Lighthouses of Sweden: Northern Lake Vänern

The Kingdom of Sweden (Sverige in Swedish) is the largest country of northern Europe, occupying the entire west coast of the Baltic Sea. Along with its lengthy coast Sweden has a distinguished lighthouse history and a good record of preserving its historic lights. The Swedish Lighthouse Society (Svenska Fyrsällskapet) works actively for the preservation of the lighthouses.

Lake Vänern, in southern Sweden, is Europe's third largest lake (after Russia's Lakes Ladoga and Onega). Lake Vänern and its smaller neighbor Lake Vättern are linked by canals of an inland waterway that connects Göteborg on the Kattegat to Mem on the Baltic Sea. With a surface about 44 m (144 ft) above sea level, Lake Vänern is connected to the Kattegat by the Göta Alv river and the Trollhätte Canal and to the Baltic (via Lake Vättern) by the Göta Canal.

This page describes lighthouse of the northern section of the lake in Värmland County (Värmlands län). A second page includes lighthouses of the southern section of the lake in Västra Götaland County (Västra Götalands län).

The Swedish word for a lighthouse is fyr. The front light of a range is the nedrefyr (lower light) and the rear light is the övrefyr (upper light). Ö is an island, holme is an islet, skär is a skerry (a tiny island or rocky reef), sund is a strait (often between an island and the mainland), vik is a bay, hav is a sea, udde is a headland, and hamn is a harbor.

Aids to navigation in Sweden are maintained by the Swedish Maritime Administration (Sjöfartsverket).

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights; SV numbers are from the Sjöfarsverket light list (Svenska Fyrlista) as reported by the Swedish Lighthouse Society. Former Admiralty numbers are from volume C of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals (the Admiralty decided in 2014 to drop these lights from its listings). The lighthouses of the lake are not included on the NGA List.

Special thanks to Alexander Trabas. He formerly had a page for the lake's lighthouses in his invaluable Online List of Lights. Because the Admiralty no longer lists the lights that page has been removed, but he has continued to make the individual photos available.

General Sources
Swedish Lighthouse Society (Svenska Fyrsällskapet, SFA)
The Society is active in promoting the preservation of Swedish lighthouses.
Venerns Seglationsstyrelse
Information on Lake Vänern lighthouses posted on the SFA website.
Mariestads Fyrsällskap
Web site of the Mariestad Lighthouse Society, with information of the lights of that harbor.
Leuchttürme und Leuchtfeuer in Schweden - Svenska Fyrar
A large collection of photos and data posted by Erich Hartmann; text in German.
World of Lighthouses - Sweden
Photos by various photographers available from Lightphotos.net.
Schwedische Leuchttürme auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard views posted by Klaus Huelse.
Google Maps
Satellite view of Lake Vänern.


Söököjan Light, Hammarö, August 2021
Google Maps photo by Veronica Nellebo
Kristinehamn Area Lighthouses
Kristinehamn is a town of about 18,000 residents at the northeastern corner of the lake.

Lakholmen (2)
1911 (station established 1870). Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); four flashes every 12 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 13 m (43 ft) square cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's cottage. Lighthouse painted white; house painted red with white trim. Rune Nicolaisen has a 2023 photo, Ingela Eriksson has a 2009 photo, Pär Eriksson has a winter photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) west of Brattsand. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. SV-9739; ex-Admiralty C6714.
* Strandudde Nedre
1940. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); white light, 0.75 s on, 0.75 s off. Approx. 8 m (26 ft) square cylindrical wood tower, painted white. The light is shown through a square window. SFA has a page for the range lights, Trabas has a photo, Tomas Hermann has a 2020 photo, Mats Karlsson has a 2021 photo showing both range lights, SFA has a page for the range lights, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. Located in a small park on the east side of the entrance to Kristinehamn, at the northeast corner of the lake. Site open, tower closed. SV-9752; ex-Admiralty C6715.
* Strandudde Övre (2)
1940 (station established 1866). Active; focal plane 20 m (66 ft); white light, 0.75 s on, 0.75 s off. 11 m (36 ft) square cylindrical wood tower attached to one end of a 1-story wood keeper's house. The light is shown from a small platform perched atop the tower. Tower painted white, house red with white trim. Google's 2022 street view is at right, SFA has a page for the range lights, Karin Masannek has a 2023 photo, Trabas has a photo, Mats Karlsson has a 2021 photo showing both range lights, and Google has a satellite view. Located about 175 m (190 yd) northeast of the front light. Site open, tower closed. SV-9752.01; ex-Admiralty C6715.001.

Strandudde Övre Light, Kristinehamn, July 2022
Google Maps street view

Hammarö Area Lighthouses
Hammarö is a town of about 16,000 at the north end of the lake.

