Sentrum in Oslo, Norway — Northern Europe (a Nordic Country in Scandinavia)

Christiania’s Eldste Hus
⎯⎯⎯
Christiania’s Oldest Building

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 24, 2025

1. Christiania’s Eldste Hus / Christiania’s Oldest Building Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Bygd 1626 av rådmann Lauritz Hansen
Her var på 1800-tallet universitetsbibliotek og garnisonssykehus
Fredet

Built in 1626 by Councilor Lauritz Hansen. In the 19th century, this was the university library and garrison hospital. Listed building.

Erected by Selskabet For Oslo Byes Vel.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Selskabet For Oslo Byes Vel series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1626.

Location. 59° 54.618′ N, 10° 44.428′ E. Marker is in Oslo. It is in Sentrum. It is on Rådhusgata. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Rådhusgata 19, Oslo 0158, Norway. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

on the Atlantic Arc,

in Europe,

in Atlantic Europe,

in Scandinavia,

in the Nordic Countries,

in the Schengen Area,

and in the Western World.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Anatomigården / Anatomy Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Byens Første Rådhus / The First City Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Max Oster (within shouting distance of this marker); Christiania Skolehus

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Christiania Torv / Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Byens Første Hotell / City’s First Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); Vebjørn Tandberg (within shouting distance of this marker); Sigurd Emil Roll (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oslo.

Regarding Christiania’s Eldste Hus / Christiania’s Oldest Building. Christiania is the former name for Oslo.

Also see . . . Christiania’s Eldste Hus (Selskabet For Oslo Byes Vel, in Norwegian).

The building is also called Rådmannsgården, built for councilman Lauritz Hansen who lent the king money for armaments and war preparations. He was allocated one of the city's best plots of land, with the city hall and church as his closest neighbors. On the facade facing Nedre Slottsgate are wall anchors indicating the year of construction and the initials of the councilman and his wife Marthe Hans-Datter.

In 1761, the king bought the building and handed it over to the Generalitets- og Kommissariatskollegiet. It was also used as an official residence. From 1816-51, the University Library
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 24, 2025

2. Christiania’s Oldest Building and marker - view from west
The marker is visible here to the right of the yellow archway on the left of the picture.
had premises here and for a shorter period also the Deichmanske Bibliotek. From 1854, it was temporarily used as a garrison hospital. In 1898, the municipality bought the property and furnished it for offices. The Oslo Kunstforening (“Oslo Art Association”), founded in 1836, moved in in 1936. The interiors were restored in the 1960s.

(Submitted on August 5, 2025.)

Additional keywords. blå skilt

Christiania’s Oldest Building - view from east image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 26, 2025

3. Christiania’s Oldest Building - view from east

Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 161 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 5, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.

Christiania’s Eldste Hus⎯⎯⎯Christiania’s Oldest Building

Christiania’s Eldste Hus
⎯⎯⎯
Christiania’s Oldest Building