Borg is a small settlement in the central part of Öland, the second-largest island in Sweden. The settlement might be small, but it has in its vicinity both the ruins of the large ring fort Gråborg as well as the ruins of a Middle Age chapel. For anyone who enjoys exploring ancient remains, this area has a lot to offer.
A Short History of Borg
The fortress here is believed to date back to the 6th century. The local legend tells that this was where the pretender king Burislev grew up. Burislev was from the house of Sverker and competed with King Knut Eriksson for the crown in the 12th century. Burislev is a, otherwise, very unknown person in Swedish written history.
The fortress saw its heyday from the 12th century onwards and it was also during the 12th century that the local chapel was built. The chapel was named after the Danish king Knud Svendsen, a king that lived in the 11th century and later became a saint. The chapel was abandoned in the 16th century, but the fortress continued to be active at least during the war between Denmark and Sweden in 1677.
The only thing that has survived is the small farming settlement and the whole farm is since 1945 in the ownership of the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History, and Antiquities.
Things to Do and See
Close to the farm, there is a rest stop that is a great start for short walks to the main attractions in the area, the ruins of the fort, and the chapel. Additionally, there are several hiking paths in the area.
Gråborg Fortress
Gråborg Fortress is the main attraction and it is usually marked on the maps. The fortress is believed to date back to the 6th century and was expanded to its current size in the 12th century. Its walls are in the form of an ellipse and measure around 210 times 160 meters. Parts of its main gate are still standing, making it possible to walk through the valve and see the field that forms the inside.
Saint Knut’s Chapel
Saint Knut’s Chapel was built in the 12th century and it was in use until the 16th century. It is today an impressive ruin with parts of its walls still standing. It is located between the village and the Gråborg Fortress.
Hiking: Mittlandsleden, Gråborg – Ismantorps borg
Mittlandsleden is a longer hiking trail through the central parts of Öland. In total the different stages measure around 50 kilometers of hiking trails. One of its stages goes between Gråborg and the fortress at Ismantorp. The distance is about 15 kilometers through the countryside. The path will lead you from one ring fort to another.
Hiking: Mittlandsleden, Gråborg – Jordtorpsåsen
This is another stage of the hiking trail Mittlandsleden. It leads from Gråborg to the nature reserve Jordtorpsåsen, a distance of around 4 kilometers. It is a path that almost goes in a circle in case you want to head back to Gråborg.
How to Get to Borg
- Flights: The closest airport is Kalmar Öland Airport (KLR) 25 kilometers away.
- Car: Borg is along countryside roads in the center of the island.
- Bus: Buses from Kalmar Länstrafik connect the area around Borg with the surrounding region.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 430 kilometers (4 h 47 min)
- Gothenburg – 357 kilometers (4 h 14 min)
- Malmö – 299 kilometers (3 h 19 min)
- Linköping – 253 kilometers (3 h 9 min)
- Kiruna – 1661 kilometers (18 h 42 min)
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