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Your Guide to Castles of Sweden

Discover Sweden’s past and present through the beauty and history of Sweden’s castles, palaces and manors.

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Located deep within endless nature or in the middle of sprawling cities; castles, palaces and manors make up some of the many treasures to be found in Sweden. Each has its own exciting story to tell and gives you an insight into how Sweden has evolved over the centuries to become the place it is today.

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#castlesofsweden | Sharing the beauty & history of Sweden's castles, palaces & manors. 🇸🇪🏰

Kastellet is a small citadel located on the islet

Kastellet is a small citadel located on the islet Kastellholmen in central Stockholm.

On the top of Kastellet, the Military Ensign of Sweden is hoisted and lowered every day, indicating the nation is at peace. On May 17, 1996, the Norwegian Constitution Day, some Norwegian expats temporarily raised the Norwegian flag in the tower.

📸 @p3swe

Övedskloster Castle outside Sjöbo in the souther

Övedskloster Castle outside Sjöbo in the southern province of Scania is considered one of the most pristine Rococo buildings in Sweden. Originally, as is revealed in the Swedish name, it was a monastery. During the Danish Reformation this changed and in 1666 it became the possession of Swedish Councillor of the Realm Carl Mauritz Lewenhaupt. In 1753 it was acquired by Hans Ramel, commonly known as Hans the Builder for his vast amount of land and his eagerness to develop his domains. He was the owner of many estates, not least Övedskloster, Löberöd, Maltesholm and Tullesbo.

In 1766, Hans Ramel made Övedskloster an entailed estate for his heirs. Around the same period he commissioned Carl Hårleman for the drawings of a completely new castle complex which was built between 1765-1776. Since then, the estate has been passed down in the Ramel family for generations.

📸 @theabrownthea

The earliest known history of Marsvinsholm stretch

The earliest known history of Marsvinsholm stretches as far back as late Medieval times when we, in 1371, find evidence of a manor called Borsjö located just south of the current castle.

It became the possession of Otte Marsvin in 1629 who inherited it from his aunt, Birgitte Marsvin. He was born at Dybäck Castle and apart from Marsvinsholm he also became the owner of Krageholm and Clausholm. Otte built an elegant Renaissance castle surrounded by a moat in 1644-48. Otte and his wife Mette Brahe never came down with a son but their daughter Margrethe, who married Jörgen Urne - a famous warrior and diplomat, was blessed with a son named Christian, who inherited Marsvinsholm from his grandfather in 1647.

Christian lost the estate following the Peace Treaty of Roskilde in 1658 and it fell to Gustaf Otto Stenbock. But following the Second Danish War (as described in Sweden) Urne swore his allegiance to the Swedish King and was granted back his family’s castle. When he died in 1667 it was sold to Holger Ottesen Thott.

It was restored in 1782-1786 by Count Erik Ruuth but it was not until the 19th Century that Marsvinsholm really received its place in the history books when King Gustav IV Adolf on 31 October 1805 declared war on Napoleon at Marsvinsholm. In 1856-1857 the castle was given its current appearance under Julius Edvard Stiernblad. At the very end of the Second World War, in April 1945, Marsvinsholm was the place of secret discussions between British General Richard Dewing and his Danish and Swedish counterparts.

📸 @sophiabergholm

Winter is here! ❄️ 📸 @storasundbyslott

Winter is here! ❄️

📸 @storasundbyslott

Spooky! 👻 Torup Castle, one of the most well-pr

Spooky! 👻 Torup Castle, one of the most well-preserved castles from the 1500s in Sweden.

📸 @__inspire_83__

The music video for "Listen to Your Heart" by @rea

The music video for "Listen to Your Heart" by @realroxette was recorded at @borgholms_slott, one of Sweden's most legendary outdoor arenas.

It is said that the American film crew thought that Roxette built the castle ruin just for the shoot...

We look forward to summer and concert season to re-visit this magical place!

📸 @borgholms_slott

Karl XI's gallery at Drottningholm Palace. We love

Karl XI's gallery at Drottningholm Palace. We love the floor pattern! What do you think?

