Stone walls
Massive and grey.
Bengt Nyman from Vaxholm, Sweden — CC BY 2.0 · Bengt Nyman from Vaxholm, Sweden — CC BY 2.0 · Bengt Nyman from Vaxholm, Sweden — CC BY 2.0 · Frank Schulenburg — CC BY-SA 4.0 · ArildV — CC BY-SA 4.0
Vaxholm Fortress, also known as Vaxholm Castle, is a historic fortification on the small island of Vaxholmen in the Stockholm archipelago, just east of the town of Vaxholm and about 18 km northeast of central Stockholm in a straight line. It is home to the Vaxholm Fortress Museum. King Gustav Vasa built the first fort here in 1548 to protect Stockholm from ships arriving from the sea, as the islet, entirely covered by the fortress, lies in a strait that was one of the two main routes into the city. The wooden blockhouse was replaced by a stone tower under Johan III, and most of the present structure dates from 1833 to 1863. In 1970 it served as the pirate stronghold in a Pippi Longstocking film. The blue waters of the archipelago surround the island, with massive grey stone walls, a central tower and long buildings with small windows rising from it. In autumn red ivy covers its walls, and boats and ferries pass around it all day. Visitors reach the fortress by a small electric cable ferry across the channel from Vaxholm town and explore the courtyards, ramparts and museum. The car ferry between Vaxholm and the island of Rindö gives a fine view of the fortress. Vaxholm itself is a pleasant seaside town for a stroll.
Massive and grey.
From Vaxholm.
All around.
Vaxholmen island, Vaxholm, Sweden
By a small ferry from Vaxholm town.
Yes, the Vaxholm Fortress Museum.