Lighthouses of Sweden: Göteborg Area

This page lists lighthouses of the greater Göteborg area in southwestern Sweden, including three municipalities in the southern part of the county of Västra Götaland: Stenungsund, Kungälv, and Göteborg. This coast faces west on the Kattegat, the sound separating Sweden and Denmark. The Swedish word for a lighthouse is fyr. The front light of a range is the nedrefyr (lower light) and the rear light is the övrefyr (upper light). Aids to navigation in Sweden are maintained by the Swedish Maritime Administration (Sjöfartsverket). Many of the major lighthouses have resident attendents, and guided tours can often be arranged. The Swedish Lighthouse Society (Svenska Fyrsällskapet) works for the preservation of the lighthouses. I'm indebted to Michel Forand for providing excellent information for this page, including information from one of the books in his collection: Viktoria Ask and Maria Sidén, Fyrguide från Kattholmen till Smygehuk (2000). ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. SV numbers are from the Sjöfarsverket light list (Fyrlista) as reported by the Swedish Lighthouse Society. Admiralty numbers are from volume C of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 116. General Sources Swedish Lighthouse Society (Svenska Fyrsällskapet, SFA) The Society has a large web site, and some of the information is available in English as well as Swedish. An interactive map links to pdf pages (in Swedish) for the major lighthouses, and there is a list of photos available. Online List of Lights - Sweden Photos of navigational aids by various photographers posted by Alex Trabas. Lighthouses in Sweden Aerial photos posted by Marinas.com. Lighthouse Pages from Anke and Jens - Sweden Photos and brief accounts (in English) by two German lighthouse fans. Henning Jensen's Lighthouse Pages Photos and comments for about 20 lighthouses, posted by an employee of the Maritime Administration who helps maintain the lighthouses. Swedish Lighthouse Selection Page Photos posted by Pete Amass. Fyrar Photos taken from the sea and posted by Bosse Arnholm. Schwedische Leuchttürme auf historischen Postkarten Historic postcard views posted by Klaus Huelse.

Vinga Fyr, August 2006 Creative Commons photo by John Nixon Marstrand Fyr, June 2008 Creative Commons photo by Kristofer Gustafsson

Marstrand Area Lighthouses

Backebådan 1988. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Tower and gallery are unpainted concrete; in a reverse of the usual Scandinavian pattern, the lantern is painted red with a white roof. SFA has a photo by E. Hillberg, Trabas has a view from the sea, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a shoal halfway between the islands of Dyrön and Instön, about 3 km (1.8 mi) northeast of Marstrand. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-089; SV-7956; Admiralty C0500; NGA 0731. * Skallen 1944. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 2 s on, 2 s off. 6 m (20 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Stuart Chalmers's photo is at right, another closeup is available, SFA has a photo by S. Björnson, and Trabas has a more distant view. Located at the western tip of Marstrandsön, an island just to the west of Marstrand and accessible by ferry from Marstrand. Accessible by hiking from the village on the island. Site open, tower closed. SV-7931; Admiralty C0493; NGA 0712. * Marstrand Havn (2) 1914 (station established 1868). Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); three flashes every 9 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 5 m (17 ft) octagonal lantern and gallery, mounted on a round concrete base. Entire lighthouse painted white. 1-story wood keeper's house. Kristofer Gustafsson's photo is at the top of this page, Trabas has a fine photo, SFA has a photo by S. Björnson and another photo by T. Knudson, Rudi Pauwels has a 2008 photo, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located at the western tip of Koön, marking the northern entrance to the harbor of Marstrand. Accessible by road. SV-7937; Admiralty C0494; NGA 0720.

Skallen Fyr, May 2008 Creative Commons photo by Stuart Chalmers

*** Carlstens Fästning (Karlsten Fortress)

1781. Inactive since 1868. Large round cylindrical stone tower rising from a 17th century fortress. The fortress was built by King Carl X Gustav after the Treaty of Roskilde transferred Bohuslän from Norway to Sweden in 1658. The great round tower was added in the 1680s. The light was displayed from a short tower also seen in an 1867 engraving. The light was deactivated in 1868 in favor of the Pater Noster lighthouse. An aerial photo suggests that part of the base of the light tower may survive. Google has a satellite view of the fortress. Located on the hilltop behind Marstrand, on the island of Marstrandsön. The fortress is open for tours and can be rented for dinners and conferences. Site open, fortress open daily June through August and on weekends the rest of the year. Site manager: Carlstens Fästning.

