At the top of Risåsberget hill sits Skansen Kronan, a defensive fort built over three centuries ago to protect Gothenburg from the prospect of invading Danish forces. Climb up the hill southwest of the city centre for an all-encompassing view of Gothenburg’s red roofs and across the blue waters of the bay.
King Karl XI decided in 1641 that Gothenburg should be ready to defend against an attack from Denmark. As a result, the Skansen Kronan fortress was built. Architect Erik Dahlberg designed both Skansen Kronan and its twin, Skansen Leionet, located to the northeast of the original structure. These hill fortresses have long been primary focal points for the city. Tell the two apart by matching their names with what stands atop each tower. While the Kronan supports a crown, the Leionet is topped by a lion.
Consider how much effort it must have taken armies of soldiers to carry the stone required to build Skansen Kronan up the steep hillside. Both forts were built in the shape of a hexagon. In some places, the walls are 5 metres (16 feet) thick.
Denmark never made the advance that King Karl XI feared, and Skansen Kronan was never attacked. The cannons that surround the fort have never been fired. After serving as a prison and a place of residence, the fortress was repurposed into a military museum in the 1900s.
Today, the redoubt serves as a spot for conferences and weddings and the building is not open to the public. Despite this, the view from the hill at the foot of the fortress is worth the visit.
Located in the residential area to the southwest of the city, Skansen Kronan is situated on the Risåsberget (also called Skansberget). This hill is freely accessible year-round. Arrive by tram at Hagakyrkan and walk across the Haga district to reach the base of the hill. Take the staircase from Frigångsgatan, the steep hiking trail from Skanstorget or the path from Lilla Risåsgatan to climb up to the fort.
