Johanneshovs skans

Johanneshovs skans is an incomplete fortification with a 79-meter granite perimeter wall and two corner bastions that held internal shooting galleries. These remains now sit in the basement of a modern office building on Arenavägen and are visible when you enter the structure.

The structure was planned in 1859 as a military defense system for Stockholm but construction halted in 1860 when rapid advances in weapons technology made it obsolete. The Swedish Parliament stopped the project after it became clear that this defensive system no longer matched emerging military needs.

The stone walls visible today inside the office building show how old military structures became part of Stockholm's modern business landscape. They remind visitors that history and contemporary life can share the same space.

The walls are accessible in the lobby and basement of the WSP office building on Arenavägen and can normally be viewed during business hours. It is wise to check ahead whether visitor access is available, since the building is primarily a workplace.

Archaeological digs in 1998 uncovered extensive remains of the original structure, which were later integrated into the basement of the new office building. These findings allowed researchers to understand the fortification's original layout before it was built over.

Location: Stockholm Municipality

GPS coordinates: 59.29667,18.08194

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:45