Enholmen

On this barren island, just outside Slite, you can learn about a piece of defense history and how it developed from the 17th century until 2010.

Few places in Sweden have a military history to tell from the 1600s to the 2010s. Most buildings have been erected and demolished and adapted to prevailing defense strategies. Today, well-preserved remains and buildings remain and tell the story of Gotland's defense history.

Enholmen as a defense facility

After the Peace of Brömsebo in 1645, planning began for the five-cornered bastion rampart, the construction of which began in 1657 and was then interrupted. Work resumed in 1711 and was not completed until 1771. The name Carlsswerd derives from the swords of Carl XII: Doppskon, Knappen, Fästet, Klingan and Baljan.

However, the defense facility quickly became obsolete and was demolished in 1788, following an increased threat from the east and Sweden's changed defense strategy.

When cholera reached the shores of the Baltic Sea in 1831, a quarantine station and a cholera hospital were established on Enholmen. The site reverted to a port of war during the Crimean War in 1853. As a result, two casemated defences were built and completed in 1858. By 1904, the facilities were replaced by the Mojner battery, south of Slite, and the Enholmen batteries were closed.

However, Enholmen has been manned by military guards during the two world wars and has subsequently had various functions, including as a training ground for the coastal artillery in Fårösund. It was not until 2010 that Enholmen was demilitarized.

Good to know for you as a visitor

• You need to take a boat to get to Enholmen.
• Remember to show consideration, do not leave any rubbish and respect the wildlife on the island.