norwegian meal at a local cafe near the town square. Neither of us got what we were expecting, but we were both pleased with our order. If you're traveling to a foreign country, a friendly bit of advice, download the Google Translate app! However, don't expect the translation to be perfect. It allows you to at least have a general idea of the main ingredients, if not the composition.



The most prominent landmark in Halden is the Fredriksten Fortress. Completed in 1658, the Fredriksten Fortress has withstood Swedish attacks over the centuries. During WWII, Nazis captured the position and re-purposed its howitzer cannon emplacements. The fortress is a daunting hike! From the base, the climb is steep. Fortunately, we discovered a path that utilized switchbacks and made our hike to the top easier (but lengthy!).



Both of us being history buffs, we spent several hours exploring the fortress and taking in as much as possible. During the Great Northern War, Swedish King, Charles XII, was killed by a sniper in 1718 near the walls of the Fredriksten Fortress. This assassination essentially ended Swedish efforts to take Halden by force. The Great Northern War ended a few years later, ending Sweden's reign as a European power.



After exploring the Fredriksten Fortress, we checked in to our AirBnB for a restful evening. The next day we explored a local Norwegian mall, visited another cafe, and walked around town more before catching our train for our 2-hour journey back to Sweden.Thanks for reading our post, and check out our photo gallery for additional photographs of our visit!






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