A French marshal turned king
Sweden's royal family today descends from an officer in Napoleon's army.
GAD — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bjørn Erik Pedersen — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Unknown authorUnknown author — Public domain · Unknown authorUnknown author — Public domain
An equestrian statue of King Carl Johan in front of the Royal Palace in Oslo, at the end of the street that bears his name. The man's story is unusual: born Jean Bernadotte in southern France, he became a marshal in Napoleon's army, and was then chosen by the Swedish parliament as crown prince in 1810 because Sweden wanted a strong military leader. He became king of Sweden and Norway and founded a dynasty still on the Swedish throne today. So the present Swedish royal family descends from a French officer with no connection to Europe's royal houses. The statue stands at the end of Karl Johans gate, Oslo's main street running from the railway station to the palace — the axis the city is organised on, and where parades and national celebrations are held. The Royal Palace behind it is open for guided tours in summer only and by ticket, but the square and gardens around it are public and free year-round. The changing of the guard takes place daily in the square, free and brief.
Sweden's royal family today descends from an officer in Napoleon's army.
Karl Johans gate runs from the station to the palace — Oslo is organised on it.
Public and free year-round, used by people in Oslo to sit.
In front of the Royal Palace, central Oslo
In summer only, usually from late June to mid-August, by guided tours with limited numbers booked in advance and taken quickly. For the rest of the year the palace is closed to visitors as it is the king's actual residence. The gardens and square are always open.
The street links the central railway station to the palace, passing the Norwegian parliament, the old national theatre, the cathedral and the Slottsparken gardens. Walking it end to end takes about twenty minutes and gives you Oslo's whole official spine.
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