Pater Noster (Hamneskär) 1868 (Nils Gustaf von Heidenstam). Reactivated (inactive 1977-2007); focal plane unknown; one long white flash every 15 s. 32 m (105 ft) pyramidal cast iron skeletal tower with lantern, gallery, and central cylinder. Lighthouse painted red. 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house and other light station buildings, also painted red. The original 1st order Fresnel lens is on display at the Bohusläns Museum in Uddevalla. SFA has a photo of the station by E. Hillberg, and Huelse has a historic postcard view of the station. Hamneskär is a skerry in the Skagerrak about 7 km (4.5 mi) west of Marstrand. Deactivated in favor of the new Hätteberget Fyr in 1977, the historic lighthouse was in poor condition by the 1990s. A preservation group, Pater Nosters Vänner, was formed, and the Bohusläns Museum agreed to manage the restoration effiort. Funds for restoration were secured and the lighthouse was dismantled and transported to Uddevalla. There it was discovered that the tower was in much worse shape than had been thought, and the funds available were insufficient for the repairs needed. Two years were needed to organize a larger effort. In 2004, a restoration agreement was signed between local and state agencies, the museum, and the firm of Pharmadule Emtunga. Photos taken in 2005 of the disassembled lighthouse are available (browse through the photostream for additional photos). The lighthouse was reassembled and reactivated on Hamneskär in 2007. Google's satellite view of the station was taken while the lighthouse w as absent. The photo at right and another photo taken 1 July 2007, show the lighthouse on a barge at Marstrand, ready for its return, and a May 2008 photo shows it back on station. While the lighthouse was inactive a continuous white light (focal plane 15 m (49 ft)) was shown from the skeletal tower seen in SFA's photo by C. Lagerwall; this light remained in use after the lighthouse was reactivated, according to the Admiralty Notices to Mariners. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-176; SV-7925; Admiralty C0489.4; NGA 0700. Hätteberget 1977. Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); two long (1.5 s) flashes every 12 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 26 m (85 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern, upper and lower galleries, and a helipad above the lantern. Upper half of lighthouse painted red, lower half black. SFA has a photo by G. Molin, and Trabas has a very distant view. Located about 8 km (5 mi) west southwest of Marstrand and 3.5 km (2.2 mi) south of Hamneskär. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-028; SV-7925; Admiralty C0489; NGA 0708.

Pater Noster Fyr, loaded on a barge for its return to Hamneskär, June 28, 2007 (foreground statue of musician and author Evert Taube) anonymous Creative Commons photo

Lönnbäcken

1937. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 12.5 m (41 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with octagonal lantern and gallery, mounted on a conical stone base. Lighthouse painted white with one narrow black horizontal band. SFA has a photo by E. Hillberg, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a rock off the southwestern tip of Klåverön, about 3 km (2 mi) southwest of Marstrand. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-266; SV-7908; Admiralty C0521; NGA 0872.

Lekskär (2) 1897 (station established 1884) . Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern, painted white. Behind the lighthouse is a remarkable daybeacon, a square pyramidal wood tower about 16 km (52 ft) high, painted in a black and white checkerboard pattern. A photo is at right, SFA has a photo by E. Hillberg, Thomas Lundqvist has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse, a wood tower, was destroyed by fire. Located on a skerry about 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Klåverön and about 5 km (3 mi) south of Marstrand. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-236; SV-7898; Admiralty C0520; NGA 0876. Sälö Knapp (Sälöknapp) 1946. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); four flashes every 12 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 7.5 m (25 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with octagonal lantern and gallery, painted white. SFA has a photo by E. Hillberg. Located on a rock in an area crowded with small islands about 5 km (3 mi) southeast of Klåverön and the same distance southwest of Kovikshamn on the mainland. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-7887; Admiralty C0524; NGA 0880. Sälö (3) 1946 (station established 1884). Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); quick-flashing light, white, red or green depending on direction. Tower, probably with lantern and gallery, painted white. No photo available. Located about 1.7 km (1.1 mi) southwest of the Sälöknapp light. Site status unknown. Admiralty C0525; NGA 0884.

Lekskär Fyr, August 2006 anonymous Creative Commons photo

Hjuvik and Hönö Area Lighthouses
Stora Pölsan

1934. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 2 s on, 6 s off. 10 m (33 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with one black horizontal band. SFA has a photo by C. Lagerwall, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a small island in the Skagerrak (here near its junction with the Kattegat) about 5 km (3 mi) west of Rörö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-7915; Admiralty C0523; NGA 0888.

