Karlsborg Fortress

The plan behind Karlsborg was that Sweden could not hold its coasts against a serious invasion, so the government, the treasury and the royal family would withdraw inland to a fortress deep in the country and wait. Building began in 1819 and went on until 1909 - by which time the whole strategy was obsolete - producing five kilometres of wall, the Slutvärnet, a fortified barracks block 678 metres long, magazines, a church and workshops, enough for a garrison of thousands. It was never used as intended. The site is open to walk through, with a museum, tunnels and a summer show, and the Gota canal reaches Vattern beside it.

Background

The fortress occupies the Vanäs peninsula on Lake Vättern, in the province of Västergötland. Baltzar von Platen picked the site in connection with the building of the Göta Canal. Work started in 1819 on 100 hectares (250 acres) of land, and the walls were mostly complete in 1830, though high costs and reduced funding held back full completion until 1909. The complex counts among the largest buildings in northern Europe and is built mainly of limestone from Omberg. It has been a listed building, a byggnadsminne, since 1935. Inside, a chandelier made of 276 bayonets in place of crystal prisms hangs from the ceiling.

Source: Wikipedia, "Karlsborg Fortress"

What you'll find

• Five kilometres of wall - built between 1819 and 1909.
• A barracks block 678 metres long - the Slutvärnet.
• A fortress that was never needed - obsolete before completion.
• The Gota canal alongside - meeting Lake Vattern here.

When to go

May to September for the museum and tours. Three hours.

Things to know

Much of the site is still military and closed. The museum and show are seasonal. Distances inside the walls are long and exposed. Karlsborg town is small.

Nearby

Tiveden national park is north; the Gota canal runs west.

Key facts