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, a slottet barracks block over four hundred 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.

What you actually see

• Five kilometres of wall - built between 1819 and 1909.
• A barracks block over four hundred metres - the slottet.
• 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.

Honest expectations

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.