Stora Oset (2)

1913 (station established 1893). Active; focal plane 12.5 m (41 ft); three flashes every 9 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 6 m (20 ft) round lantern and gallery, painted white, mounted on a round concrete base. SFA has a photo by E. Hillberg. Located on a skerry about 800 m (1/2 mi) south of the harbor of Hyppeln, on the island of the same name. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-7918; Admiralty C0528; NGA 0916.

* Björkö Nedre

1884. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 1.5 s on, 1.5 s off; the white light is intensified on the range line. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern, painted white with a red roof. This is the front light of a range that guides vessels southbound into the sounds between Björkö on the east and the islands of Hälsö and Öckerö on the west. SFA has a photo by E. Hillberg, Greg Williams has a good photo, and another photo is available. Located on the western tip of Björkö. Site open, tower closed. SV-7858; Admiralty C0532; NGA 0928.

* Hälsö Övre

1884. Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); quick-flashing white light. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern mounted on a round concrete base. Lantern painted white. SFA has a photo by C. Magnusson. The range guides vessels northbound in the strait between Hälsö and Björkö. Located on a rise on the northwest side of Hälsö, 750 m (1/2 mi) northwest of the front light (next entry). Site open, tower closed. SV-7836.01; Admiralty C0536.1; NGA 0940.

* Hälsö Nedre

1884. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 2 s on, 2 s off. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern white with a green roof. SFA has a photo by C. Lagerwall, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a point of land at the eastern end of the town of Hälsö, on the island of the same name. Site open, tower closed. SV-7836; Admiralty C0536; NGA 0936.

* Lilla Varholmen Övre (2)

1927 (station established 1889). Active; focal plane 29 m (95 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 1.5 s on, 1.5 s off, synchronized with the front light. 5 m (17 ft) round lantern and gallery, painted white, mounted on a round concrete base. SFA has a photo by E. Hillberg, and Trabas also has a photo. Located in the town of Hjuvik, on the southwest side of the island of Lilla Varholmen. Site open, tower closed. SV-7928.01; Admiralty C0552.1; NGA 0964.

* Stora Varholmen (2)

1966 (station established 1884) . Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two long (2 s) flashes every 12 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal lantern, painted white with a red roof. SFA has a photo by C. Lagerwall. Located on a bluff on the southwest side of the island of Stora Varholmen, southwest of Hjuvik. The island is accessible by ferry from Hjuvik. Site open, tower closed. SV-7616; Admiralty C0556; NGA 0968.

* Tångudden

1932. Active; focal plane 5 m (17 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 1.5 s on, 1.5 s off. 5 m (17 ft) round lantern and gallery, painted white, mounted on a round concrete base. SFA has a photo by C. Lagerwall. Located on the eastern point of the island of Hönö, where it helps guide ferries arriving from Hjuvik. Site open, tower closed. SV-7842; Admiralty C0558; NGA 0972.

Fötö 1991. Active; focal plane 6 m (20 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 5 m (17 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower, painted white with a blue roof. The light is shown through a square opening. SFA has a photo by C. Lagerwall. This light guides westbound vessels approaching the bridge that joins the islands of Hönö and Fötö. Located on an islet just east of the bridge. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-7625; Admiralty C0573.5; NGA 0942. Hönö Huvud 1904. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) round lantern, painted white. SFA has a photo by C. Lagerwall. Located on a skerry about 1.2 km (3/4 mi) southwest of the western point of Hönö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-7828; Admiralty C0560; NGA 0992. Tynneskär 1941. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) 2-stage round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with a black horizontal band at the base. The light is seen in the left background of the photo at right, and SFA has a distant view by Jonas Andersson. Located just off the southwest coast of Hönö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-7808; Admiralty C0562.6; NGA 1000. * Klåva (Hönö) 1930. Active; focal plane 4.5 m (15 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 2 s on, 2 s off. 4 m (13 ft) round lantern and gallery, painted white, mounted on a round concrete base. A photo is at right, SFA has a photo by Jonas Andersson, Pia Sørensen has a 2008 photo, and . Located on the east side of the entrance to Hönö harbor, on the south side of the island. Site open, tower closed. SV-7809; Admiralty C0563; NGA 1004. Benskär 1946. Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); three flashes every 9 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white. No photo available, but the shadow of the lighthouse is seen in Google's satellite view. Located on a skerry about 2 km (1.2 mi) southwest of Hönö and the same distance west of Fotö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-7806; Admiralty C0562; NGA 1012.

