The Swedish Mound

The Swedish Mound in Chojna was erected in honor of King Gustav II Adolf of Sweden, who liberated the town from the Tsarist army during the Thirty Years’ War. The site where the mound was built is the former Hangman’s Hill (Galgenberg). The monument, situated on the hill, is shaped like a pyramid built on a square plan. The monument was unveiled on June 23, 1912. An interesting fact is that it was built from stones brought from nearby villages. Even today, inscriptions indicating their places of origin can be seen on some of the boulders. Among them are names such as: Zachow (Czachów), Lübbich[ow] (Lubiechów), Blankenfelde (Brwice), Falkenwalde (Wierzchlas), Selchow (Żelichów), Grüneberg (Golice), Alt Lietzegöricke (Stare Łysogórki), Dolzig (Dolsko), Klemzow (Klępicz), Guhden (Gądno), Rehdorf (Stoki), Vietnitz (Witnica), and Butterfelde (Przyjezierze). In the center of the monument is an inscription that reads: “In commemoration of the liberation of Königsberg on December 27, 1630, by King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden from the great misery of the Thirty Years’ War.” Carved into the stones below are the names of the commanders defeated by King Gustav. Originally, the monument was surrounded by four small stone pyramids, which, however, have not survived to this day. The top of the mound can be reached via stone steps located on two sides of the hill.