Aspö
A small island, a short distance off the southern tip of Karlskrona, Aspö is part of the archipelago and home to under five hundred, though this population swells in the summer months. With an hourly car ferry from the mainland, Aspö is well served. A single ICA sits on the island offering basic necessities year-round with a few cafes, a restaurant in the Fortress and many artist's galleries opening in the summer months.
The car portion of the ferry is often very full, with people arriving in their cars an hour ahead of the scheduled arrival, and then parking them in a queue and wandering off.
Sights & Culture
Godnatts fästningstorn
On the ferry route out to Aspö, you pass the Godnatts fästningstorn, one of several towers built on islands. The size of the rock Godnatts perches on is small enough a passerby would be forgiven for assuming the tower rises out of the water. In fact, the islet is enough a basement level has been carved out for the Fortress.
Godnatts fästningstorn
The tower was erected in approximately 1850 and was out of date before it was completed.
The wooden roof is known as a fredstak, or peace ceiling, in that it is removed and replaced with heavy artillery during times of conflict.
Restored before the turn of the millennium, the Fortress is now used for tours and the occasional art exhibit.
Drottningskärs kastell
Though three hundred years old, the Fortress has not seen any combat. It has a surprisingly modern look considering its age, with slightly sloping walls and a more pebbled construction.
The Fortress sits on its own island, which is protected landward by a moat. During the summer months, you can explore the Fortress and dine at the restaurant, during the other ten months of the year, you are free to walk around some of the outsides until the land ends in water. It is an impressive building and more deserving of the name fortress or castle than many of the buildings claiming that title in Sweden.
Ellenabben Fortress
Towards the end of the 18th Century, Ellenabben Fortress was constructed and was ready to use in 1904. Ostensibly to replace the older Drottningskärs Kastell, it was armed with six guns, moved from warships to this Fortress.
Ellenebben Fortress
Surrounded by a wire fence, this building is much more tightly controlled in terms of access than Drottningskärs though some are fortunate enough to gain access. The Fortress was in active use, for training soldiers in anti-aircraft activities until the 1940s, with the building being decommissioned in 1959.
Nya Ellenabben
Also called Central Command E2 for the Ellenabben Guns.
An even more recent development than the Ellenabben Fortress, Nya Ellenabben was built as a Nuclear Defence bunker and is occasionally open to the public to view. When it is not an open day, it is merely a pair of metal doors in the ground, hiding the four stories of secrets. All but one of the guns has been decommissioned. The remaining emplacement, without ammunition, is fully functional and controlled by the underground bunker.
Nearby, a small radar battery can be seen and a small plaque with information on the location.
Missionhuset
The Mission House is just off the main ring road and on route to Nya Ellenabben. A small wood house for the mission.
Museums & Galleries
Museum för rörligt kustartilleri
Only open in the summer, the Artillery Museum is towards the west coast of Aspö.
Restaurants & Bars
Nina's Thai Food
A food truck, set in someone's back garden, Nina's is just past the ICA and on the way to the Drottningskärs Fortress. Offering a few daily dishes, Nina's is perhaps the only place to get food that is not the ICA supermarket on the island outside of the summer months.
