Drøbak Boat Harbor
Bac d'agouttement that you can discover the gate by a hot day of summer. Photo: Åsmund Lindal

Introduction to Drøbak

The large square of Drøbak on the day of the national holiday, the 17th of May.

- la bourgade où le soleilne se couche jamais

A presentation of our city takes place in the liver, Drøbak is reputed for its incredible sunbeds. As you glisten on the blue waters of the fjord with your watchman or your barque, as you pass your evening sitting on the terrace of a café to taste the local specialties, do not fail to deliver your glass to salvage the sun that embraces the sky appearing to the west behind the boised hills. The white birds gonflées through the wind of the south, the saline effluents that chatter you the narines, the rayons for the sun that ignites the sky, the teuf-teuf of a bar where some poorly made fishermen still fish in the fillets; all these small details contribute to creating this atmosphere so specific in Drøbak by a beautiful evening of summer.

Sun couching at the end of the fjord the Oslo of the Drøbak.

The winter on the other hand, offers you a very different frame: the blocks of ice floating to the river in a fjord where there are noises, glaciers or other; the carriers carrying passengers and ferries that glide along the length of the lower coast, all illuminated lanterns; the lights of the lights and floodlights of the Oscarsborg Fortress that illuminate the winter obscurity. Drøbak, the patriarch of Father Noël; its spirit level on the city, the forest and the fjord… a world of contests and fables but with a point of humor and nostalgia.

Winter ambiance in Drøbak with ice cream in the fjord in 2011.

A little bit of history

The castle was developed during the 18th and 19th centuries thanks to maritime transport. It's in Drøbak's port that the barges were loaded with ice and blocks of ice on part of the embankments for the rest of the world. These same names report food denominations and artisanal or industrial products. Drøbak, who became customs officer in 1814, acquired his city status on August 20, 1842, the first in the province of Akershus. It then counts close to 1000 inhabitants.

The pleasures of the bayigne beginning of the 20th century. The painting Christian Krohg, one of the "paintings of Drøbak", here in front of a maritime motif seconded by his son Per.

The city must give its name to its location. Drøbak semble être l'abréviation de «drøye bakker» signifiant «pentes abruptes». Indeed, the hills of the surroundings are very much a pic in the fjord. This small agglomeration of wooden houses has been growing for years and we are today proud to have been able to preserve these 18th century architectural miracles. Today the town center is today a historical monument and the small houses in the architecture that are typical of this period are today protected by law.
Most fishermen, marines, artisans and traders of the era live in very precarious conditions and build their houses with very few resources. In our days, on the other hand, the small habitats in Fiskerstranda's woods, the plague of fishermen, yes and so successful, are very common. Drøbak symbolizes for the sake of equality the history of our country, where our current well-being can be understood as one of our past poor and laborious.

In 1962 the municipality of Drøbak merged with the agricultural community of Frogn and today it is the administrative center of some 15 inhabitants. We find a good number of magazines, public institutions, small businesses, restaurants and cafes. Many of them have their locales in these wooden houses that show the feast of the inhabitants of Drøbak.

Some historical photos are taken from the archives of the Association for the Protection of the Old Drøbak.

It is the Association for the Protection of the Old Drøbak which at the present time works in order to preserve and maintain the ancient buildings of the city and their environment. Visit the site www.verneforeningen.no and you will find a historical overview of the city and today's photos of Hui and Antan. The site is translated into English, German and Italian.

Balearic and artistic city

The population of the capital greatly increased in the 19th century and was a good number of citadins that made the city pass their time on the seafront. Aisens gens entassaient dans les bateaux à vapeur qui les ameneient de la capital Christiania (rebaptisée Oslo en 1925) à Drøbak. Hotels, pensions and magazines compete for many days during the summer. The fjord and the littoral are a new source of development thanks to beaches and festival activities. Drøbak will have a ball station with a thermal facility and a park close to the center. And even in our days the castle guarded this very attractive Balné side. Beaches, rocks and ponds are still popular - and free.

Many well-known Norwegian painters and writers are settling in Drøbak to find inspiration: the Nobel Prize in Literature Knut Hamsun, the poet Herman Wildenvey, the painters Christian Krogh, Hans Fredrik Gude, Edvard Diriks - Edvard's cousin Munch, the Bergslien brothers and many others. Among contemporary artists, Ferdinand Finne is undoubtedly the best known. Its maximum "The walking path is discovered on the market" has a very good promenade in Drøbak.

La ville et la fortress

The Fortress of Oscarsborg, a source of knowledge that allows today's young people to revisit history. A port of pleasure where the "marines" of all boards are welcome and can and will pass the night. Photo: Kjetil Sørby / Forsvarsbygg.

The history of Drøbak is never linked to the Fortress of Oscarsborg. The first fortifications were built in 1643-45 at the end where the fjord of Oslo is the highest. But it is not until the end of the 19th century that the fortress is redesigned and strengthened. And during the dissolution of the Union between Norway and Sweden in 1905, the fort was certainly the most important military site of the country. It should be noted, without any particular irony, that most of these fortifications were built by Swedish macs.

But it was in 1940 that the Fortress played a paramount role during the surprise invasion of the country by the Nazi forces. When a German convoy of guerrilla warriors tried to force the passage of Drøbak, a slightly trained and ill-equipped Norwegian garrison arrived to cover the fleuron and fleet of the German navy, the Blücher cruiser. The envahisseur dût goûter to his own medicine since the canons Aron and Joshua which defended the fjord were German manufacturing. The canons were found under the command of Colonel Birger Eriksen, and he did not receive the military honors at the end of the war for his heroic deed.

The illuminated fortress of Oscarsborg in the passage of Drøbak. Some fortifications likewise find the length of the coast, like this battery of 1909 cannons.

