This tour takes you though medieval Skaraborg, where you will get an insight into what society looked like in the Middle Ages. In some places, you can use Augmented Reality to see 3D models of archaeological objects. You need to be at the location to be able to see these.
The story in text:
Here in Kungslena in the Middle Ages stood one of Sweden's most impressive Royal strongholds, called Lenaborg. It was a large, sturdy stone building several storeys high, 33 metres long and 15 metres wide with walls 1.2 metres thick. It was similar in appearance to Glimmingehus in Skåne Province.
The hill was probably fortified back in the 12th century and thus overlooked the battlefield when the armies clashed in 1208, while the stone building came later, perhaps in the 1250s. Perhaps it was Birger Jarl himself who ordered construction. We know that he was here in 1258 and that his son Valdemar also spent time here.
Birger Jarl’s stay at Lenaborg in 1258 has gone down in history for his meeting with the nobleman’s Norwegian brother-in-law Håkon Håkonsson, who was celebrating Easter with his father-in-law. According to a Norwegian source, Birger threatened his Swedish men with a severe punishment if they were discourteous towards the Norwegians. It was strictly forbidden to call the guests “baggar”, which in mediaeval Swedish meant sheep's testicles!
In 1305 the Lord High Constable Torgils Knutsson stayed at Lenaborg. He had been the guardian of the sons of King Magnus Ladulås – Birger, Erik and Valdemar – while they were still minors. But now, when the sons had reached adulthood, they turned on each other as well as the Lord High Constable. On 6 December 1305, he was imprisoned here at Lena Royal demesne on Birger’s orders.
In chains the Lord high Constable is taken to Stockholm, where he is charged with treason and sentenced to death. He is beheaded at Götgatsbacken in Stockholm and buried in the Greyfriars monastery.