Blaker Skansen – A Historic Fortification with a Haunted Past

Norway

Blaker Skansen – A Historic Fortification with a Haunted Past — Norway

In the heart of Sørum municipality in Akershus lies Blaker Skansen, a venerable Norwegian fortification built in 1682 as part of the defense line along the Glomma river to protect against Swedish attacks.

Blaker Skanse — a historic fortification with a haunted past

In the heart of Sørum municipality in Akershus lies Blaker Skanse, a venerable Norwegian fortification built in 1682 as part of the defensive line along the Glomma river to guard against Swedish attacks. Originally open towards the river, it was rebuilt as an enclosed star-shaped redoubt in the 1750s. Through its history the site has been the setting for several decisive conflicts, including during the Great Northern War in 1718 and the Swedish–Norwegian conflict of 1808, when Count Mörner briefly took the redoubt before his troops were surprised in an ambush at Toverud.

Ghosts and unexplained phenomena

Blaker Skanse is not only a historic monument but a place of strange accounts. Many visitors and staff have reported paranormal experiences. Figures of old household servants are said to move through the redoubt, and a soldier in modern dress has been observed walking through walls before vanishing without trace. One of the best-known spirits is the commandant, Colonel Andreas August Prætorius, whose presence is often felt through unexplained knocking and cold draughts.

Several visitors have felt a light touch on the back, only to turn and find no one there. Doors open and slam without explanation, and hair has been pulled with no one nearby. In the older buildings, particularly the artillery building and the eighteenth-century powder house, strange sounds and unaccountable movement are frequently reported.

A window into history

Beyond the hauntings, Blaker Skanse is a place filled with history. The massive artillery building from the 1700s is one of Norway's largest surviving timber structures, and the old powder house from 1759 still stands firm. Although the commandant's residence was destroyed by fire in 1973, it was rebuilt and today serves as a reminder of the site's significance through the centuries.

For anyone seeking both historical insight and a touch of the supernatural, Blaker Skanse is well worth a visit.

More haunted places nearby

Accounts are drawn from local folklore and visitor reports.

Image: Trond Strandsberg · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons