🚗 On the Road Through Sweden – and a Green Dot on the Map
We were driving south through inland Sweden, collecting municipalities before heading back toward Norway. A natural point to turn was Fulunäs, where the road heads west toward Østby and the Norwegian border.
Just before the crossroads, I spotted a green symbol on the map – a geocache. "That one should be quick," I thought. My daughter and I pulled off at a small clearing by the road, unaware of the experience waiting for us.
🪖 A Bunker in the Woods
What we expected to be a five-minute stop became something entirely different. There, hidden in the forest, was a concrete bunker from World War II. Dark and narrow, with visible remains of bunk beds and sleeping quarters.
My daughter stood beside the metal-framed bunks. At 10 years old, she filled nearly the whole space. It was a visual reminder of the cramped conditions Swedish soldiers endured during their border service.
🇸🇪 Sweden's Neutrality and Border Readiness
Though officially neutral during World War II, Sweden took the threat of invasion seriously. Over 300,000 men were mobilized, many of them deployed along the Norwegian border. After Germany occupied Norway in 1940, the region near Fulunäs became part of a defensive buffer zone.
Soldiers known as gränsjägare (border rangers) patrolled the forest, monitored movements, and reported any suspicious activity. In secret, many helped Norwegian refugees cross into safety – resistance fighters, Jews, and civilians escaping the Nazi regime.
✍️ The Fulunäs Soldier – A Monument to Vigilance
At the Fulunäs crossroads stands a solemn statue known as The Fulunäs Soldier. Cast in bronze, it depicts a young soldier on guard, looking west toward occupied Norway. A plaque reminds visitors of the silent preparedness that marked Sweden's wartime neutrality.
We took time to stand by the monument. Read the text. Reflected. It grounded the whole experience and added a layer of respect to what had already become more than just a cache.
👨👧 A Father, a Daughter, and a Cache We Won’t Forget
After logging the cache, we walked back to the car quietly. Not because we had to – but because the moment asked for silence. This wasn’t just a box in the woods. It was a meeting with history.
We logged two geocaches on this memorable detour: GC4J2J7 – Bunkern and GCWF08 – Fulunäs. Each offered a unique glimpse into a time when Sweden stood watchful along its border.
This is what makes geocaching special. The unexpected. The emotional. The deeply human. Sometimes, it’s just fun. But sometimes, like at Fulunäs, it stays with you.
Geocaching is a journey – through geography and through time.
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