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HomeAdmin2021-02-18T19:43:52+01:00

Welcome!

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

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.

The Fantastic Tidö

The Fantastic Tidö

Admin2021-02-12T10:48:19+01:00Tina Klingspor|

A visit to Fiholm

A visit to Fiholm

Admin2021-02-18T17:15:46+01:00Tina Klingspor|

Happy New Year

Happy New Year

Admin2021-01-01T10:29:11+01:00Stories|

One of the world’s greatest baroque castles

One of the world’s greatest baroque castles

Admin2020-09-13T15:17:49+02:00Stories|

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We love this angle of Trolleholm Castle! Photo: @

We love this angle of Trolleholm Castle!

Photo: @hofverbergphotography

Is Drottningholm Sweden's most beautiful castle?

Is Drottningholm Sweden's most beautiful castle?

Here we see the Porcelain Room created during the reign of Oscar II and completed in 1897.

The collection consists of porcelain by Rörstrand and Marieberg from the 18th Century.

Photo: @jepsolell

Sparreholm, originally known as Hyltingenäs in 15

Sparreholm, originally known as Hyltingenäs in 1562 and owned by both the Natt och Dag family and the Hjothufvud family. In the 1580s the estate was taken over by the Sparre family and in 1632 the Governor Göran Bengtsson Sparre of Rossvik built a manor which he in 1643 named Sparreholm. However, in 1757 the reign of the Sparres ended when it was sold to Countess Ulrika Charlotta Taube who was the extremely rich widow after Antoine De Geer who died at the age of 35.

She built a new corps de logi but her new husband, Sprengtporten, convinced her to build a new castle which was completed in 1763. Additions to the manor continued for some time and when Ulrika died in 1780 Sprengtporten remarried and made Sofia Mörner his wife. Their son Jacob inherited the estate at the age of 14 months and owned it until he died 81 years later in 1875.

The estate passed to his grand-daughter Ulla Strömfelt and her wife Gustaf Celsing. They never got any children so they sold it to Count Gustaf Fredrik Bonde in 1887. Bonde had also inherited substantial estates elsewhere and sold Sparreholm to Robert Dickson only six years later in 1892 who bought it for his son Emil. The Dicksons were wealthy industrialist from Gothenburg and they rebuilt the castle to its present appearance. He truly loved his Sparreholm and spent much of his time there. He is still today remembered for his warm hospitality and his exotic winter-time cruises around the world. Unfortunately he became a widower already in 1917 and lived on his own. When he died in 1950 at the age of 83 his only child, Ann Wachtmeister inherited the estate but she and her husband had already established themselves at nearby Långdunker Manor why Sparreholm came to be uninhabited for quite some time. In 1980, Ann’s daughters, Margareta and Mari-Ann sold the estate and it was sold again in 1996.

Today’s owners, the Karinen family, founders of Karolin Invest, have carefully renovated the magnificent castle and once again made it a place to entertain and welcome guests.

Following our last post we received heaps of messa

Following our last post we received heaps of messages wondering about @sodra_bjorstorp. It is great and unique castle and we are happy to present you some more content!

Enjoy the video!

The unique manor Södra Björstorp in Scania was h

The unique manor Södra Björstorp in Scania was haunted by fire in the early hours of 9 September 2018. The fire was violent and the firefighters could only watch as the 300 years old house burnt to the ground, only leaving the chimneys and stone walls.

The area has been inhabited since the 800s the grounds of the manor is believed to have had a structure already in the 1100s. Written sources prove that the land was occupied since at least the 1300s. The current house was built by Mickael Malmström and Anna Maja Hjort between 1771-1775 with no less than 16 outfacing corners. It is a unique structure in Sweden that is believed to have been inspired by Danish Amalienborg and Fredensborg. The idea was to gather everything under one roof in a protective way (not least the wind, a common way of building in Scania).

Being such an old estate, both Swedish and Danish nobility have lived at Södra Björstorp. It was passed down to today’s owners Truls, Pål and Anna Sjöholm by Tuula Sjöholm has lived at Björstop for the past 70 years. She inherited it from Ester and Malte Frithiof. The Frithiof family acquired it from banker Montan who resided at Björstorp between 1864 and 1910.

The next chapter awaits at Södra Björstorp as the entire house is being rebuilt. The public will be able to follow the rebuild on Swedish Television and the program Husdrömmar. You can also follow the process at @sodra_bjorstorp

Photo: @sodra_bjorstorp

Rånäs Castle, a magnificent example of late empi

Rånäs Castle, a magnificent example of late empire style, sits on the northern shore of lake Skedviken about an hour north of Stockholm.

