Skansen Kronan — Attraction in Göteborgs Stad

Gothenburg (Göteborg) is a city I first visited in my youth and recently returned to after many years. What I found was a place transformed — no longer the quiet, industrial town of the past, but a modern, multicultural city still carrying traces of its working-class roots.

One of my strongest memories from that early visit was a tour of the Volvo truck factory. Watching the entire production line in motion — precise, clean, and efficient — left a lasting impression. At that time, Volvo symbolized Sweden’s industrial pride and Gothenburg’s economic strength.

Back then, the city was built around shipyards, factories, and maritime trade. Life was modest but stable. Society was cohesive, built on shared values and hard work.

Today, much has changed. Gothenburg is greener, more international, and culturally richer. The Haga district, Slottsskogen Park, Liseberg, and the archipelago islands make it a beautiful place to visit. The city has invested in sustainability, education, and urban development.

But Gothenburg also reflects the complex challenges of modern Europe. A large wave of immigration, particularly from Africa and the Middle East, has changed the social fabric of the city. Many came seeking opportunity — but today, work is harder to find, and integration is not always successful. Tensions exist, especially in outer neighborhoods where unemployment and cultural gaps are more visible.

While the city has gained diversity, it has also lost some of the stability and cohesion that once defined it. Gothenburg now stands at a crossroads — between past and future, between progress and uncertainty.

It remains a city worth visiting — not just for its beauty, but for the questions it raises about identity, change, and...

Visiting Skansen Kronan, a fortress and watchtower in Haga area during my sabbatical stay at the Lundberg laboratories, Gothenburg University, Sweden. Skansen Kronan is a fortress situated on the hill Risåsberget in the Haga district. It was designed by Erik Dahlberg and completed in 1697. When Skansen Kronan was finished it had 23 canons and was ready for battle, but was never attacked by enemies. The roof was not completed until 1700. Skansen has 4-5 metre thick walls made of granite, gneiss and diabase. As Skansen Kronan was never attacked, the cannons on the inside have never been used! What a very turbulent history! During the 19th century it turned into a prison and later on an emergency residency. During the 20th century it was a military museum. The fortress and the twin counterpart, Skansen Lejonet, were built as part of the defenses against possible Danish attack on Gothenburg from the south. The fortress - originally built outside the city walls - is today situated in the city centre of Gothenburg on a hill in the city district of Haga. It was used as a military museum until 2004. Today Skansen Kronan is a private facility for conferences and private parties. Best regards to all, Prof. Fahd Nasr....

The hike up to Skansen Kronan is moderate at best and when you reach the top, you're rewarded with a great view of Gothenburg. The fortress itself, other than being very old, is not very impressive. The municipality needs to do a better job maintaining the grounds. There were weeds and tall grass and some graffiti. The description also mentioned there were about 200 stairs to climb but we never came across them. There was an asphalt path leading down to the street below that looks to have perhaps replaced the stairs sometime in the recent past. If you want a great view of Gothenburg, it's well worth the hike up to the top but don't expect to be impressed by...