In this investigation, experiments are carried out in order to determine the mechanical properties of Bohus granite considering the influence from pre-existing cracks and defects. The experimental investigation aims at a complete material characterization, for the purpose of mechanical analyses using advanced constitutive models, based on a variety of tests. In doing so: Direct tensile and compression tests are performed to evaluate the stiffness and strength; Quasi-oedometric tests are carried out in order to obtain the deviatoric and volumetric behavior of the material at different levels of hydrostatic pressure (up to 860 MPa); Three-point bend tests are performed to evaluate the quasi-static strength of the rock and its distribution. Weibull statistics is then employed to describe the strength distribution. The intact specimens indicate a rather low scatter in the mechanical properties such as Young's modulus and tensile strength. However, specimens with large initial defects behave differently. The failure mechanism in these specimens is not as brittle as the intact ones. The crack is opened on the tensile surface of such specimens during the three-point bend test at an early stage during loading, as demonstrated by digital image correlation results.