Rånäs is a very old estate by Swedish standards. It belonged to Marshall of the Realm Karl Ulfsson during the 1300s and was sold to Uppsala Diocese in 1388. In 1559 it was taken over by Gabriel Krisiernsson Oxenstierna and sorted under nearby and famous Mörby Castle.

In 1674 it was still just a two-storey wooden building and by all means a smaller estate. In 1704, the great Swedish Marshal, Royal Councillor and Count Magnus Stenbock became the owner. He passed it to his son Count Gustaf Leonard Stenbock who through marriage also became the Lord of Mörby Castle. In 1772, following a short ownership of Adolf Fredrik Löwenhielm it was sold to the owner of Gimo ironworks, Jean le Febure, in 1772. He received permission in 1774 to begin iron production at Rånäs. Operations continued for over 100 years until it was finally closed down in 1894.

The present late empire style house was built by le Febures son-in-law Axel Didrik Reuterskiöld who commissioned one of the greatest architects of the time. Per Axel Nyström. Buildings began in 1833 but the house was not completed until 1844. Axel died only a year after construction began so it was his son, the then 16 year old Oskar, who became the Lord.

At the time of the closure of the ironworks it was one of the largest estates in Uppland with 1 241 hectares. It stayed under the ownership of Gimo ironworks until 1928 and was lived in by Louise Reuterskiöld. In 1931 the City of Stockholm acquired the estate and it functioned as a caring home for mentally ill until 1985. In 1999 the entire estate was renovated and is today used as a popular venue for weddings, hotel guests and conferences.

Photo: @johahlin

#rånäs #slott #castle #schloss #palace #stockholm #uppland

Julita is now open for visitors. We will shortly b

Julita is now open for visitors. We will shortly be going there ourselves. One visit per year is obligatory! For more information, see their website.

The famous Julita estate, visited by thousands every year, lies beautifully on the shores of lake Öljaren and consists of 2200 hectares.

The first document mentioning Julita is from 1180 when it was a King’s manor called Säby. The document, signed by King Knut Eriksson, was drawn up when he gave the land to a group of monks who previously had lived in Viby outside Sigtuna. The estate grew into an extremely influential monastery but the last mention of a monastery is in 1525. The following year, Gustav Eriksson (Vasa) seized the lands and riches of the monasteries.

In the 1600s there was an iron works on the site and the Austrian Artillery Officer Melchior Wurmbrandt came to Julita at the end of the 1620s. Paul Khevenhüller, another Austrian, had lent a large sum of money to Gustav II Adolf. But when the King died and he travelled to Stockholm to get his money back he was given Julita instead. Paul’s daughter married nobleman Mathias Palbitzki and for many years the estate stayed in the family.

In 1877 Johan Bäckström, a great industrialist, purchased the estate (he also owned Steninge in Uppland). His son Arthur Bäckström inherited the estate. He never married and willed the entire estate to the Nordic Museum who took over operations in 1944. According to the will the estate shall be kept in condition that reminiscence a manor house of the late 1800s and early 1900s.

It is a fantastic manor to visit and we strongly recommend you to go there!

Photo: @julitagard @nordiskamuseet

#julita #sweden⁣ #visitsweden #history #castlesofsweden #slott #svenskaslott #castle #schloss

Which door do you choose for our next post? Left,

Which door do you choose for our next post? Left, middle or right?

Rosersberg Palace by @jepsolell

The dinner table is set for a party at Ellinge Cas

The dinner table is set for a party at Ellinge Castle!!

Ellinge is one of Skåne’s oldest estates with its roots in Medieval times. The original defensive castle from the 1200s was a place of residence for the king’s men and it was inhabited by families such as Galen and Thott. In 1395, Ellinge was acquired by the knight Niels Sparre. From 1530 to 1619 it belonged to the Bille family and it was during this time that the original structure for today’s house was built. At the time it was a four-wing, square castle with a moat protecting it.

In 1724, Vilhelm Bennet became the owner when it was let to him by his mother-in-law Margareta Ascheberg. Ellinge was in a poor state and Bennet undertook a major restoration scheme. The previous eastern wing became the castle’s main building and two modern detached wings were added. When Bennet died in 1740 the estate was inherited by the Dücker family. When Carl Fredrik Dücker died in 1889 the estate was split in three and inherited by distant relatives - the Wrangel, Barnekow and Wrede families.

Ernst Wehtje acquired Ellinge in 1950. By this time both wings were already long gone and pictures from the early 1900 makes it clear that the house was in a poor state once again. Ernst modernised the house and restored the exteriors to today’s condition. Today, it is still in the Wehtje family and is very popular for weddings and conferences.

