Fort of Drottningskär

Fort of Drottningskär is a fortress near Karlskrona with four bastions named after Swedish queens and a central donjon equipped with naval artillery. The structure was built strategically in the water to protect the harbor and the naval base.

The fort was built between 1687 and 1692 under Swedish military engineer Erik Dahlbergh's direction to defend the new naval base at Karlskrona. Its design followed modern fortification principles and made it a key barrier in Swedish defense strategy.

The fortress carries the names of Swedish queens and shows how the military organized coastal defense across generations. The exhibits give a sense of why this bastion mattered for Swedish naval power and national security.

The fort is reached only by boat from Karlskrona harbor, and visits are seasonal and typically organized with guided tours. It helps to check opening times beforehand and bring weather-appropriate clothing.

Catherine the Great wrote about this fortress in her diary, describing it as the obstacle blocking her regional ambitions. This small historical note shows how significant the fort was in Baltic power dynamics.