Söököjan (2)
1866 (station established 1860). Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); four long (2 s) flashes every 30 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 15 m (49 ft) octagonal cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, rising from one end of a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. Tower painted white, house red. Veronica Nellebo has the 2021 photo at the top of this page, SFA has a fine 2016 photo, a distant view from the lake is available, Trabas also has a distant view, and Google has a satellite view. The original light was a small lantern fixed to the gable of the house. Located on an island in the northeastern corner of the lake, about 3 km (2 mi) east of Rud. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS SWE-360; SV-9680; ex-Admiralty C6712.711.
* Mårrholmen
1895. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); flash every 3 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 7 m (23 ft) round tower with lantern, painted white. Trabas has a photo and Google has a satellite view. Mårrholmen is an inhabited island in the entrance to the harbor of Karlstad. Located at the northeastern end of the island. Site status unknown. SV-9697; ex-Admiralty C6713.28.
* Hammarö Skage
1872. Inactive since 1932. 8 m (26 ft) octagonal cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, rising from one end of a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. Tower and lake side of the house painted white as a continuing daymark; the rest of the house is painted red. Katrin Kaiser's 2024 photo is at right, Pascal Ebel has a 2020 photo, SFA has a page for the lighthouse, Dennis Lind has a 2017 photo, Anders Bostrom has a 2008 aerial photo, Daniel Frost has a photo, another good photo is available, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse was built on the same plan as the Söököjan lighthouse (see above). After deactivation the lighthouse was acquired by a private lighthouse society. Located at the tip of a peninsula projecting southward into the lake, about 6 km (3.5 mi) southeast of Hammarö. Site open, building closed except for guests of the society. Owner/site manager: Föreningen Fyrtornet (Skage Fyr).. ARLHS SWE-175; ex-SV-9703.
Skoghall (3)
1935 (?) (station established 1804). Active; focal plane 17 m (56 ft); two long flashes every 15 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 15 m (49 ft) octagonal pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. SFA has a page for the lighthouse, Trabas has a photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The original light, the first light built on the lake, was replaced in 1855. Located within a paper mill on the tip of a peninsula at the entrance to the harbor of Skoghall, on the west side of Hammarö. Site and tower closed. Site manager: Stora Enso. ARLHS SWE-348; SV-9662; ex-Admiralty C6711.

Skage Light, Hammarö, May 2024
Google Maps photo by Katrin Kaiser
Risnäsudde (2)
1935 (?) (station established 1867). Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); three flashes every 9 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 9 m (30 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. SFA has a page for the lighthouse, Goos Braker has a 2023 closeup, Trabas has a photo, Andreas Köhler has a 2017 photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a point of land on the west side of the entrance to the arm of the lake leading to Grums, about 5 km (3 mi) south southeast of the town. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-322; SV-9615; ex-Admiralty C6798.5.

Säffle (Värmlandsnäs) Area Lighthouses
Värmlandsnäs is a peninsula projecting into the northwestern section of Lake Vänern and separating the two main basins of the lake.

* Stavik (Staviken, Stavikens)
1860. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white flash every 5 s. 13.5 m (44 ft) hexagonal pyramidal wood-shingled tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. A 2022 photo is at right, Hartmann has a page for the light, SFA also has a page, Trabas also has a closeup, Huelse has a historic postcard view showing the small keeper's cottage, and Google has a satellite view. This light station has been occupied by the same family since its establishment. After the last keeper retired from the house in 1973, the family rented the property as a summer home. In 2003 the current generation, Anna-Lena and Gunno Quist, purchased the station and completely restored the lighthouse. The new wood siding replaced concrete tiles that had covered the tower since the 1950s. The Sjöfartsverket continues to operate the light. In 2007 the family offered the station for rent for vacationers. Located on a point of land on the west side of the lake near the base of the Värmlandsnäs peninsula, about 7 km (4.5 mi) east of Värmlandsbro; accessible by a gravel road (4WD recommended). Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Stavikens Fyr . ARLHS SWE-367; SV-9611; ex-Admiralty C6798.
Måkskär (2)
date unknown (station established 1935). Inactive since 2013. 7.5 m (25 ft) round stone tower, painted red. SFA has a page for the lighthouse and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse replaced a skeletal tower. Located on a reef 2.5 km (1.5 mi) east northeast of the Stora Klubben lighthouse (next entry). Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-9459; ex-Admiralty C0415.55.
 
