Karlskrona

Introducing Karlskrona

As you approach Karlskrona, an optical illusion makes it appear to be floating on water - which in a sense, it does; the town has always been a hugely important naval base, dependent on the sea for its survival. In 1998 the entire town was added to the Unesco World Heritage List due to its well-preserved 17th- and 18th-century naval architecture.

After the failed Danish invasion of Skåne in 1679, King Karl XI decided that a southern naval base was needed for better control over the Baltic Sea, and so Karlskrona was created - almost immediately becoming Sweden's third-biggest city. Much of the town is still a military base, so to see certain sights you'll need to book a tour at the tourist office and have ID at the ready.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009