Vädersholm is a former fortress as well as a small peninsula in Lake Mogden. It is close to the locality of Hökerum in Ulricehamn Municipality in the historical province of Västergötland. This is the home of an old fortress, of which there is only a ruin left today. It is the younger of at least two former fortifications in the area. A bit to the south is the location of what is believed to be the location of the fortress known as Fagranäs.
A Short History of Vädersholm
The first known written mention of Vädersholm dates back to 1378. The fortress was at the time owned by Heyne Snakenborg and his wife Benedikta Gustavsdotter. It is Benedikta who has been credited for the first written mention of Vädersholm. This was during the Middle Ages a borderland between the province of Västergötland in Sweden and Halland in Denmark. The fortress was attacked and sieged by Queen Margaretha of Denmark in 1388-89. Vädersholm was at the time an island in the lake, it is first more recently that it has gained land access. The fortress was acquired by the Gudhem Abbey after Heyne Snakenborg’s death. It is believed to have been inhabited during the 14th and 15th centuries before being abandoned.
Things to Do and See
In addition to being a beautiful nature area with a view of Lake Mogden, Vädersholm is also home to a few still visible remains from the former fortress. The ruins are still visible in a few places on the peninsula. There is a smaller path through the center of the peninsula that will take you through the area. The three mounds you will find here hide the remains and ruins of what was once part of the fortification and its settlement.
How to Get to Vädersholm
- Flights: The nearest airports are Göteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to the west and Jönköping Airport (JKG) to the east.
- Car: Vädersholm lies along countryside roads east of Hökerum.
- Bus: Buses from Västtrafik connect Vädersholm with the surrounding area with bus stops in nearby Hökerum.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 384 kilometers (4 h)
- Gothenburg – 92 kilometers (1 h)
- Malmö – 312 kilometers (3 h 20 min)
- Linköping – 189 kilometers (2 h)
- Kiruna – 1614 kilometers (16 h 40 min)
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