Klåva (Hönö) Fyr, April 2009 anonymous Creative Commons photo

Måvholmsbådan

1991. Inactive since 2004. Approx. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with one green horizontal band. A closeup photo is available, SFA has a photo by C. Lagerwall, and Google has a satellite view. Located about 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Stora Valholmen and 3 km (2 mi) east of Fötö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-7623; Admiralty C0578.8; NGA 0980.

Vinga Area Lighthouses
**** Vinga (3)

1890 (station established 1841). Active; focal plane 46 m (151 ft); two white flashes, separated by 7.5 s, every 30 s. 29 m (95 ft) square granite tower with lantern and gallery; original Fresnel lens in use. The lighthouse is unpainted stone; lantern dome is gray metallic. Near the lighthouse is a large square pyramidal daymark, painted red, that survives from the early 19th century. John Nixon's photo appears at the top of this page, François La Poutré has a fine panoramic view of the station, Trabas has a view from the sea, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a fine satellite view. Vinga is the traditional landfall light, not just for Göteborg but for all of Sweden. Along with Skagen Fyr on the Danish side it marks the entrance to the Kattegat and the Baltic for ships arriving from the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean. A "lightkeeper's village" surrounds the lighthouse, with several keeper's houses and other structures, including the house where Swedish poet Evert Taube, a son of a keeper, was born in 1890 (the same year the lighthouse was built). The historic tower began to deteriorate when it was automated in 1974. Ten years later, the Vännerna av Vinga (Friends of Vinga) was organized to work for preservation of the lighthouse and other buildings. Today Vinga is one of the most popular attractions of the Swedish coast, readily accessible by passenger ferry from Göteborg. Located in the entrance to the Kattegat 18 km (11 mi) due west of Göteborg. Site open, tower open for climbing during the summer season. ARLHS SEW-076; SV-7547; Admiralty C0565; NGA 1020.

* Vinga (2) 1854 (station established 1841). Inactive since 1890. Approx. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical stone tower; lantern removed. Upper half of the lighthouse painted red, lower half white. The tower now carries a radar antenna. Tor Svensson's photo is at right, a good photo taken from the gallery of the 1890 lighthouse is available, the tower is centered in François La Poutré's photo of the Vinga lighthouse village., and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse was built to accompany the 1841 lighthouse and provide a double light on Vinga. (Only foundation ruins remain of the 1841 tower.) Located a short distance southeast of the present lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-421. * Vinga Östra Övre (East Range Rear) 1896. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); red light occulting once every 4 s, synchronized with the front light. Approx. 8 m (26 ft) square wood tower on pilings, surmounted by a square slatted daymark; the light is shown through a rectangular window. Lighthouse painted black with one white horizontal band. A closeup is available, the light appears to the left of the 1854 tower in François La Poutré's photo of the Vinga lighthouse village, SFA has a closeup photo by C. Lagerwall, and Google has a satellite view. This range guides vessels westbound, departing Göteborg. Site open, tower closed. SV-7586.1; Admiralty C0566.1; NGA 1052. * Vinga Östra Nedre (East Range Front) 1896. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); red light occulting once every 4 s, synchronized with the rear light. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. This appears in the left foreground in François La Poutré's photo of the Vinga lighthouse village, and SFA has a closeup photo by C. Lagerwall, and Google has a satellite view. Site open, tower closed. SV-7586; Admiralty C0566; NGA 1048. Vinga Ungar Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); three flashes every 8 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 13 m (43 ft) post light mounted on a round cylindrical tower with gallery. Lighthouse painted white with one black horizontal band at the base. SFA has a closeup photo by C. Lagerwall. Located on an isolated rock 730 m (0.45 mi) northwest of the Vinga lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-7581; Admiralty C0564; NGA 1044. Viten 1896. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 3 s on, 3 s off. 11 m (36 ft) round, broadly conical stone tower with lantern. Lighthouse painted white. SFA has a photo by E. Hillberg, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. This light guides vessels approaching Vinga from Göteborg. Located about 1 km (0.6 mi) east northeast of Vinga. Accessible only by boat, but there are good views from the passenger ferries to Vinga. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-217; SV-7578; Admiralty C0567; NGA 1040.

1854 Vinga Fyr, June 2007 Wikipedia Creative Commons photo by Tor Svensson

Trubaduren

1965. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); three very long (3 s) flashes every 30 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 26 m (85 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with upper and lower galleries and a helipad on top. Upper half of the lighthouse painted red, lower half black. Trabas has a good photo, and SFA has a photo by G. Molin. Located on a shoal about 3 km (1.8 mi) southeast of Vinga. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-070; SV-7552; Admiralty C0569; NGA 1024.