Staviken Light, Värmlandsnäs, August 2022
Google Maps photo by Per Chr.
Stora Klubben (3)
1935 (station established 1853). Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); flash every 5 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 4.5 m (15 ft) octagonal wood lighthouse with lantern, painted white. SFA has a page for the lighthouse and Google has a satellite view. This light was relocated from Bastungen, near Vänersborg, in 1935. Located on an small island just off the southern tip of the Värmlandsnäs peninsula about 6 km (3.5 mi) north of the Stångudden lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-372; SV-9392; ex-Admiralty C0415.37.
Gunnarsholmen Nedre (2?)
1960 (station established 1854). Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); white light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 4 m (13 ft) octagonal pyramidal wood tower, painted white; the light is now displayed from the peak of the roof. SFA has Esjörn Hillberg's photo and Google has a satellite view. The previous light was relocated to Åmal in 1960 (see below). Located on an small island off the southwestern side of the Värmlandsnäs peninsula about 5 km (3 mi) northwest of the Stångudden lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-9377; ex-Admiralty C0415.35.
Gunnarsholmen Övre (2)
1878 (station established 1852). Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); quick-flashing light, white or red depending on direction. Approx. 9 m (30 ft) light tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-1/2 story keeper's house. Entire lighthouse painted white. A 2024 photo is at right, SFA has a page for the lighthouse and Google has a satellite view. Located about 100 m (330 ft) northeast of the front light. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-164; SV-9377.01; ex-Admiralty C0415.351.
Gunnarsholmen Övre Light, Säffle, August 2024
Google Maps photo by Lars R
** Duseudde (Säffle)
1867. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); three flashes every 10 s, white, red or green depending on direction. Approx. 9 m (30 ft) square lantern room mounted at the gable of a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. The house is painted red, but the lake side is painted white as a daymark. A 2023 photo is at right, SFA has a page for the lighthouse, Svend Ole Kvilesjø has a photo, Pontus Rååd has a 2016 closeup, Trabas has a good closeup, Wikimedia has a photo of the station, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse has been expanded to house a restaurant, part of a large and popular campground. Located on a point of land about 5 km (3 mi) southwest of Säffle, on the north coast of an embayment called the Dalbosjön. Site open, restaurant open during the camping season, tower closed. Site manager: Duse Udde Camping (Fyren Duse Udde) . ARLHS SWE-118; SV-9291; ex-Admiralty C0415.253.

Djurö Lighthouse
Djurö (2)
1912 (station established 1874). Active; focal plane 18 m (59 ft); two flashes every 10 s, white or red depending on direction. 13 m (43 ft) octagonal cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with two narrow red horizontal bands. Bo Björk has a 2021 closeup photo, a 2024 photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. The original light was a lantern mounted on the keeper's house. Djurö, an island near the center of the lake, has been a national park since 1991. Located at the northeastern point of the island. The island is accessible only by boat; a hiking trail leads to the lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. Site manager: Djurö National Park. ARLHS SWE-115; SV-9463; ex-Admiralty C0415.555.

Lurö Area Lighthouses
** Trädgårdsholmen (relocated to Lurö)
1863. Inactive. Octagonal lantern room mounted on a gable of a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. Lighthouse painted red with white trim. Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse was deactivated in 1915 and relocated to Ekenäs in the 1930s. It was relocated a second time to Lurö in the early 1990s; in 1995-96 it was rebuilt, with additional rooms and a new faux lantern, as part of a resort development. The house is available for overnight accommodations. Located on the west side of Lurö, about 2 km (1.25 mi) northwest of the active Stångudden lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, lighthouse open to paying guests. Owner/site manager: Lurö Gästhärbärge och Krog. ARLHS SWE-395.

Duseudde Light, Säffle, August 2023
Google Maps photo by Luigi DiL.
Stångudden (Lurö) (2)
1905 (station established 1864). Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction, occulting once every 10 s. 8 m (26 ft) round light tower with lantern and gallery, mounted atop the gable of a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. Entire lighthouse painted white. Marina Johansson's 2022 photo is at right, SFA's page for the lighthouse includes Esbjörn Hillberg's 2014 photo, Lars Normark has a 2020 photo, Stefan Viklund has a photo, Magnus Barkelund has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. In 2022 the Sjöfartsverket announced it wished to transfer the lighthouse to a municipality or preservation or it might put it up for sale. The area is a nature reserve. Located on the southeast side of Lurö off the southern tip of the Värmlandsnäs peninsula and about 8 km (5 mi) northeast of the Pålgrunden lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SWE-366; SV-9446; ex-Admiralty C0415.49.
 
Lilla Bratten
1906. Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 6 m (20 ft) octagonal pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white. SFA has a page for the lighthouse, Martin Sandmark has a 2021 photo, Stefan Viklund has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on an small island off the northeastern side of Lurö. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-9452; ex-Admiralty C0415.52.
Lurö Röskär
1915. Active; focal plane 9 m (30 ft); two flashes every 6 s, white, red or green depending on direction. 8 m (26 ft) round concrete tower with lantern and gallery; the light is now displayed from a short mast atop the lantern. Lighthouse painted white. SFA has a page for the lighthouse, Stefan Viklund has a 2018 photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a skerry about 7 km (4.5 mi) south of the tip of the Värmlandsnäs peninsula. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. SV-9449; ex-Admiralty C0415.5.
Stångudden Light, Lurö, September 2022
Prenumerera på Säffle-Tidningen photo by Marina Johansson
 

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: East: Lake Vättern | South: Southern Lake Vänern

Return to the Lighthouse Directory index | Ratings key

Posted September 3, 2007. Listings expanded January 2, 2009. Checked and revised July 3, 2026. Lighthouses: 19. Site copyright 2026 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.