Fårösund Fortress

Fårösund Fortress (Swedish: Fårösunds fästning) is a decommissioned fortification in Fårösund on Gotland, Sweden, which was built from 1885 to 1886.

Fårösund Fortress
Fårösunds fästning
Fårösund in Sweden
Fårösund Fortress, 2012
Fårösund Fortress
Coordinates57°50′46″N 19°04′45″E
TypeFortification
Site information
OwnerSwedish Fortifications Agency (–1993)
National Property Board (1993–)
Controlled bySweden
Site history
Built1885 (1885)–1886
In use1886–1919
Garrison information
GarrisonGotland garrison

History

Sweden's capacity to protect its neutrality was questioned after the Crimean War 1854–56. England and France persuaded Sweden to fortify the inlet at Fårö with artillery batteries and naval mines. The fortress was built from 1885 to 1886 and consisted of three fixed batteries; Central Battery (batt. I), Northern Battery (batt. II) and Southern Battery (batt. III). At the turn of the century, the batteries were reconstructed. The batteries I and II were given modern quick-firing 57 mm guns, four per battery.[1] Fårösund Fortress, which was name of the coastal position from 1915, was disbanded as such on 30 September 1919, and the coastal artillery detachment was relocated to Vaxholm Fortress[2] and all equipment was removed.[1] After the fortress was closed down and was taken over by the Swedish Prison and Probation Service in 1919, a penitential center was establishment. The fortress had been proposed as a detention center for social dangerous offenders, if and when legislation for such came about.[3] No such laws did arise and the entire fortress was declared a listed building in 1935.[1]

In 1993, the National Property Board of Sweden took over the administration of the batteries which until that date had belonged to the Swedish Fortifications Agency. Under the company name Fårösund Fästning AB, with business owner Peter Alvérus, it began in 2004 to build a hotel in and around battery I. The company went bankrupt on 15 September 2004 before construction was completed and the National Property Board completed the construction work.[4] During 2005–2006 the facility was leased to Björn Gustafsson. In 2008, Pontus Fritiof through the Pontus Group took over the hotel and conference facility Fårösund Fästning AB together with the tenant Björn Gustafsson.[5] On 17 October 2012, Fårösunds fästning hotell och restaurang AB filed for bankruptcy at Stockholm District Court.[6][7] The bankruptcy auction expired after bankruptcy trustee brought about a complete transfer of operations of the business and inventory to the new-old owner Peter Alvérus.[8] Since autumn 2012, Fårösunds Fästning AB is run by Alvérus and Cian Bornebusch.

Commandants
  • 1915-1919 – Erik Ekström
  • Central Battery.
  • Central Battery.

See also

References
  1. "Fårösunds fästning" [Fårösund Fortress] (in Swedish). National Property Board of Sweden. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  2. Westrin, Theodor, ed. (1923). Nordisk familjebok: konversationslexikon och realencyklopedi (in Swedish). 35 (New, rev. and richly ill. ed.). Stockholm: Nordisk familjeboks förl. p. 1119.
  3. Westrin, Theodor, ed. (1923). Nordisk familjebok: konversationslexikon och realencyklopedi (in Swedish). 35 (New, rev. and richly ill. ed.). Stockholm: Nordisk familjeboks förl. p. 1131.
  4. Malmros, Sophie (2008). "Fårösunds fästning: från Krimkrig till lyxhotell" (PDF). Kulturvärden (in Swedish) (1): 24-29 : ill. ISSN 1654-8582. SELIBR 10815770. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-04-02. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
  5. "Pontus ska driva Fårösunds Fästning" [Pontus will operate Fårösund Fortress]. Gotlandsnytt. SR Gotland. 24 March 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  6. Klint Langland, Eva (2012-12-05). "Nu töms fästningen" [The fortress will now be emptied]. Gotlands Allehanda (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  7. "Fårösunds Fästning begärd i konkurs" [Fårösund Fortress files for bankruptcy]. Gotlandsnytt (in Swedish). SR Gotland. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  8. Klint, Kerstin (2012-12-11). "Fårösunds fästning utarrenderad" [Fårösunds Fortress leased] (in Swedish). Helagotland.se. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
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