📸 @jepsolell

Örebro Castle is a medieval castle fortification

Örebro Castle is a medieval castle fortification in Örebro. It was expanded during the reign of the royal family Vasa and finally rebuilt around 1900. The castle sits on an island in river Svartån. Some of the rooms are used as classrooms for pupils from Karolinska Skolan.⁣⁣⁣
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For over 700 years, Örebro Castle has kept a watchful eye on anyone crossing the bridge on the River Svartån. The oldest part of the castle, a defence tower, was erected in the latter half of the 1300s.
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This tower was extended not long after, and towards the end of the 16th century most of the impressive castle we see today was built by the then Duke but later King Charles IX of Sweden.
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The name of Örebro comes from the small stones, called "ör" in Swedish, that a river transports. The second part of the word comes from the bridge ("bro") that was built over this fjord. Important roads passed by this strategic place because from here one could control the traffic and the trade in the inner parts of Sweden.⁣⁣⁣

📸 @scutaru_alexandru

Where are we? 📸 @emilieorring

Where are we?

📸 @emilieorring

What is your favourite castle? 📸 @_sashamatic

What is your favourite castle?

📸 @_sashamatic

Autumn in Scania! 🍁 Bjärsjölagård Castle ca

Autumn in Scania! 🍁

Bjärsjölagård Castle carries a proud and long history. It is believed that we can trace its roots to 700 AD when Harald Hildetand owned the grounds. This was of course well before today’s castle was built. The sources prove that the famous Danish King Valdemar Atterdag purchased the estate in 1363. It then remained under the Danish Crown for some time until it was stormed by dissatisfied peasants and eventually torn down in 1526. It had since Medieval times been known as a fortified castle named Beritzholm (Beritsholm) due to it being surrounded by a moat.

Bertisholm Castle was sorted under Lindholmens County and the County Lord Mourids Jepsen Sparre used material from Beritsholm to build the grand Svaneholm Castle. In connection to this a larger barn was built which became the foundation for its present name.

In 1720, Peter Julius Coyet purchased the estate from the Crown. The present building was built in Rococo style in 1766 and 1777. The southern wing was added in 1812 which explains its Empire style.

In 1958 the entire estate was purchased by Hushållningssällskapet (a joint name for freestanding organisations working for the development of the countryside). Today the castle functions as a successful conference and hotel facility. Due to its romantic appearance it is also a sought after venue for weddings.

📸 @bjarsjolagardsslott

Amazing shot of Ismantorp Fortress on Öland! 🔥

Amazing shot of Ismantorp Fortress on Öland! 🔥

📸 @copter_shot

These days, Tidö Castle is on everybody's lips be

These days, Tidö Castle is on everybody's lips because of the recent "Tidö Agreement" in Swedish politics.

Tidö Castle is one of Sweden’s most beautiful and best preserved castles from the Age of Greatness when Sweden was one of the largest empires in Europe.

The original castle was most likely built by the Gren family at the end of the 15th Century but the speare side of the family died out already in 1520. Ivar Gren’s daughter sold the estate to Queen Margareta (from the ancient noble family Leijonhufvud). Her husband, Gustav I (Vasa) traded it for Ekolsund in Uppland. Thereby, Göran Tott became its owner. It was inherited by his sister who married Johan Bååt. Their grandchild Anna Bååt, who married the Great Axel Oxenstierna (Lord High Chancellor of Sweden) in 1608, inherited it in 1610. The Oxenstierna family kept it in the family for the coming 200 years. Oxenstierna commissioned the palace that we see today in 1625 and it was completed by 1641. The architects, Simon de la Vallée and Nicodemus Tessin the older, were the very best at this time. It was built in a strict Dutch Renaissance style.

When it eventually was sold in 1840 it passed through the hands of no less than six families in only 49 years before it was acquired by Carl-David von Schinkel in 1890, who also owned the iron works at Axmar, Vifors and Viksjö as well as the entailed estate Vallstanäs and a number of houses in central Stockholm. Indeed, by all means, a very prominent man.

Today, David von Schinkel manages the family estate. It is still the private home of the von Schinkel family but since 1971 it is open for the public to visit. It is a great joy and indeed very generous of the family to let the public see and experience this fantastic Swedish gem!

📸 @tidoslott

Starry night sky above Ekenäs castle! 🌌 The m

Starry night sky above Ekenäs castle! 🌌

The medieval castle Ekenäs is located outside Linköping in Östergötland. Although never a royal castle its owners have belonged to the very highest aristocracy for the past 500 years. Today’s castle is built on the foundation of a medieval fortress overlooking the surrounding landscape.

