Make your way up the Risåsberget hill to look out over the city and experience the majesty of Skansen Kronan. This construction is one of two redoubts that were built to defend Gothenburg from attacks in the 17th century. Skansen Kronan’s sturdy granite walls frame incredible views of the red roofs and blue waters of the city landscape below.
The Skansen Kronan defensive outpost was built in 1641 on the order of King Karl XI who feared that the city was under threat from Denmark. He hired architect Erik Dahlberg, who designed a defensive line consisting of a fortress, the Skansen Kronan, and its twin redoubt, the Skansen Lejonet. Each structure bears a statue representation of its name a gilded crown stands atop the Kronan, while the Lejonet supports a lion.
Like all great structures of ancient times, the effort to build the Skansen Kronan would have been monumental. Observe its carefully designed hexagonal shape, consisting of heavy granite blocks that were hefted from the bottom of the surrounding hillside. These impressive walls contain granite, gneiss and diabase and are 5 metres (16 feet) thick.
In the end the Skansen Kronan was never attacked. No one has ever seen or heard its large cannons, which are visible from far away, fired. Eventually, the fortress was converted into a military museum in the 20th century.
Today, the Skansen Kronan is used for conferences and weddings and isn’t accessible to the public. Nevertheless, the fortress is worth the trip just to enjoy the dramatic view and get a glimpse into the lives of soldiers who stood guard here for centuries.
Skansen Kronan is situated atop the Risåsberget, also called Skansberget, in Gothenburg’s south. Walk up this hill and visit the area surrounding the structure at any time of year with no fee. Get to the base of the hill by tram and use either the staircase or the footpath that are the easiest and safest ways to climb the slope.
