Vaxholm Fortress

A scenic view of the fortress may be seen from the car ferry which plies the short distance between Vaxholm and the island of Rindö.

The fortress was originally constructed by Gustav Vasa in 1548[citation needed] to defend Stockholm against shipborne attacks from the east.

The islet of Vaxholmen, which is entirely covered by the fortress, lies in the Kodjupet strait, which was one of two main routes into Stockholm from the open sea.

At the same time, the alternative Oxdjupet strait [sv], on the far side of Rindö island, was artificially reduced in depth in order to prevent its use.

Its design was inspired by the ideas on fortifications propounded by the French engineers Marc René Montalbert and Lazare Carnot.