Oscarshall is a royal summer palace on the Bygdøy peninsula in Oslo, Norway, overlooking the Frognerkilen inlet of the Oslofjord. It was commissioned by King Oscar I and Queen Joséphine and built between 1847 and 1852 under the direction of Danish architect Johan Henrik Nebelong. Conceived as both a private summer residence and a celebration of Norwegian art, music and poetry, Oscarshall was designed as a complete artistic ensemble in which the architecture, interiors, furniture, decoration and surrounding landscape were closely integrated. Leading Norwegian artists including Adolph Tidemand, Hans Gude and Joachim Frich contributed to the interior decoration, while Nebelong also designed much of the furniture and the romantic park surrounding the buildings. The main palace is distinguished by its white neo-Gothic exterior, tall tower and elaborate interiors, including an intensely blue entrance vestibule with a rose window and rooms incorporating motifs inspired by medieval Norwegian art. A separate dining pavilion contains paintings by Frich and Tidemand. Today, Oscarshall is regarded as one of Norway’s finest examples of neo-Gothic architecture and remains one of the most distinctive historic buildings on Bygdøy.
Oscarshall has appeared in Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder (2014). Its elaborate palace architecture is used as the home of the wealthy Thrane family, providing an intentionally extravagant contrast to the much smaller and more eccentric surroundings associated with Doctor Proctor and the children.
In Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder (2014), originally released as Doktor Proktors prompepulver, Oscarshall represents the residence of the wealthy Thrane family. Herr Thrane, played by Atle Antonsen, lives there with his bullying sons Truls and Trym, who torment Bulle and Lise and become involved in the struggle over Doctor Proctor’s extraordinary fart powder. Herr Thrane is a rich and unscrupulous businessman who has previously profited from Doctor Proctor’s inventions, and the grand neo-Gothic palace gives the family an appropriately exaggerated home reflecting their wealth and status. Oscarshall is clearly recognisable as the Thrane residence, while Doctor Proctor’s own house and laboratory were filmed at a separate location elsewhere in Oslo. The contrast between the imposing palace occupied by the antagonistic Thrane family and Proctor’s unconventional home forms part of the film’s deliberately heightened, storybook version of Oslo.
Lars Lillo-Stenberg House
Lars Lillo-Stenberg House is a private villa in Frogner, Oslo, known for its dragestil architecture. The house appears in Sentimental Value (2025).
Behrens’ gate 5
In Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole (2026), Behrens’ gate 5 is used for the scenes at Camilla Loen’s apartment, where she is found murdered.
Tjuvholmen
The 2020 Christopher Nolan film Tenet filmed key action scenes at Tjuvholmen, specifically around Olav Selvaags Plass and near the Thief Hotel.
Vigeland Sculpture Park
Vigeland Sculpture Park appears in Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole, The Snowman, Himmel og helvete, Oslo, 31. august, Elling, and many more.
Frognerbadet
Frognerbadet is in Olsenbanden møter Kongen & Knekten, Frida: Straight from the Heart, Stuperen, Oslo, August 31st, Beatles, Hvite gutter and Detective Hole.
Oslo City Hall
Oslo City Hall (Rådhuset) is the administrative headquarters of the city council and municipal government in Oslo, Norway, inaugurated in 1950.
Lorry
Restaurant Lorry appears in Sentimental Value (2025). The restaurant is used as one of the film’s Oslo locations and forms part of its city setting.
Theatercaféen
Theatercaféen appears in "Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole" (2026), and is connected to a lunch that becomes very relevant to Harry Hole’s investigation.
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress has been used in Norwegian film as both a historical setting and a dramatic Oslo landmark. It appears in About Tilla and in Max Manus.