Karlskoga

Karlskoga is a locality and the seat of Karlskoga Municipality in Örebro County, Sweden. It lies in the Bergslagen region on the southern shore of Lake Möckeln.

The town has a long industrial history centered on ironworking and weapons production. In the 17th century, the Bofors ironworks near Karlskoga grew into a major producer of weapons, shaping the town’s growth and infrastructure. The Nobel family is associated with Karlskoga through the Björkborn estate, where Alfred Nobel lived and conducted experiments; the site today operates as a museum. In the late 20th century, Bofors became part of larger defense groups, and Karlskoga diversified commercially.

Today Karlskoga has a diversified economy that combines manufacturing, services, and small- to medium-sized enterprises, with outdoor recreation and heritage tourism around Lake Möckeln. Local attractions include Björkborn Manor (a historic residence connected to Nobel) and the town church, with opportunities for boating, hiking, and winter sports in the surrounding forests.

Administratively, Karlskoga is the municipal seat within Örebro County. The municipality has roughly 28,000 residents. The town is connected by regional roads and rail links to Örebro and other towns.