The Kastellet

The Kastellet

The Stockholm audio-guided tour leads you before the Kastellet, a small red-brick citadel that sits on the islet of Kastellholmen like a medieval castle by the water. This monument hides more than three and a half centuries of military history.

A rebuilt fortress

The story begins in 1667 with a first fortification built by Erik Dahlbergh to protect the port of Stockholm. In June 1845, the old structure exploded accidentally, requiring a complete reconstruction. From 1846 to 1848, the military architect Fredrik Blom, who also designed the Nationalmuseum, drew up the present Kastellet, in a style evoking a small castle.

What there is to see

The Kastellet is famous for a unique tradition: every morning, soldiers raise the flag there, and a cannon is fired to mark the raising and lowering of the flag, a sign that Sweden is at peace. Its red-brick silhouette and its island setting make it one of the most peaceful viewpoints in Stockholm, during a walk along the banks.

Practical information

The Kastellet can be seen from the outside, in the open air, on the islet of Kastellholmen, linked to Skeppsholmen by a bridge. The building, for military use, cannot generally be visited inside; you admire its silhouette and setting from the banks. The walk to the islet is accessible at any time.

What does the Kastellet symbolise ?

The flag raised every morning and the cannon shot mean that Sweden is at peace, a tradition continued at the Kastellet.

How old is the present Kastellet ?

It was rebuilt from 1846 to 1848 by Fredrik Blom, after the accidental explosion of the 1667 fortification.