Bohus Fortress

Bohus Fortress is a medieval stone fortress overlooking the Göta River near Kungälv in Västra Götaland County, Sweden, founded in the early 14th century as a fortified seat on the Norwegian-Swedish frontier.

The site consists of extensive stone ruins of towers, curtain walls and bastions that testify to its long history of sieges and frontier warfare; a small museum interprets the site’s military history.

Built to control river approaches and regional communications, the fortress passed through Norwegian and Danish-Norwegian hands before being ceded to Sweden in the 17th century and later abandoned as a frontier fortification.

The ruins sit above the Göta älv near the town of Kungälv, north of Gothenburg, and are open to visitors seasonally with on-site interpretation.

• Founding and political transfer: Originally constructed in the early 14th century as a Norwegian border stronghold, the fortress was ceded to Sweden under the 1658 Treaty of Roskilde and later fell into ruin.

What to See #

• Ruins and ramparts: Remains of the medieval keep, curtain walls and bastions that illustrate the fortress's former defensive layout; these ruins are accessible to visitors on foot.
• Visitor museum: A small museum and visitor information area near the site that interprets the fortress's military history and the major sieges it endured.