Karl X's Wall - Ottenby
The 4.5 kilometre long Karl X Gustaf's wall was built across Öland in the 1650s and separates the royal estate's land from the rest of the crown commons. The purpose of the wall was not to keep the king's deer inside, but rather a territorial marking on the part of the king.
The high limestone wall, which stretches across the southern part of the island, forms the boundary of Öland's southern cape. The wall was erected during the time of Charles X and stretches from shore to shore.
This strange construction can probably be classified as a bragging rights rather than an effective obstacle that prevented animals from crossing in one direction or the other. The taxable farmers had to build the wall together with criminals, who had their sentences converted into work.
Text Swedish guides.
This strange construction can probably be classified as a bragging rights rather than an effective obstacle that prevented animals from crossing in one direction or the other. The taxable farmers had to build the wall together with criminals, who had their sentences converted into work.
Text Swedish guides.