Drottningskärs kastell

Drottningskärs Kastell was mainly built in the last decades of the seventeenth century and is considered to be a prime example of Swedish fortifications, a complete and well-preserved defensive work from Sweden’s Age of Greatness.

The fortress has a large donjon in granite with a battery, powder magazine and barracks. It has four bastions named after queens Maria, Christina, Hedvig and Ulrica. The commander’s residence is situated inside the courtyard. The fortress was on a war footing, on and off, for a century until 1811, manned by a maximum of 250 men. In 1895 Drottningskär ceased to be counted as an active fortress. Instead Ellenabb fort was built on the island of Aspö, armed with heavy former ship’s cannon.

Drottningskärs Kastell can be reached every day all year round via the car ferry to Aspö. In the summer the archipelago ferries pass the fortress and guided tours are available. There is a restaurant too, mainly open during the summer.

Drottningskärs Kastell is part of the Naval Port of Karlskrona, inscribed on UNESCO’s list of unmissable World Heritage Sites in 1998.

Read more about the World Heritage Site and find all the places that form part of it in the article about the Naval Port of Karlskrona.

Source: Visit Karlskrona