# Dyngehus

- **Country:** Norway
- **Condition:** Ruin
- **Location Text:** Town of Uddevalla (now in Sweden)

Dynge Castle, also historically known as Dyngehus, is a medieval ruin located in central Bohuslän within the Uddevalla Municipality of Sweden. Constructed around the year 1250, the fortress was built during a period when the region was under Norwegian rule, serving as a strategic military installation for centuries. The site sits atop a cliff with a commanding view over the Gullmarsfjorden, highlighting its original defensive purpose. It remained in active use until the early 16th century, at which point the structure was destroyed by fire and subsequently abandoned. Today, it stands as one of the few remaining medieval structures in the local area, sharing historical prominence with nearby landmarks such as Dragsmark Abbey and Bokenäs Old Church.

Architecturally, the castle resembled a motte-and-bailey design, featuring a stone keep encircled by a small moat. Although the wooden superstructures were lost to the fire that ended its occupancy, the stone foundations of the central keep and the surrounding moat remain clearly visible to visitors. The site offers a tangible connection to the region's complex past, illustrating the architectural styles and defensive needs of the Middle Ages in Scandinavia. Its position on a cliff edge would have provided excellent surveillance capabilities over the adjacent fjord, making it a critical point of control during its operational years.

The historical significance of Dyngehus was further established through archaeological excavations conducted between 1912 and 1913 by Wilhelm Berg, a noted Swedish archaeologist and secretary of the Gothenburg and Bohuslän Antiquities Association. Berg's work helped uncover the layout of the fortification, drawing parallels to other contemporary sites he had studied, such as Ragnhildsholmen and Olsborg Castle. Currently existing as a preserved ruin, the location serves as an important cultural heritage site that documents the era of Norwegian influence in western Sweden. It remains a key point of interest for those studying the architectural and political history of the Västra Götaland County.

![Photo of Dyngehus](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/Dynge_borgruin%2C_den_23_juli_2006%2C_bild_1.JPG)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynge_Castle (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)