Vaxholm: Fortress Museum, Nature Reserves and Archipelago Culture

In Vaxholm, the Vaxholm Fortress Museum at Vaxholm Citadel presents the history of Sweden’s coastal defence and the role of the fortress over a period of more than 500 years.

Culture

The main exhibition combines immersive displays with original artefacts from different periods. Information brochures in English and German, among other languages, are available at the museum ticket desk. Another exhibition is dedicated to the Ytterby mine, where no fewer than nine chemical elements were discovered over the years. The basement exhibition conveys what life was like for the fortress’s civilian residents in the 1890s.

The cultural and historical walk along Vaxholm’s waterfront promenade leads through Österhamnen and Västerhamnen. At selected points, QR codes provide additional cultural and historical information. Vaxholm’s water tower was designed by Cyrillus Johansson, built in 1923 and is considered one of the town’s most significant landmarks.

Nature

Since 2015, Bogesundslandet has been a nature reserve within Vaxholm Municipality and covers approximately half of the town’s land area. The area combines moss-covered spruce forests, pine forests on rocky ground, wetlands, lakes, agricultural land and grazing meadows. Bogesundslandet is known for its old oaks, which provide important habitats for many species; the wetlands around Dammstakärret are part of the European Natura 2000 network.

Kullö Nature Reserve occupies the western part of Kullön and was established as Vaxholm Municipality’s first nature reserve to provide opportunities for local recreation. It protects valuable habitats created by the old cultural landscape and includes a 300-metre-wide shoreline protection strip.

Trails

Bogesundslandet has marked hiking and riding trails, designated mountain biking trails, bathing areas and picnic areas with fire pits and wind shelters. The Blå leden hiking trail runs for 12 kilometres within Vaxholm, from Söderhamnen on Vaxön to Kulla vägskäl, and then continues into Österåker Municipality.

Strömmingsrundan runs across Vaxön and offers a 5-kilometre yellow route and a 10-kilometre green route all year round. The yellow route is also suitable for bicycles, wheelchairs and prams. Vaxholm also has marked cycling routes and cycle paths suitable for both road cycling and mountain biking.

History

Oscar-Fredriksborg Fortress is a state-listed historic building. The Rindö redoubt was built between 1859 and 1864. Bogesund Palace was built in the 1640s; a limited number of rooms are open to the public for visits. Visitors can walk through several rooms that illustrate the building’s construction history in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

At the open-pit Ytterby mine, visitors can explore the site independently. Information boards and films accessible via QR codes cover the history of the site, scientific discoveries and the Cold War. The Ytterby mine was designated a historic landmark by ASM International in 1989 and by the European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences in 2019.

Vaxholm’s Biografteater was built in 1918, carefully renovated several times and technically modernised. Film premieres are shown there as matinees and evening screenings. The Wirströmska gårdarna are an important part of Vaxholm’s history; most of the houses were built before 1820, and the entire Tullbomen block is protected for its cultural and historical value.

Archipelago and Local Life

Skärgårdens Kanotcenter rents kayaks for exploring the archipelago independently or on guided trips. The canoe centre offers winter tours and has a hot sauna for relaxing after the tour.

Vaxholm’s historic inn culture already included archipelago inns near Stegesund in the 17th century; in the 19th century, there were seven official inns in the town. Herring fishing was historically of central importance to Vaxholm. Herring remains part of Vaxholm’s food culture and is served at the town’s inns.

Vaxholm Tourist Information provides information about attractions, events, activities, restaurants and accommodation, and supplies maps of walking and cycling routes in the municipality. Museum staff are available to provide guidance at Vaxholms Hembygdsmuseum; written guides are also available in several languages.

To the overarching travel overview: Stockholm.

More about the destination

Relevant information for planning your trip:

Vaxholm.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Vallentuna, Nacka, Huddinge, Sigtuna, Haninge, Järfälla.