Carlsten

Marstrand, Sweden

Carlsten is a stone fortress built on the orders of King Carl X of Sweden following the Treaty of Roskilde, 1658 to protect the newly acquired province of Bohuslän from hostile attacks. The site of Marstrand was chosen because of its location and its access to an ice free port. Initially a square stone tower was constructed, but by 1680 it was reconstructed and replaced by a round shaped tower. Successive additions to the fortress were carried out, by the inmates sentenced to hard labour, until 1860 when it was reported finished. The fortress was decommissioned as a permanent defense installation in 1882, but remained in military use until the early 1990s.

The fortress was attacked and sieged twice falling into enemy hands. In 1677 it was conquered by Ulrik Frederick Gyldenløve, the Danish military commander in Norway and in 1719 by the Norwegian Vice-Admiral Tordenskjold. At both occasions the fortress was returned to Swedish control through negotiations and treaties.

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Address

Carlstens Fästning 1 Ög, Marstrand, Sweden
See all sites in Marstrand

Details

Founded: 1658
Category: Castles and fortifications in Sweden
Historical period: Swedish Empire (Sweden)

More Information

www.vastsverige.com
en.wikipedia.org
www.carlsten.se

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

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Medical History Museum (30,3 km)
Gothenburg Cathedral (30,5 km)
East India Company House (30,3 km)
Härlanda Church Ruins (32,2 km)

User Reviews

Anders Nilsson (3 years ago)
Really nice for Christmas parties (julbord). Like 7+ dishes for vegetarians.
Bauer (3 years ago)
Perfect place for a Christmas getaway! Lovely surroundings!
Lise Galuga (3 years ago)
A windy visit to a lovely fortress. We did some geocaching along the outer walls... You can find this cache without having to pay the admission fee. The visit was self guided and inexpensive. They offer a discount for military members, but you must ask for it and show identification. The views of the archipelago from the top are worth the climb! There is also a waffle cafe here which offers light salads and sandwiches.
Goran Nidogon (3 years ago)
Nice place to spent Weekend in peace. Great wiew, excellent for a walking & riding bike.
A Marco (3 years ago)
We ended up at this place almost accidentally, but it was the most amazing part of the trip. The island is beautiful and quaint, but the fortress is something to behold. Staying overnight at the Soldat Inn gives you a kind of back stage pass to explore on your own. We easily explored rooms and tunnels for two hours. Plus the surrounding town and trails have beautiful vistas in every direction. This is great for families or couples. Something for everyone. Affordable rooms. Don't miss it.
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The Beckov castle stands on a steep 50 m tall rock in the village Beckov. The dominance of the rock and impression of invincibility it gaves, challenged our ancestors to make use of these assets. The result is a remarkable harmony between the natural setting and architecture.

The castle first mentioned in 1200 was originally owned by the King and later, at the end of the 13th century it fell in hands of Matúš Èák. Its owners alternated - at the end of the 14th century the family of Stibor of Stiborice bought it.

The next owners, the Bánffys who adapted the Gothic castle to the Renaissance residence, improved its fortifications preventing the Turks from conquering it at the end of the 16th century. When Bánffys died out, the castle was owned by several noble families. It fell in decay after fire in 1729.

The history of the castle is the subject of different legends. One of them narrates the origin of the name of castle derived from that of jester Becko for whom the Duke Stibor had the castle built.

Another legend has it that the lord of the castle had his servant thrown down from the rock because he protected his child from the lords favourite dog. Before his death, the servant pronounced a curse saying that they would meet in a year and days time, and indeed precisely after that time the lord was bitten by a snake and fell down to the same abyss.

The well-conserved ruins of the castle, now the National Cultural Monument, are frequently visited by tourists, above all in July when the castle festival takes place. The former Ambro curia situated below the castle now shelters the exhibition of the local history.

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