Fornborgar på Öland - 5 castles you don't want to miss!

Did you know that there are around 15-20 ancient castles on Öland? The castles are now ruins, and the findings tell stories about everyday life in the Iron Age, wealth, journeys to Eastern Europe, and untimely death. One of the castles, Eketorp Castle, has been rebuilt so you can see what life was once like.

Fornborgar on Öland

At first glance, the ancient fortresses on the island may appear to be mere ruins in stone and earth, but these ancient remains have a lot to tell us. The Roman gold coins found here, for example, show both trade with the Romans and that the islanders occasionally enlisted as soldiers in the Roman army.

We have visited five of the ancient castles on Öland, which we tell you more about. Here you can see where they are located.

1. Eketorp Castle - a reconstructed Iron Age castle

Eketorp's castle is the only one of Öland's ancient castles that has been recreated so that you can get a visual picture of what life was once like here. There were buildings inside the castle between the 3rd and 13th centuries, and today the rebuilt castle is a major attraction.

Given the large car park and the modern tourist centre, it can be quite busy at times. We happened to come here on a day when the visitor centre and museum house were closed, but it was still possible to visit the castle itself.

A number of houses have been built in the courtyard, so you can see what it might once have looked like. Signs with text and images add even more to the emerging picture. If you come here in high season, you can expect everything from open museum houses to possibly other activities such as bread baking, archery and historical games.

If you want to stay overnight in the neighbourhood, you can stay at Drottning Öda, which offers both rooms and parking space for motorhomes. Staying overnight with your motorhome at Eketorp Castle is not permitted.

2. Bårby Castle - with gold coins from Rome

Bårby Castle is located in the south-west of Öland. This castle was built between 400 and 700 AD. In this castle, as in many other Öland castles, the buildings were carefully planned. The houses had common walls and were built almost as terraced houses.

Inside the castle, a farmer found a gold coin from Eastern Europe in the early 1900s. However, to imagine what once was requires a large dose of imagination. The only thing visible today is the circular rampart.

3. Sandby village - the massacre that stopped time

Sandby castle is currently not much of an attraction - but its history is very intriguing. We went here after reading about the castle and becoming curious, but discovered that the place is currently quite inaccessible to tourists. There are hardly any car parks nearby and information signs are scarce. Nevertheless, it is the story of this ancient castle that we will remember the most!

In 2010, a series of 4th century jewellery caches were found here, with exclusive glass beads, rings and gilded costume buckles. When excavations began, a terrible story emerged. Everywhere in the castle, human remains were found, all over the place.

Everyone seems to have been killed by force, and no one seems to have been left behind to bury the dead. In the picture below you can see an overview of the people found in house 40 - ranging from children to adults. The photos below were taken at an exhibition about the castle at the Kalmar County Museum in Kalmar, Sweden. squid. You can also read about different theories about what might have happened, very interesting!

4. Gråborg - Öland's largest ancient castle

Of all the ancient fortresses on Öland, Gråborg, located in Borgs village in central Öland, was by far the largest. Roman gold coins (solidus) have been found here, indicating both wealth and a time of travelling and contacts across the world.

When the castle was built in the 3rd century, it was an impressive structure that could be seen from afar. Like Ismantorp Castle (below), it was equipped with nine openings in the wall - perhaps to symbolise the nine worlds of Norse mythology. Gråborg is one of around five ancient castles that were rebuilt in the 12th century, and is therefore better preserved than many others.

In Borg village, in addition to Gråborg, you can visit the ruins of St Knut's chapel. The chapel was built in the late 12th century and abandoned in the early 16th century.

5. Ismantorp fortress - with inspiration from ancient Norse mythology

Ismantorp Castle is an exciting place in the middle of the forests in central Öland. After parking in the designated area, you take a short walk through green nature. Then you arrive at a magical place.

Ismantorp castle is a ring castle with nine gates in a ring wall with a circumference of 400 metres. Inside there are 95 house foundations, lying close together. The castle was built and used between 300 and 600 AD, and its construction was inspired by both Roman camps and Norse mythology.

As nine gates would be impractical for defence purposes, it is thought to be related to the nine worlds of mythology, perhaps with the world tree Yggdrasil at the centre.

More ancient castles on Öland

For those who are particularly interested, there are even more ancient castles on Öland to discover. We think we found some of the most interesting ones - and can definitely recommend a combination with the exhibition about Sandby Borg at Kalmar County Museum.

More historical sights on Öland

Öland is bursting with history! Wherever you drive on the long island, you'll see signs pointing to shipwrecks, Iron Age graves, castle ruins and other ancient remains. For example, you can check out the Gettlinge burial site on southern Öland or the Iron Age village of Skäftekärr on northern Öland.

There is also a lot of history to discover at the southern tip of Öland and along the Byrum - Äleklinta coastal road. You won't want to miss the ruins of Borgholm Castle!

Have you visited any ancient castles on Öland? How was your experience? Do you have any other tips on nice places to visit on the island?

Facts about ancient castles on Öland

• Municipalities: Mörbylånga and Borgholm
• County: Kalmar County
• Landscape: Öland
• Number: 15-21 according to various lists (some of which are listed as 'possible ancient castles').

List of ancient castles on Öland

In this list, we have included the ancient castles listed at All about Öland.

• Bårby castle
• Eketorp Castle
• Gråborg
• Hässelby borg
• Högkullebacken
• Ismantorp Castle
• Lenstad castle
• Castle of Solt
• Medieval castle south of Vedby castle
• Mossberga village
• North Möckleby castle
• Sandby castle
• Svarteberga castle
• Sörby village
• Triberga village
• Träby castle
• Waterborne city
• Vedby castle