Compact and imposing castle
Though a fortress has occupied the site since 1308, the current Bohus Fortress dates back to 1612. The original structure had been erected by Norwegian King Haakon V Magnuson (1270-1319) in an attempt to keep the Swedish forces at bay. He also built Oslo’s Akerhus Fortress and, like it, Bohus sits on an ideal location for defence.
The fortress survived many attacks and sieges, including the Northern Seven Years’ War (1563-1570), after which it was turned into a bastion fortress (starfort) and constantly renovated by Norwegian kings until the Treaty of Roskilde changed the border and Bohus became part of Sweden.
At the end of the 18th century, it was decided that the unused fortress should be demolished, but its walls were too thick. And so it remains a well-preserved attraction and a reminder of how far Sweden has come, from its days of violent battles to being one of the modern world’s most peaceful nations.
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