Hovedøya

If you look towards the five islands to the east, you will see Hovedøya closest to the centre of Oslo. The island has a permanent boat connection with Oslo and an abundance of inviting beaches surrounded by beautiful woodland and a rich cultural heritage. You can wander freely through large parts of the island, but part of the island is a nature reserve where the rich fauna is protected. Hovedøya, with its proximity to the city was a natural strategic position for an external defence, in addition to being used both as a recreational and residential area. At one point around 1100 women who had been in contact with enemy soldiers during the second world war were interned on the island. You can still see the remains of the canon batteries and gunpowder houses from the early 1800s which amongst other things were used during the Napoleonic wars. At the north of the island, you will find the ruins of a Cistercian monastery, it was built by the English Abbott Philippus in 1147. On his arrival at Hovedøya he found a small church which he extended and also built a monastery dedicated to the virgin Mary. In 1532 the monastery was plundered and burnt down; the ruins were not excavated until the middle of the 18th century.