Fortress remains Älvsborg

The first documented mention of Älvsborg Castle dates back to 1366, when it was leased by the Norwegian King Haakon VI. Just four years later, he redeemed the castle, but by 1377, it was mortgaged again, this time by Margarethe I. In 1436, commander Mattias van Kaalen surrendered the complex without resistance to the rebels of the Engelbrekt uprising, led by the later King Karl VIII, who, contrary to their usual practice, did not plunder the castle. A ten-week siege by Norwegian troops in 1439 failed because commander Ture Stensson received reinforcements. Despite two conquest attempts by the Danish King Christian I in 1452 and 1455, the castle fell into Danish hands in the latter year with the help of the Norwegian knight Olav Nilsson and other circumstances. During the Kalmar Union, Älvsborg changed hands multiple times and was repeatedly burned down. Even after the Danes withdrew in 1523, a burnt ruin remained. Gustav I Vasa meticulously rebuilt the fortress, but during the Kalmar War, it again fell to Denmark. King Christian IV used the strategic location of the fortress to demand high contributions from Sweden in the Peace of Knäred. Over time, Älvsborg lost its significance as new, strategically more favorable defensive structures were built nearby. The Swedish Plenipotentiary General for Defenses, Johan Wärnschiöldh, proposed its demolition in 1650, but it was not until 1660 that the Swedish king ordered the castle's demolition, which was completed in 1673. A large part of the furnishings had previously been moved to the nearby fortress of Nya Elfsborg.

The fortress remains of Älvsborg are located in Gothenburg, in the district of Gothenburg, in the Västra Götaland region, Sweden. They are situated at an elevation of approximately 15 meters above sea level.

The ruins of the fortress are now accessible to visitors and can be explored. A roof protects the historical remains.

• Skansen Kronan Fortress (Fortress), approx. 3.0 km away
• Gothenburg Cathedral (Sacred Building), approx. 3.8 km away
• Nya Elfsborg Fortress (Fortress), approx. 4.1 km away
• Gunnebo House (Castle), approx. 9.7 km away