"The part-time munks" offers guided tours in the monastery ruins on the island Hovedøya in Norwegian, English or German.
Booking per text message to tel. (+47) 99 51 03 05 with guide Sverre Dehli. The tours are available between March and September and cost 100 NOK per person.
Access to the island Hovedøya by ferry from Aker Brygge.
About the monastery on Hovedøya
The monastery was founded by English Cistercian monks. Abbot Philippus arrived on the island from Kirkstead, Lincolnshire in May of 1147, together with 12 monks and some lay brothers. They found a small church, which they extended it. Later, they built a monastery on the south side of the church, and dedicated it to the Virgin Mary. In 1532 the monastery was pillaged and burned down, and the ruins were not excavated until 1845-47.