We can trace the ownership of Ekenäs to Svante Sture. When Erik XIV, the son of Gustav I (Vasa), became King of Sweden in Uppsala 1561 he set out to secure his power by winning the favor of the very top of Swedish aristocracy. One of the main strategies was to bestow three of the most powerful noblemen the title of Count. These three, Svante Sture, Per Brahe and Gustaf Johansson (Tre Rosor, became the first Swedish Counts. One of the first things Svante Sture did to show his new status was to build a stone house on the site of Ekenäs Castle.

Between 1630-1640 the castle, as we see it today, was built by Peder Banér and his son Claes Banér. In 1675, Gustaf Banér was heavily affected by the Great Reduction and forced to sell it. The two wings that we see today were added by Mauritz Vellingk who owned the estate between 1687-1727. It was returned to the Banér family when Mauritz’s daughter married Johan Banér and stayed in the family until 1879 when it was acquired by Count Philip Otto Leonard Klingspor. Philip’s daughter lived in the castle until 1934 after which it was uninhabited for some time.

In 1939 it was purchased by the industrialist Bergengren family who renovated the castle and still own it today.

📸 @gustavmarkholm_photography

Incredible sunrise at @marsvinsholm! 📸 @sherma

Incredible sunrise at @marsvinsholm!

📸 @sherman.foto

Wik Castle sits beautifully on the lakefront just

Wik Castle sits beautifully on the lakefront just 20 minutes south-west of Sweden’s premier, and of course also oldest, university city Uppsala. The castle is Mid-Sweden’s best preserved late Medieval castle and is still used extensively.

While not entirely clear when Wik was actually built we know that the original farmland was owned by Lawman Israel Andreasson (And) who died 1289. We also know, through written sources, that it in 1303 served as a seat for Ramborg Israelsdotter and in 1315 for her husband Arvid Gustavsson of the Sparre av Vik family. Through inheritance it ended up under the noble Bielke family around 1380 who built the first castle. A hundred years later, from 1470, Dane Nils Klausson resided at the Wik and later his son, Knut Nilsson, from 1505. According to the chronicles of Peder Swart, Gustav I (Vasa) besieged ”a small house by the name of Vik” for an entire year in 1521.

In 1638, Wik was inherited by 18 year old Sigrid Bielke and her husband, Councillor of the Realm Governor-General of Livland, Gustaf Horn af Björneborg. Through marriage it came under the possession of the von Essen family who owned it for 124 years until it, for the first time, was sold in 1912. Since Ramborg Israelsdotter in 1303, the estate had then been inherited through 24 generations and for an impressive 600 years!

The new owner was banker Alfred Berg who paid 125.000 SEK for the estate. Since 1923, the estate has been under the care of the Uppsala County Administration who primarily uses it as a conference facility.

📸 @andrewjamescampbell

👑 CONGRATULATIONS @katjaanttila 👑 ⚠️ Th

👑 CONGRATULATIONS @katjaanttila 👑

⚠️ The giveaway has now ended.

Win a luxurious 1-night stay for 2 at @ulfsundaslott! Housed in a 17th-century castle less than 15 minutes from Stockholm's city centre, Ulfsunda offers stylish rooms with modern amenities paired with a top-notch restaurant. Here you will truly live like a royal!

All you have to do is:
🔸Follow @castlesofsweden and @ulfsundaslott 🏰
🔸Tag a friend ❤️

Tag more people (one at a time) and share to your story to have a better chance to win. One lucky winner will be randomly selected on Friday October 7 and presented on this post.

⚠️The prize is valid until the end of 2022, excluding holidays. This giveaway is not sponsored, organised or administered by Instagram.

Head over to our highlights section to see stories

Head over to our highlights section to see stories from our recent visit to lovely @akeshofsslott! ♥️

When entering the Royal Palace of Stockholm's sout

When entering the Royal Palace of Stockholm's southern row, visitors are immediately impressed by two massive staircases. The stairs pictured here lead to the Royal Chapel. On the opposite side is the Hall of State, which contains the Silver Throne of Queen Christina.

📸 @jepsolell

Magical sunset over the ruin of Borgholm Castle!

Magical sunset over the ruin of Borgholm Castle!

📸 @vintergatanphotography

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