Kongeseteren

The Royal Lodge, also known as The Royal Villa or Kongsseteren, is a privately owned residence of the Norwegian royal family situated in the scenic Holmenkollen area of Oslo. Originally financed through a public fundraising campaign, the magnificent timber estate was presented as a generous coronation gift from the Norwegian people to King Haakon VII and Queen Maud in 1906, although its construction was not fully completed until 1911. The lodge was designed by architect Kristian Hjalmar Biong, who won the architectural competition with a project titled "Slot over Slot." His design is a unique architectural masterpiece that blends Neo-Baroque and Art Nouveau styles with traditional Norwegian stabbur and log-building elements, particularly noticeable in the corners of the building. The exterior is further distinguished by symmetrical, brightly colored plant ornamentation inspired by 18th-century Norwegian wood carving. Today, the Royal Lodge serves primarily as a winter retreat where the royal family traditionally gathers to celebrate Christmas and stays during the annual Holmenkollen Ski Festival. The estate also holds a significant and poignant place in modern Norwegian history, as King Olav V, who frequently resided at the lodge, passed away there on January 17, 1991.