Vaxholms Fästnings Museum

About the museum

Vaxholm fortress began as a block house on Vaxholmen in the early 16th century, built by the regent Svante Nilsson Sture. In 1548 Gustav Vasa had a new and stronger fortress built and blocked the Oxdjupet sound with stone. The fortress repelled attacks on Stockholm in 1612, when the Danes attacked, and in 1719, when the Russians raided the archipelago.

The old fortress was demolished and replaced by the present Kastellet (the Citadel), which was built in 1833–1863. Because weapons technology developed rapidly, the walls did not hold, as a test firing in 1872 showed. In 1877 the defence was moved to Oscar-Fredriksborg fort at Oxdjupet, but Kastellet remained as an administrative centre and as a training and accommodation site for the coastal artillery until the Second World War.

Today Kastellet is a museum and tradition site. The museum follows the history of the archipelago defence from Gustav Vasa to the present, and has in its cellar an exhibition on the civilians who lived at the fortress around the end of the 19th century, with a turn-of-the-century shop (sekelskiftesbutik). Kastellet also has a restaurant, conference facilities, overnight accommodation, artists' studios and shops.

Highlights

• The 500-year history of the archipelago defence
• Cellar exhibition on civilian life at the fortress around 1890, with a turn-of-the-century shop
• Guided tours in summer
• Free children's activities for ages 4–15
• The Kastellet boat from Vaxholm to the island

Permanent exhibitions

• Skärgårdsförsvarets historia – Exhibitions on the archipelago defence over 500 years, with themes such as naval mines and coastal rangers (kustjägare).
• Livet på fästningen runt 1890 – The cellar shows how the island's civilian inhabitants lived around 1900, with a turn-of-the-century shop.

Founded

2003

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission for members of the friends' association and with the Stockholm Pass.

The museum shop is cashless.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Unfortunately the museum is not wheelchair accessible. An accompanying assistant has free admission. Assistance dogs are allowed; other dogs are welcome at Kastellet but must wait outside the museum.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Free children's activities for ages 4–15 daily during opening hours. Children aged 0–12 have free admission.

Getting there & parking

The Kastellet boat runs 14 May–14 June on Saturdays and Sundays, 22 June–23 August daily, and 29 August–6 September on Saturdays and Sundays, roughly every 20 minutes. Return ticket SEK 110 for adults and SEK 80 for children aged 3–12; single tickets SEK 60 and SEK 45 respectively. Tickets are bought at the quay or on board. Throughout the year Kastellet can be reached by Waxholmsbolaget.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Simple café in the museum's reception. Strömma runs a restaurant at Kastellet, and Badholmen serves food in summer. Museum shop with literature and gifts. Kastellets Bed & Breakfast has 27 rooms and is open all year round.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit