Bohusläns

Bohusläns, commonly referred to as Bohuslän, is a historic province (landskap) on Sweden’s west coast. It lies along the Skagerrak and forms part of Västra Götaland County today. The landscape is renowned for a rocky coastline and a large archipelago of thousands of islands, with distinctive sea stacks known as rauk. The coast and seascape support diverse marine life, and Sweden’s first coastal national park, Kosterhavet National Park, covers parts of Bohuslän and protects its biodiversity.

Historically, Bohusläns belonged to Norway during much of the Middle Ages and was ceded to Sweden in 1645 under the Treaty of Brömsebro. The Bohus Fortress near Kungälv, begun in the 14th century, stands as a symbol of the region’s frontier history and later Swedish control. The province’s towns include Uddevalla, Strömstad, Lysekil, and Tanum, reflecting its maritime economy and cultural heritage.

Economy today centers on fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, and tourism. Local cuisine features seafood from the Bohuslän coast, and the region preserves a distinctive maritime culture and dialects. The landscape and historical sites attract visitors seeking natural scenery, rocky shores, and archaeological remains, including the rock carvings at Tanum. Bohusläns today is not an administrative unit but a historic cultural region within Västra Götaland County, Sweden, with a coastal identity shaped by Norse and Swedish heritage, geology, and sea-based economy.