Photo: @ellingeslott

#sweden⁣ #visitsweden #history #castlesofsweden #slott #svenskaslott #castlehunting #castle #schloss #chateau

Strömsholm is a Swedish royal palace. The baroque

Strömsholm is a Swedish royal palace. The baroque palace is built on the site of a fortress from the 1500s, located on an island in the Kolbäcksån river at the west end of Lake Mälaren. The palace has interiors from the 18th century and an important collection of Swedish paintings.⁣⁣

King Gustav Vasa had a fortress built at Strömsholm in the 1550s. From 1560 until 1621, it served as the residence of queen dowager Catherine Stenbock, and after this, it was given to a later queen dowager, Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg who, however, preferred to reside at Gripsholm Castle. Finally, in 1654, it was given by King Charles X to Queen Hedvig Eleonora.⁣⁣

The old palace of the 1550s later provided the foundation for the present Strömsholm Palace, built in 1669-1674 for Queen Hedvig Eleonora to a design by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder.⁣⁣

Since the 16th century, Strömsholm has been an equestrian center of Sweden. In the 1550s, King Gustav Vasa reinforced the importance of horses here, by raising horses for the cavalry. The Strömsholm Riding School was a part of the Swedish Army from 1868 to 1968. Today, Strömsholm is used as a hippodrome, where equestrian competitions are held each year.

Photo: @maghsood.shots

#strömsholmsslott #ridskolanströmsholm #schweden #sweden⁣ #discoverearth #history #castlesofsweden #castle #slott#svenskaslott #castlehunting #castles #architecture #schloss #chateau #Замок

The stables at lovely Skebo Manor in Norrtälje mu

The stables at lovely Skebo Manor in Norrtälje municipality north of Stockholm. The estate is a magnificent example of a Swedish Manor house from the 1700s, connected to an ironworks industry.

Dutchman Jakob Grill built the present main house in 1767-1770. There was an older manor house at Skebo but there are unfortunately no remaining paintings that we can find.

During the 1800s the iron works flourished and due to the influx of money the house was filled with art, sculptures and money was also invested in the gardens - the best bragging project of the time!

Follow our friends at @skeboherrgard for lovely updates as they transform the house to its original glory!

Teleborg is one of Sweden’s youngest castles, co

Teleborg is one of Sweden’s youngest castles, completed in 1900.⁣ ⁣

The estate was purchased by Count Fredrik Bonde af Björnö in 1895. The original farmland was called Tufvan and was, between 1825 and 1927, inhabited by none other than the Bishop and poet Esaias Tegnér. However, Tegnér never owned Tufvan, it belonged to Sven Johan Björklund and his family until Count Bonde purchased it. ⁣

In 1896 the then 56 year old Count commissioned the architects Harald Boklund and August Lindvall to erect a new castle on the grounds that would constitute a dowry to his new bride Anna Koskull, who was 26 years younger than her future husband. It cost 192 772 SEK to build which was a considerable amount in those days. ⁣

Bonde wanted the castle to look like a fairytale castle, inspired by the late Medieval castles of France and Germany. ⁣

Count Fredrik Bonde af Björnö was also the owner of Hörningsholm (which we have previously written about) as well as the other estates that fall under this sub-branch of the House of Bonde. This also made him one of Sweden’s largest landowners.⁣

It stayed with the family until his nephew’s son Count Fredrik Ulf Bonde sold it to the city of Växjö in 1964. Today the castle and the grounds are still under the ownership of the city but leased by Runosson & Co who operate a hotel. You are free to explore the grounds and visit the castle!⁣

Photo: @rebeckasundahl

#teleborg #sweden⁣ #visitsweden #history #castlesofsweden #castle #slott #svenskaslott #castlehunting #schloss #chateau

Did you know there is a Thai Pavilion in northern

Did you know there is a Thai Pavilion in northern Sweden?

It is actually a remarkable history. In 1897 King Chulalongkorn of Siam visited Sweden, invited by King Oscar II to visit the General Art and Industrial Exposition of Stockholm. The King gladly accepted the invitation and while in Sweden Oscar also wanted to show other parts of the country. Since Chulalongkorn had a keen interest in the wood industry, Oscar decided to take him to northern Sweden.

Chulalongkorn, his sons and others took the royal yacht to Härnösand where they continued the voyage on the Ångermanland River. Horses and carriages were used to bring them to their final destination Utanede. Locals gathered along the tiny gravel roads to get a glimpse of the exotic guests and a road was later named King Chulalongkorn's Road.

