New Elfsborg Fortress, Sea fort on Kyrkogårdsholmen island, Gothenburg Municipality, Sweden
New Elfsborg Fortress is a stone fortification on a small island at the entrance of Gothenburg harbor with thick walls and multiple artillery positions facing the sea lanes. The site includes a commandant's residence, soldiers' quarters, and various military buildings from the 17th century.
The fortress was built between 1653 and 1677 under General Johan Wärnschiöld's direction to protect Swedish shipping access to the North Sea through the Göta River estuary. It became a key part of Sweden's defensive strategy along the western coast.
The fortress displays original 17th-century Swedish military architecture through its buildings and layout that visitors can explore directly. Walking through the commandant's residence, soldiers' quarters, and fortifications gives a sense of how military life was organized and structured at this outpost.
Access is by boat from Lilla Bommen harbor in Gothenburg, with tours available between May and September. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes since paths on the island are uneven and the wind over the water can be cool.
In 1719, Commander Johan Abraham Lillie successfully defended the fortress for four consecutive days against Danish naval attacks during the Great Northern War. This episode demonstrated the site's strategic importance for regional control.
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