Type Medieval castle In use Ca.1276-? Past
commanders Audun Hugleiksson Controlled by Norway | Built 1276-1286 Materials Stone Garrison Baron Audun's hird Past commander Audun Hugleiksson | |
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Audunborg or Hegrenes-borga was a castle and fortification built by Audun Hugleiksson on his inherited estate at Ålhus on the shores of the Jølstravatn in the municipality of Jølster in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is located about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) north-east of the village of Vassenden.
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History
The castle was built in stone sometime between 1276 to 1286, probably by English craftsmen working out of Bergen. The rectangular building was 22 by 13 metres (72 ft × 43 ft) and is thought to have had three stories, a store room in the ground floor, living quarters on the next floor, and a feast hall in the top floor. It had large windows and arches. The building itself had water on three sides and was thus easy to defend. It is also thought that a moat or castle wall was part of the fortifications. Recent research claims that Audun himself spent little time in his castle as his activities kept him either in Bergen, in the east of the country or abroad. As a baron, Audun Hugleiksson was allowed to keep a hird (armed retinue) a right otherwise reserved for the king. This hird would defend him on his travels and when he was at home in Audunborg.
In Norway, only the King and the Church had the funds to build in stone and Audunborg along with Isegran by Glomma, built by Alv Erlingsson, are the only two known examples of private stone castles in Norway. Stories about Audun remain in local folklore and one story includes him burying all his money and sinking a silver table into the Jølstravatn before departing for his last trip to Bergen.
Castle ruins
Today, only the ruins remain of the castle that stood at the tip of Hegreneset by Jølstravatn in Sunnfjord. It was first excavated by Gerhard Fischer in 1934 and is probably modelled after Håkonshallen in Bergen which was twice as long and twice as wide. A memorial to Audun, carved by Jørgen P. Solheimsnes from Jølster was erected on the site of the castle in 1960. Its motive is the baron's seal. There is a biannual outdoor play performed at Ålhus called Hugleikssonspelet. Written by Edvard Hoem and based on a book by Anne Cecilie Kapstad, illustrated by Ludvig Eikaas, the play commemorates the life of Audun Hugleiksson.