A hundred years later, a Thai dancing group visited the area and was intrigued that the king had visited. In 1993 a society was formed that started the planning for a memorial site of the visit and a year later Ragunda municipality formed a committee to complete the work. The Pavilion was built at a cost of 10 Million SEK.

Today, it is the only Pavilion of its kind outside Thailand and inside the visitor will find a statue in bronze of Chulalongkorn.

Photo: @thanetkarlsson

#jämtland #chulalongkorn #thailand

Läckö Castle is a magnificent medieval castle in

Läckö Castle is a magnificent medieval castle in Sweden, strategically placed on an island in Lake Vänern, Västergötland.

Brynolf Algotsson, Bishop of Skara, laid the foundations for a fortified castle in 1298 - originally as a fort that consisted of two or three houses surrounded by a wall. After a fire during the 1470s, the fort was expanded by bishop Brynolf Gerlachsson.

After the reformation in 1527, King Gustav Vasa took possession of Läckö. Field Marshal Jacob Pontusson De la Gardie was granted the property in 1615. de la Gardie embarked on an extensive building spree, including the third floor of the keep. The portal to the main courtyard was added during his period, as were the frescos depicting people and winding plants found in niches, stairwells and the rooms on the third floor. In 1654, Count Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie initiated major construction projects at Läckö. A fourth floor was built in the main building and a number of artists were hired to decorate the walls and ceilings of the castle.

Läckö is a national monument and has been managed by the National Property Board since 1993. The National Property Board, the Foundation of Läckö Castle and the National Museum of Fine Arts work together to maintain and furnish the castle in a Baroque period style.

Läckö Castle Opera puts on an annual opera production in the castle's inner courtyard, with performances for about three weeks beginning in the middle of July. And when you visit, make sure you don’t miss out the garden which has become a major attraction!

@danneamd

#läckö #läcköslott #schweden #sweden⁣ #visitsweden

Some of Sweden's finest interiors can be found in

Some of Sweden's finest interiors can be found in Rosendal Palace on Djurgården in Stockholm. Built as a summer leisure it was a place where the royal family could withdraw the formalities of courtly life.

Rosendal is a unique document of the Swedish Empire style - known in Sweden as the Karl Johan style.

It is an absolute must for anyone visiting Stockholm.

Photo: @jepsolell

#rosendal #stockholm #sweden⁣ #visitsweden #history #castlesofsweden #slott #svenskaslott #castlehunting #castle #schloss #chateau

Kaggeholm Castle is situated in the middle of an a

Kaggeholm Castle is situated in the middle of an area often referred to as the oldest in Sweden. Written sources about the place of today’s castle is known since 1287 but archeological excavations prove that the area was inhabited as early as 200 AD. In the 1500 it was owned by ancient noble families like Grip and Bååt. It was known as Vettersjö until Count Lars Kagg, who was one of King Gustav II Adolf’s men, purchased the manor in 1647.

During the 1720s, Isac Funck commissioned a huge building project to build a castle style manor. The drawings came from Nicodemus Tessin the Younger. The castle’s current look was completed during the mid 1800s when it received, among a number of updates, its middle roof lantern.

The castle remained privately owned until 1942. Its last private owner was Banker Martin Aronowitsch you acquired the estate in 1913 and created the beautiful Baroque style gardens. It was then purchased by the Swedish Pentecostal Movement who turned it into a successful education facility. Due to modernisation during this time the interiors have unfortunately suffered. The Pentecostal Movement sold the estate, then a mere 29 hectares, to property group Sisyfos in 2018. Sisyfos have earlier purchased and successfully developed and restored the run down castle and grounds of Venngarn. We have high hopes that they will turn Kaggeholm in to the grand manor house it once was.

Photo: @kaggeholmsslott
@sisyfosgruppen

#kaggeholmsslott #uppland #ekerö #stockholm #sisyfosgruppen #sweden⁣

On the western shore of Sweden’s second largest

On the western shore of Sweden’s second largest island, Öland, Borgholm castle guarded the entrance to Sweden, perhaps not very successfully. Today, the ruins leave no visitor untouched and most are overwhelmed by the location and sheer size of the castle when they visit.

900 years ago a defensive keep was built at Borgholm. Only a hundred years later buildings for the castle itself began. After having been a premier residence in Medieval times of among others Ingeborg, the daughter of King Erik of Norway who married Magnus Ladulås’ son Valdemar, it fell in to a period of decay until the Vasa Kings - Johan III started refurbishing it around 1569 and it became one of the first grand bastions of Sweden.

