Marstrand is a seaside locality situated in Kungälv Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 1,320 inhabitants in 2010. The town got its name from its location on the island of Marstrand. Despite its small population, for historical reasons Marstrand is often referred to as a city. The town has expanded to the neighbouring island of Koön, which has bridge access to the mainland.

History

Marstrand has held city privileges since 1200. The most striking feature of Marstrand is the 17th-century fortress Carlsten, named for King Carl X Gustav of Sweden.

During the last quarter of the 18th century Marstrand had free port status granted by King Gustav III. Religious liberty established by the same sovereign allowed the first Swedish congregation of Jews to be established there in 1775 and Scandinavia‘s first synagogue to be set up in the fortress in 1780.

Administratively Marstrand with immediately surrounding islands was a municipality of its own until the local government reform of 1971 when it was merged into Kungälv Municipality.

Karlsten Fortress 

Karlsten Fortress is located at the top of Marstrandsön above the city buildings and dominates the cityscape. After Bohuslän and Marstrand went to Sweden at the peace in Roskilde in 1658, Valens skans was built on Marstrandsön , a wooden building that served as a temporary fortification. In 1666, a decision was made by the War College to have Valen’s fortified . From 1671 the fortress is mentioned as Karlsten’s fortress , which also served as a state prison until 1855. Its by far most famous prisoner was Lars Larsson Molin, better known as ” Lasse-Maja“, which sat on the fortress during the period 1813 to 1839. The fortress was last expanded in the middle of the 19th century and marched in 1882. Karlsten’s fortress was decommissioned in 1888, but was used again during the two world wars. The Armed Forces removed Karlsten’s fortress as part of the country’s defense in 1993. Karlsten Fortress is now a building monument and an important tourist attraction.

Other architectural monuments 

• Marstrand City Hall
• Societetshuset in Marstrand
• Södra Strandverket
• Tours Bonander’s house
• Ärholmen gas station

Sports

Sailing

Marstrand is the host venue for Match Cup Sweden, part of the World Match Racing Tour. The event draws international sailing teams to Marstrand. DS-37 boats are raced two at a time. Points accrued count towards the World Match Racing Tour and a place in the final event, with the overall winner taking the title ISAF World Match Racing Tour Champion. Match racing is well suited to Marstand. Highlights of the events are broadcast on Eurosport television and via the official World Match Racing Tour website.