Måseskärs fyrplats

About the museum

Måseskär lies just south-west of Käringön in Orust Municipality, in the outer Bohuslän archipelago. The area was notorious for shipwrecks, and after several wrecks in the 1860s a lighthouse on the island was proposed. Planning was led by chief engineer Nils Gustaf von Heidenstam, and work on the lighthouse station began in May 1865.

The lighthouse is a Heidenstam lighthouse, an iron-pipe tower braced with cross-beams and wires, painted red and white and 21.7 m high. It was first run on paraffin and was electrified in 1950. In 1978 the old lighthouse was replaced by a small white plastic light, and the lighthouse station became unmanned. Fog signals were first given with a gong and later with cannons and a steam foghorn, and one of the cannons still stands.

The lighthouse station became a state-listed building (statligt byggnadsminne) on 7 December 2017, and the Swedish Maritime Administration (Sjöfartsverket) has been responsible for it since 2021. The old lighthouse was renovated in 2022 and reopened on 27 May 2023. On the island there is the house where the lighthouse keeper lived, several outbuildings and a lighthouse museum. The voluntary association Måseskärs Vänner (Friends of Måseskär) works to keep the lighthouse station open to visitors.

Highlights

• Heidenstam lighthouse from 1865, 21.7 m high
• Lighthouse museum on the lighthouse station
• State-listed building since 2017
• Guided tours of the lighthouse during Västerhavsveckan
• Old fog cannon from the 19th century
• Rich bird and animal life on the island

Founded

1865

Operated by

Sjöfartsverket (ägare); Måseskärs Vänner

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

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

The island is reached only by boat, and the lighthouse is a narrow iron tower with stairs; no information on accessibility is available.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Måseskär lies just south-west of Käringön and is reached only by sea. There is a small, cramped harbour for private boats, and several companies offer excursions or water taxis to the island.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit