Fredrikstad an important place in Norwegian History

During the seven-years Nordic War, Sarpsborg was burned down in 1567 by Sweden. Sarpsborg was founded by King Olav Haraldsson (Saint Olav) in 1016. It was the third-largest city in Norway. And the nation’s capital at that time. Following the destruction in 1567, King Fredrik II permitted the residents to relocate the town to the banks of the Glomma River. The idea behind this new location was that the new site would be advantageous for trade, shipping, fishing, and defense against foreign invasions. The city was designed in the Dutch architectural style and became a fortress in 1663 with bastion walls, now known as Gamlebyen. By 1860, Sarpsborg had evolved into an industrial powerhouse.