The Carolus Rex bastion at Esperantoplatsen, near Kungshöjd, is one of the clearest traces of Gothenburg’s old fortified city. The bastion was built as a projecting part of the city’s defences and formed part of the system of walls, ramparts and moat that protected Gothenburg in its early history.
Its full name is Carolus Undecimus Rex, Latin for King Charles XI. The bastion’s pointed shape was designed to cut off firing angles along the fortifications, and it still gives a sense of how Gothenburg was once laid out as a fortified trading city by the river.
Carolus Rex is one of Gothenburg’s few remaining bastions. Large parts of the city’s defensive works were demolished during the 19th century, but this section was preserved. In recent years, the bastion has undergone careful renovation and archaeological investigations, with finds including cannonballs and coins.
The site is located at Esperantoplatsen, close to Kungshöjd and the moat, and makes an interesting stop for anyone wanting to explore Gothenburg’s early history in the middle of today’s city. Guided tours of the bastion are sometimes arranged and can be booked here.