The museum-castle Grimmenstein is the most famous sight of the village of the same name. The building consists of a so-called high castle on the rock and a hillside castle below. The name of the castle dates back to the 12th century, but its foundations and parts of the masonry are much older. Some sources point to a much older history of the castle, for example, part of the preserved keep is said to date back to a Roman watchtower around 2,000 years old. After years of decay, it has been undergoing extensive renovation by the Grimmenstein family since 2014.
The closest public parking is the Asfinag parking lot in the valley, from which a slow train departs every hour during opening hours. To linger until the next guided tour of the castle, you can enjoy the magnificent panorama of the Buckligen Welt from the terrace and fortify yourself with snacks, homemade pastries and drinks.
The destination is also popular as a location for children's birthday parties and private celebrations. The castle is heated and can be used for events all year round.
Towering 52 meters above the sea, Bengtskär lighthouse is the tallest one in Scandinavia. The building started in in 1905 after the shipwreck of S/S Helsingfors and was completed in 1906. The lighthouse was designed by architect Florentin Granholm. On December a special petrol lantern, designed and built in Paris, was brought to Bengtskär and installed atop the tower.
German fleet bombarded Bengstkär in the First World War in 1914. Since the Gulf of Finland was heavily mined, it was not until 1919 that the surrounding seas were declared safe for shipping, that the light was lit again.
After the war the military value of Bengtskär increased as part of the defence system of independent Finland. In Second World War (1941) Soviet Union made a suprise attack to island. After a bloody battle, the small Finnish garrison emerged victorious. Intermittent repairs to the facility continued during the post-war period.