Paléet

Building in Oslo, Norway
59°54′52″N 10°44′07″E / 59.9145°N 10.7354°E / 59.9145; 10.7354Construction started1744Completed1745ClientChristian Ancher

Paléet was a monumental single storey townhouse located in the Norwegian capital Oslo that for a long time functioned as a residence for the Norwegian royalty.

History

Construction

The building was constructed between the years 1744-45 and was commissioned by the wealthy merchant Christian Ancher. Situated in what is present-day Fred.Olsens gate 6, close to Oslo Central Station, the building was near a public garden, Paléhaven, that stretched down to the shores of Bjørvika.[1]

Royal residence

The townhouse remained in the Anker family until the death of Bernt Anker who in 1805 bequeathed Paléet to the Norwegian government and the Norwegian royal family. King Charles XIV expanded townhouse greatly, with the old stables being converted into residential areas, all decorated in empire style. Paléet was subsequently given the role as the royal residence in Oslo during the era of the Union between Sweden and Norway, a role the townhouse maintained until the completion of the Royal Palace in 1848.[2]

Later years

Paléet would later function as offices, living quarters for members of the Norwegian civil service, housed the Norwegian Supreme Court between 1898 and 1908 and was used by the Hird during the Second World War. The townhouse was demolished after a damaging fire in 1942 and no trace of the building can be seen today.[3]

Kings and royalty who resided at Paléet

Gallery

  • Harbour of Christiania with Paléet visible in the corner
    Harbour of Christiania with Paléet visible in the corner
  • Paléet seen from Paléhaven
    Paléet seen from Paléhaven
  • The ballroom hall
    The ballroom hall
  • Model of Paléet
    Model of Paléet
  • Paléet during the devastating fire in 1942
    Paléet during the devastating fire in 1942

References

  1. ^ "Vår første slottspark". Aftenposten. Retrieved 2017-10-31.
  2. ^ "Nasjonalbiblioteket". www.nb.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  3. ^ "Inviterer til åpent hus". Aftenposten. Retrieved 2017-10-13.

Sources

  • Ludvig Daae: Det gamle Christiania 1624-1814. Anden omarbeidede og forøgede Udgave. J.W. Cappelens Forlag. Christiania 1891, pages 253-289
  • Thor Bendz Kielland: Paléet i Oslo. Constitutionsværkets Vugge. Gyldendal Norsk Forlag. Oslo 1939
  • Oslo byleksikon. Kunnskapsforlaget. Oslo 2000.
  • Monica Mørk and Ulf Holmene: Kong Christian Frederik og Paleet i Christiania og sommerresidensen på Ladegaardsøen, from Jørn Holme (red.): De kom fra alle kanter - Eidsvollsmennene og deres hus, Cappelen Damm 2014