Götavirke, Archaeological site in Söderköping Municipality, Sweden
Götavirke is an archaeological site with extensive earthwork fortifications stretching between two lakes, with the most visible remains located near Hageby farm. The structure represents an ancient defense system built across varied terrain and landscape features.
The fortification originated in the early medieval period as part of a regional defense network in Östergötland. The construction techniques and layout suggest it was built to monitor and control movement through this inland area.
The site shows how early settlers organized their communities and relied on this location as part of a network connecting inland areas to coastal trade routes. These patterns reveal how people in this region lived and moved between places.
The site is accessible via Road 210 from Söderköping, with parking available near Hageby farm where the earthworks are most prominent. Walking routes are open year-round, though the terrain can be soft after rain.
The fortification extends through an active horse pasture where original sections of the wall remain in long, continuous stretches that show how builders constructed defenses centuries ago. This working landscape has helped protect the ancient remains from disturbance.
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