The wall of obsidian rose, velvet beneath the overcast sky, enticing the eye toward the setback where the outer tower stopped and the inner continued.
The outer tower (Yttre Söderport) was built on an artificial island in the strait and was rebuilt in front of an expected attack by King Christian II of Denmark in the late 1520s.
Most of the outer gate tower has disappeared and a street now runs through the western arch that still survives, while the vaulted passage that led into the citadel is now used as a mosque.
In the early 1930s, when a multi-story concrete roundabout replaced everything else in the area, the foundations of the outer defensive tower were discovered (known as Gustav Vasas rondell) and remains of the southern defensive structures can still be found below the present squares in the area.
Geometry: Tower height: h = 33.8 m, outer diameter at tower top: d out top = 1.69 m, outer diameter at tower bottom: d out bot = 2.4 m, distance from rotor to nacelle midpoint L = 1.5 m.
The massive, square keep, or strongest part, is surrounded by an outer wall with towers and moat.
Only 62 of the outer wall's towers survive.
Standing 9 m high, the outer circuit had towers that projected strongly from the wall.
The outer wall likewise had towers, situated approximately midway between the inner wall's towers, and acting in supporting role to them.
A walk between the chateau's towers and outer walls provides panoramic views of the coast and the harbor.
