Vädersholm Castle Ruin
Ulricehamn
On a promontory, on Lake Mogden's southern shore lies the remains of Vädersholm Castle- a castle from the 1300s and 1400s.
The Castleruins of Vädersholm
In the Middle Ages, Western Sweden constituted of a troubled border region between the Swedish Vastergötland and Halland as Danish and Norwegian Bohuslän. The roads came together here from the forests to the north and east of the main road between Borås and Ulricehamn. One of these roads came from the hills to the north and swings around Mogden's eastern and southern shore.
Heyne Snakenborg and Queen Margaret
At Vädersholm, lived a gentleman with his family and his subordinates. Heyne Snakenborg was the master at Vädersholm in the late 1300s. In 1388-89, he was besieged by the Danish Queen Margareta's troops. Margaret established a Crown managed center in Hökerum, 1 km west of Vädersholm. Heyne Snakenborg, being the last owner of the castle, after his death Hökerum was turned over to Gudhem monastery.
Life at the castle
The castle was like a little community of its own. Inside the wall there was in addition to soldiers, artisans of various types. The idea was that they should be safe inside the castle for a long period of time, in case it was subjected to a siege.
Archeology talks
Vädersholm's castle was on an island, which was divided by a moat in the Middle Ages. Today, water is slightly lower and, therefore, the remains of the castle are on an isthmus. Sometimes when the water is high, eg, in the spring when the snow melts, then Vädersholm becomes an island again. It's location out in Mogden made Vädersholm inaccessible for the enemies.
Today you see three hills of the castle. At the top was the central stronghold tower, the last hill was probably the master's residence, in the middle hill you can find the remains of a basement from a wooden house. The buildings of crafts and homes lay along the island's sides.
Findings from the 1940s archaeological excavations explains that the fortress was inhabited during the 1300-1400's. Most that were found were items used in the household as well as the remains of tools and weapons. These findings are now on display at the Borås Museum.
Finding it
Signed from the cycle path in Hökerum. By car: take off road 40 towards Hökerum, head north to Hökerum. Turn right towards Timmele after a few hundred meters. Signed from the road as "Borgruin", narrow roadway the last bit. Parking is available, no bus parking