When the Kalmar War broke out in April 1611, Danish troops captured the castle but the future Swedish King Gustav II Adolf recaptured it within two months. Only 23 days after the 16 year old future King’s feat, his father, King Karl IX, died on October 30. It continued to play an important role throughout the 17th Century but it was never actually completed. The partially completed baroque palace built by Karl X Gustav is the closest it ever came to being completed. After his death in 1660 and changes in succession meant priorities continuously changed.

It burnt to the ground in 1806 when it functioned as a clothing factory under Axel Adlersparre.

Today, it is owned and maintained by the National Property Board of Sweden. It is phenomenal place well worth a visit, especially in the summer when the castle's courtyard is turned in to an epic concert venue!

Photo: @copter_shot

Listed by @cnntravel as one of the most beautiful

Listed by @cnntravel as one of the most beautiful castles in the world!

Steeped in history, Kalmar Castle can brag with a story of some 800 years! It has played a decisive role in Swedish history since buildings first began at the end of the 12th Century.

Knut Eriksson was its first master, then Magnus Ladulås who built a defensive keep. Together with the castles Tre Kronor, Viborg and Älvsborg it was considered one of the four most important castles that protected the country. During this era, the border to Denmark was (before Scania and Blekinge became Swedish) not far away!

The castle as we see it today was built by the Vasa kings - Gustav and his two sons Erik XIV and Johan III. But, long before the reign of the Vasas the castle had already established its position in the history of Sweden and Denmark as the place where the Treaty of the Kalmar Union was signed 1397.

At the end of the 1600s the castle ceased to be a royal residence and it fell into an era of decay. An odd thing to happen for a castle that had been besieged 22 times in 394 years but never taken by enem forces.

In the 1850s, King Oscar I decided that it was time to put things back in to order and started a major restoration scheme. The restoration continued for decades and it is still today carefully maintained. The restoration was of pivotal importance and when visitors today pass through the walls they are greeted by the very finest example of a Swedish renaissance castle.

Photo: @raphael_crefcoeur

⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣#kalmar #kalmarslott #sweden⁣ #visitsweden #history #castlesofsweden #slott #svenskaslott #castlehunting #castle #castles #schloss #chateau

Fairytale castle Stora Sundby outside Eskilstuna i

Fairytale castle Stora Sundby outside Eskilstuna is known since the 1300s as a defensive fortress by the name Sundaby. The foundations, found during an archaeological excavation in 1960, can be seen in the adjacent park. Early documents reveal that it was conquered by Albrekt of Mecklenburg in 1364 during his war against Magnus Eriksson to be King of Sweden. By the 1500s the fortress was abandoned but a new castle called Stora Sundby was built for Lars Siggesson Sparre and completed 1584. During the 16- and 1700s extensions were made such as the Hall of Knights (1660) and the fourth tower (following Erik Sparre’s restorations around 1722).

The Sparre of Sundby-family died out in the early 1800s and in 1824 (or 1827) the house was acquired by Count Carl De Geer. Immensely rich, he commissioned a great renovation- and building scheme. His wife Ulrika Sprengtporten was unimpressed with the old house and wanted a romantic medieval castle. De Geer commissioned Peter Frederick Robinson, who had built Walter Scott’s Abbotsford House in Scotland. When completed in 1848 it had taken master builder Abraham Nyström 16 years to complete the castle with its 4 towers symbolising the seasons, 12 smaller turrets for the months, 52 rooms for the weeks and 365 windows.

Through marriage it now belongs to the Klingspor family. Ulrika’s and Carl’s great grandchild Louise Silfverschiöld married Count Carl Klingspor. They moved to the castle in 1937 following the death of tenant Countess Stephanie von Wedel. Today it is the home of Mauritz and Ida-Sofia Klingspor who recently took over the estate from Mauritz father Johan Klingspor.

Photo: @inzane92

#storasundby #sodermanland #sweden⁣ #visitsweden #history #castlesofsweden #castle #slott #svenskaslott #castlehunting #castle #schloss #chateau

Ekolsund Castle is an earlier royal castle outside

Ekolsund Castle is an earlier royal castle outside the city of Enköping with a very well-preserved baroque park including an arboretum. The castle itself was completed in stages during the 16- and 1700s and several of the very best Swedish architects such as Simon de la Vallée, Nicodemus Tessin the Older and Carl Hårleman. Carl Fredrik Adelcrantz and Jean Eric Rehn have put their mark on the interior.

The estate originates from the 1300s and, most notably, has been the summer residence of Gustav III for 38 years. Today the estate is privately owned but available for hire and visits. We recommend a meal at the nearby Inn.

Photo: @ekolsundsslott /Nils Lidbaum