Dalaborg

The ruin Dalaborg is a former medieval fortress on a cliff, which extends into Lake Vänern. It is located near the Swedish town of Mellerud in the region of Dalsland.

History

Dalaborg was according to Erik The Chronicle 1304 in command of the Dukes Erik and Valdemar, the sons of Magnus Ladulås created that had previously sacked the city Lödöse in the power struggle with her brother King Birger. In the following winter the castle of King Birger was besieged and a peace treaty in the spring of 1305 closed. After the castle 1309-1367 is no longer mentioned for more than 50 years in the sources, so that it is viewed at this time as abandoned.

At the latest in 1388 Dalaborg was re- used, since Queen Margaret, regent over Norway and Denmark, was recognized this year as ruler of Sweden. Dalaborg was besieged during the Engelbrektaufstands 1434 and then set on fire. After that, the castle is not mentioned again.

Building

Dalaborg was investigated in the years 1938-39. Are preserved moat, ramparts, a terrace and the remains of a stone house. The ground floor of the main building used in the south and east of the features of the terrain, so that an L-shaped bar is built of natural stone in the north and west, to complete the basement. The walls are four feet thick and receive the full amount of three and a half meters. Originally they had been plastered, but this is no longer visible. On the stone foundation, a wooden building was erected, which is also no longer obtain. Witnesses of these things are the beam holes in the walls. About 30 meters west of the main building there is a plateau that is bounded by a wall of sand. Adjacent runs a moat with aufgeschüttem Wall, which has been dated to the second half of the 14th century.

A model of the castle Dalaborg before the destruction is in the Museum of Mellerud.