Halvarsborgen

Halvarsborgen is an ancient castle consisting of a stone rampart. The Stone Age map shows that it was possible to travel here on several waterways from Lake Hjälmaren and a connection to Lake Mälaren made it possible to get out to sea. Arboga did not exist at this time, but there may have been settlements along the then shoreline. Fortifications were built around 500 AD as entrenchments or ramparts, often on a hill like this one, near waterways. Within the rampart there were several houses, and sometimes livestock, and some castles functioned as marketplaces. Halvarsborg is the subject of legends; King Halvard is said to have lived there and protected the country from robbers. In the north-west corner of the castle there is a stone recess called King Halvard's troll chamber. The king is also said to have had a sword that could enter a human chest by itself. The view from the top is still stunning and you can look out over Lake Tjurlången. On the other side of the lake you can glimpse Arbogas golf course and around the lake there is an 11 kilometer long hiking trail.