Göteborg Western Approach Lighthouses
Note: The best way to see these lighthouses is from one of the Stena Line ferries crossing the north end of the Kattegat between Göteborg and Frederikshavn, Denmark.

Buskärs Knöte (2) 1964 (station established 1841). Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); three flashes every 9 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted red; lantern roof painted white. Trabas has a fine photo, SFA has a photo by E. Hillberg, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a rock off the eastern end of Buskär and about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) west of Galterö. Accessible only by boat. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-111; SV-7612; Admiralty C0570; NGA 1064. Böttö (1) 1841. Inactive since 1991. Lantern centered on the roof of a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. Lantern painted red, house painted red and white. A photo is at right, Trabas has a photo, and Huelse has a historic postcard view. Ships approaching Göteborg pass very close to this light. Located on a tiny island about 400 m (1/4 mi) due west of the western tip of Galterö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Böttö (2) 1991 (station established 1841). Active; characteristics unknown. Approx. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with one green horizontal band under the gallery. A photo is at right, Trabas has a photo, Nico Huising has a 2008 photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located adjacent to the historic lighthouse, on a tiny island about 400 m (1/4 mi) due west of the western tip of Galterö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-7608; Admiralty C0571.

Böttö Fyr, May 2008 anonymous Creative Commons photo

Vasskärsgrund

1983. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); very quick-flashing light, white, red or green depending on direction, interrupted once every 8 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and double gallery. Lighthouse painted white with a red horizontal band between the galleries. Trabas has a photo, SFA has a photo by E. Hillberg and a second photo by C. Lagerwall, and Google has a satellite view. Ships approaching Göteborg pass between this light and the Böttö lighthouse. Located about 400 m (1/4 mi) northwest of the western tip of Galterö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-7651; Admiralty C0571.6; NGA 1080.

#Brandnäsbrotten

Date unknown (station established 1886). Inactive since 2006. This is, or was, a round lantern mounted on a round concrete base; the lantern was painted white and the base green. SFA has a photo by E. Hillberg. According to the Sjöfartsverket in July 2006, the lighthouse "has been demolished...and a green floodlighted beacon remains." This may mean the lantern was removed, but the green base remains. Google's satellite view tends to support that idea, but more information is needed. Located on the south side of the Göteborg approach channel and about 400 m (1/4 mi) north of Galterö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-7654; ex-Admiralty C0572; NGA 1084.

Gäveskär (2) 1964 (station established 1886). Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); quick-flashing red light. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with one red horizontal band under the gallery. A walkway leads to a 1-story wood keeper's house; the house is painted red with white trim. A photo is at right, Trabas has an excellent photo, SFA has a photo by U. Völz, Ida den Fina has a good photo, another fine photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. This is an important light, because ships approaching Göteborg make a turn to the north as they pass this point. Located on a small island about 400 m (1/4 mi) north of the island of Brännö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-018; SV-7664; Admiralty C0573; NGA 1088. Knippelholmen (2) 1962 (station established 1880). Inactive since 2004. 6 m (20 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted with black and white horizontal bands. SFA has a photo by C. Lagerwall and a second photo by E. Hillberg, and Google has a satellite view. The light in the lantern has been discontinued, but the tower continues as a day and night beacon, floodlit at night. Located on a rocky islet on the north side of the entrance to Göteborg, about 800 m (1/2 mi) off the Arendal waterfront. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-7681; ex-Admiralty C0582; NGA 1104.

Gäveskär Fyr; U. S. Navy photo

* Rune

Date unknown. Inactive (since 1962?). Approx. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. SFA has a photo by Jonas Andersson, a closeup photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. It appears that the lighthouse is floodlit as a beacon at night. Presumably the light was replaced by the offshore Knippelholmen lighthouse, which assumed its Fyrlista number 7681. Located on a promontory at the end of the Måsholmsvågen in Arendal, a suburb of Göteborg on the north side of the approach to the city. Site open, tower closed. ex-SV-7681.

* Göteborgsgrund (lantern)

1939. Inactive since 2003. 6 m (20 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. Andreas Marx has a closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse stood on a shoal on the south side of the Göteborg entrance channel; SFA has a photo by E. Hillberg of the light on the original station. In 2003 both shoal and lighthouse were removed as part of a widening of the dredged channel. The lantern was preserved and displayed on a replica tower at the Eriksberg docks, on the north side of the Göta River in Göteborg. Located at the end of the Eriksberg ferry pier. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. ex-SV-7683; Admiralty C0581; NGA 1124.