The allemands had gathered their key personnel and their most important resources on the Blücher since the indestructible cross. The invasion itself was delayed and cost the lives of more than 900 German soldiers who were stranded in the glacial waters of the fjord. Thanks to this, the Royal Family, the Government, Parliament and the gold reserves of the Bank of Norway will be evacuated. This allows Norway to continue its war and resistance efforts from London.

The Blücher cruise always rests in the fjord by 90 meters from the bottom to the north-east of the islands of Askholmen. A real bomb in retardation for the environment until we saw the fuel of its fuel in 1994-95. The former Blücher buildings have been repaired, and one of them is a monument in the Drøbak Balneic Park right next to the statue of Colonel Eriksen.

The Blücher cruiser touched by the Oscarsborg bus on April 9, 1940. Reidar Finsrud's painting.

In our days the Oscarsborg Fortress no longer has a military function but remains even under military command. It is located in front of the Guere Museum and guided tours are organized in several languages. The Commanderie, Forsvarets Hus, is trained to be an information center and presents all branches of the modern Norwegian army.

A former custom, the Oscarsborg relay race, will also be held on May 1st, 2012. This event, of paramount importance to the entire Fjord of Oslo region, will continue to be organized on May 1st.

The hotel, restaurants and cafes, the small port of pleasure, the same fortress, have a unique attraction in Norway. You can access the island with your own boat or use the small ferry that regularly runs the shuttle between Drøbak and the fortress. You can stroll on the island, visit the fortress, the canons of the giants or the museum. What happens to a very pleasant moment in the middle of the fjord. The court of fortune has been used for large cultural events, high quality operas and festivals.

Drøbak Aquarium:
the marine biology center of the fjord d'Oslo

The aquarium was built by the volunteers of the nautical club of Drøbak. All the marine fauna of the channel of Drøbak and is represented; fish, crustaceans and other marine animals. The aquarium aims to reproduce marine life and fjord life. It is currently the most visited attraction in the province of Akershus. Many schools and organizers of excursions, a way for children and adults to enter into direct contact with nature and the submarine environment. The aquarium is currently in partnership with the University of Oslo's Marine Biology Research Station.

The Drøbak Aquarium presents the submarine life of the fjord. The smaller ones especially appreciate the pool where they can touch the live animals.

Outdoor cafes and restaurants, shopping, original boutiques, accommodation

There are many amusing cafés and shops in or near the Drøbak center. You will find a pizza or a kebab in a fast food, taste the Asian or Norwegian cuisine on the terrace of a restaurant. Or is it just a small, fresh beer or a glass of wine at the coin café? The possibilities are not lacking.

• Accommodation: If you wish to spend the night in a traditional hotel, contact the Reenskaug Hotel. You can also stay in the magnificent setting of the Oscarsborg Hotel & SPA on the island of the fortress.

• Drøbak is reputable for its galleries where artists and Norwegian artisans exhibit their works. You will appreciate the humor of the best caricaturists of the country who exhibit their designs at the Maison des Caricatures. It's in Drøbak also that the famous Maison du Père Noël has its doors open all year.

• The Lutefisk Museum: On the side of the tourism office and the aquarium you can visit the only museum in the world of Lutefisk. You will find all the information, photos and a humorous exhibition about this traditional Norwegian met: of the moron that has been made in the lessive. And the companion poison, the aquavit -this alcohol is typically made from ground potatoes.

• The Kroketønna Museum: The Drøbak nautical club exhibits a collection of boat engines and other maritime rarities.

• The church of Drøbak: Need a moment of calm and solitude? Visit our venerable church in wood dating from 1776. It is located not far from the center and is open to the public several days a week in summer.

• Blues festival, concerts and musical revues: Every year in July, the Blues Festival takes place in the port of Drøbak. During the summer season some restaurants also organize concerts or musicals with reputable or local artists. All these events can be found in the Calendar of activities on our website.

• The cinema of Drøbak benefit from a regain of interest to the public after the installation of a digital projection device. Long live the obscure canvas!

• Shopping & services: Clothing, articles for children, pharmacy, groceries and supermarkets, bakery, fresh vegetables, flowers, gardening center, wine and spirits sale (Vinmonopol), furniture stores, cordonnier, optician, photo store, press office, garage, library , post office; all are accessible in the city center.

• The big place is always very animated with all sorts of stands, antiques and flea markets among others. Can a beautiful event be presented?

• Drøbak City: The shopping center and its warehouses are located 1,5 km from the city center.

• Golf: The golf club offers you a golf course near the shopping center for your stay.

 

A rich variety of nocturnal life and business awaits you at Drøbak.

Shrimp and poissons
directly from the fisherman

The Drøbak Pleasure Gate, its barges and fishing boats are a haven for those who want to escape the stress of the day and enjoy the joy of living.

Drøbak is the only small town at the bottom of the fjord of Oslo where you can still buy freshly harvested products directly from the building.

You can also take your chance and fish from the quays or along the coast. The Drøbak canal is one of the richest areas in the fjord of Oslo. Sea fish is free in Norway, do not forget your fish can.

The Office of Tourism

The Office of Tourism is located on the south side of the port of pleasure, in Sjøtorget. You will find city plans, information and brochures and it will be a pleasure to answer all your questions. Wherever you come, from Norway, Europe or elsewhere, we are certain that a visit to Drøbak will give you full satisfaction. Rejoice! Plus, the city is very easy to find, just 40 minutes by car from the capital.

Enjoy life! Welcome to Drøbak!

French translation: Gabriel Ehrhardt, www.gabriels.no

Drøbak's Father Christmas receives more than 20 letters from the whole world every year.