Grådö skans, bouwwerk in Zweden
Grådö skans is a medieval fort built on a narrow ridge near the village of Grådö in Dalarna. It consisted of three terraced platforms separated by deep ditches, with the largest plateau holding the main house and living spaces while the others contained storage, a barn, and a workshop.
The fort was built in the 1300s as a place to control trade routes and collect taxes from passing merchants. It was burned twice that century, with the second fire likely linked to a conflict between regional leaders, after which the site was never rebuilt.
The site is a protected reserve where visitors can walk freely on existing paths but cannot dig or pick plants. It lies near the town of Hedemora and is easily accessible by local roads, making it a convenient spot for those combining a walk with a look at medieval remains.
The walls were built from clay and other materials to resemble stone, and excavations in the 1960s revealed that buildings were covered with clay for weather protection, an unusual building method for the region at that time. These construction techniques show the resourcefulness of medieval builders working with local materials.
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