**** Fyrskepp 29 Fladen

1914. Decommissioned 1969. 32.8 m (108 ft) steel lightship with a lantern on the mainmast. Ship painted red. Erik Töyrä has an excellent closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. Deployment of the ship was delayed until 1919 by World War I. It served until 1951 on the Ölandsrev station and then for 15 years at Hävringe; only in its last two years was it stationed at Fladen. In 1987 the ship was added to the collection of the Göteborg Maritime Adventure Center, and it has been moored at the museum on the Göteborg waterfront ever since. The museum is located on the Packhusplats quay, on the south side of the Göta River in downtown Göteborg, near the opera house. Site open; vessel open for tours daily march through November. Site manager: Göteborgs Maritima Upplevelsecentrum.

Styrsö Area Lighthouses
Note: Styrsö is the largest town in a group of islands in the Kattegat southwest of Göteborg. The major islands are all accessible by ferry.
Stora Känsö

1944. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, 1.5 s on, 1.5 s off. 4 m (13 ft) round lantern, painted white with a red roof. SFA has a photo by E. Hillberg, and Google has a satellite view. Located atop a rocky cliff marking the north side of the entrance to the narrow channel between the islands of Stora Känsö and Vargö, about 1.6 km (1 mi) west of Styrsö. Site status unknown. SV-7567; Admiralty C0619; NGA 1056.

* Stora Knarrholmen (2)

1983 (station established 1890). Active; focal plane 4 m (13 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 4 m (13 ft) round lantern, painted white with a red roof. SFA has a photo by E. Hillberg. Located at the southeast corner of the island of Stora Knarrholmen; accessible by a short walk from the town of the same name. Site open, tower closed. SV-7517; Admiralty C0636; NGA 1188.

* Donsöhuvud

1919. Active; focal plane 5 m (17 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 5 m (17 ft) round lantern and gallery mounted on a short concrete pedestal. Lantern painted white. SFA has a photo by C. Lagerwall, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the southeastern point of Donsö; probably accessible by a short walk from the nearest road. Site open, tower closed. SV-7501; Admiralty C0632; NGA 1184.

Rättaren (2)

1981 (station established 1885). Active; focal plane 5 m (17 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 5 m (17 ft) round lantern and gallery mounted on a short concrete pedestal. Lantern painted white, pedestal green. SFA has a photo by E. Hillberg, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a rock about 600 m (0.4 mi) off the northeastern shore of the island of Vrångö. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. SV-7495; Admiralty C0630; NGA 1180.

Donsö Svartskär

1944. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with a black horizontal band at the base. SFA has a photo by E. Hillberg, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a small island in the Kattegat about 800 m (1/2 mi) west northwest of Lokholmen; this is not near the larger island of Donsö. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. SV-7558; Admiralty C0624; NGA 1152.

Valö (2) 1935 (station established 1885). Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); one long flash every 8 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white with one green horizontal band under the gallery. A 2008 photo is available, Erik Sjostedt has a good photo of the station, SFA has a closeup by E. Hillberg, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a good satellite view. This lighthouse is important in guiding ships approaching Göteborg from the south. Daymarkers were built at this location in 1827 and again in 1863. Located at the southeastern point of Valö. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS SWE-414; SV-7490; Admiralty C0628; NGA 1176. Tistlarna 1905. Active; focal plane 23 m (75 ft); two long (2 s) flashes every 15 s, white or red depending on direction. 14 m (46 ft) 3-story semi-elliptical masonry keeper's house with a large lantern and two galleries. The original 2° Henry Lepaute Fresnel lens is still in use. Lighthouse painted white with black trim; lantern dome is gray metallic. Two 1-story keeper's houses, painted red, and other light station buildings. Leif Åkesson's photo is at right, SFA has a closeup photo by C. Lagerwall and a photo of the light station by E. Hillberg, Wolfgang Werner has a distant view, the Sjöfartsverket has a page on the lighthouse, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a fine satellite view. Located on a small island in the Kattegat about 6 km (4.5 mi) southwest of Vrångö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-392; SV-7484; Admiralty C0625; NGA 1160.

Tistlarna Fyr, August 2009 Creative Commons photo by Leif Åkesson

Information available on lost lighthouses:

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Posted April 9, 2007. Checked and revised October 9, 2009. Lighthouses: 46. Lightships: 1. Site copyright 2009 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.