Eketorps borg

About the museum

Eketorps borg lies in the middle of the World Heritage site Södra Ölands odlingslandskap (Southern Öland's cultural landscape) and is Sweden's only fully excavated and rebuilt hill fort. The first fort, Eketorp I, was built in the 4th century during a period of prosperity on Öland, when some twenty households joined together to defend their possessions. The fort became a common meeting place and a temporary refuge in troubled times.

In the 5th century Eketorp II was built, and it was inhabited until the 8th century. Behind the ring wall 150–200 people lived with their animals in a fortified farm village with 53 houses: dwellings, cowsheds, storehouses and workshops. In a gathering place in the western part, the archaeologists have made some of the fort's finest finds, the small gold foils with human figures called guldgubbar (gold figures). In the wetland outside the eastern gate was the fort's sacrificial site.

The fort was abandoned in the 8th century and fell into disrepair for almost 500 years. In the middle of the 12th century new people moved in, strengthened the defences and used the fort as a military garrison with cavalry. The first investigations began in the 1930s, and during the 1960s and 1970s extensive excavations were carried out that led to the reconstruction that can be visited today.

The fort is owned by Statens fastighetsverk (the Swedish National Property Board), and its operations are run by Mörbylånga Municipality. The entrance building houses a shop, an exhibition and a café, and during the summer guided tours, dramatisations and craft activities give an impression of life in the Iron Age and the Middle Ages.

Highlights

• A reconstructed Iron Age fort with 53 houses inside the ring wall
• Finds such as the gold figures and the sacrificial site in the wetland
• Open guided tours in Swedish and English during the summer
• Barnens Eketorp (Children's Eketorp), with bread baking, archery and combat games
• Audio guide in the Mörbylånga Municipality app

Permanent exhibition

• Eketorps borg – återuppbyggd fornborg – Reconstructed houses from the Iron Age and the Middle Ages inside the ring wall, and an exhibition in the entrance building about the fort's history and archaeology.

Operated by

Mörbylånga kommun (ägare Statens fastighetsverk)

Admission & discounts

Prices vary by season in 2026: spring (1 May–18 June) adults SEK 75; summer (20 June–16 August) adults SEK 150; autumn (17–31 August) adults SEK 125. The lowest price is stated as the base price. All activities in the fort are included in the admission; dogs enter free.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The entrance building is on one level, with large doors and an accessible toilet in the adjoining building. The fort has large areas, but the ground can be uneven. Wheelchair users may drive closer to the fort than ordinary parking allows; contact staff in the shop to open the barrier. Service dogs and guide dogs are allowed everywhere, and other dogs on a lead are welcome.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Barnens Eketorp, with bread baking over an open fire from 13:30, archery, combat games, a textile workshop and dramatisations during the summer.

Getting there & parking

The fort lies right beside the Mörbylångaleden road in southern Öland.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

The entrance building has a shop, an exhibition and a café with simple fika, sandwiches and ice cream. For larger meals, nearby restaurants are recommended.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit