Castles of Sweden – Sharing the beauty and history of Sweden's castles, palaces and manors

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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.

An Afternoon at Lejondal

An Afternoon at Lejondal

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Läckö Castle

Läckö Castle

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Tullgarn Palace

Tullgarn Palace

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Ekenäs Castle

Ekenäs Castle

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Wik Castle sits beautifully on the lakefront just

Wik Castle sits beautifully on the lakefront just 20 minutes south-west of Sweden’s premier 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.

Photo: @andrewjamescampbell

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There has been some type of production in the area

There has been some type of production in the area around Forsså Manor for at least 500 years.We know that Gustav I (Vasa) in 1552 established an ”eel house” and there are many known blacksmiths who produced rifles, arrows and many other small arms. The production of weapons was however centralised to Söderhamn in 1620 and production changed.

When Eduard Rasch purchased the factory in 1860 it was mainly producing clay tiles and bricks. He continued the business for some time but fairly quickly changed his plans and began developing an iron works. This was a failed endeavour and he instead turned to producing paper which quickly became the largest factory in northern Sweden.

After Rasch died his son Berthold took over but filed for bankruptcy in 1909. It was acquired by Paul Birch Burchard in 1912 and he built the manor house in 1926. The year can still be seen above the main door.

Today, the estate is only 3,4 hectares but the manor house itself an impressive 1100 square metres divided over 22 room. It was on the market in 2019 for the price of 8,1 million SEK. The sellers were Anders and Helena Eriksson but it is unknown who purchased it.

Photo: @halsinglandsfastighetsbyra

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Näs Manor is situated close to Mullsjö outside J

Näs Manor is situated close to Mullsjö outside Jönköping in Småland County. Its history is partly unknown although the list of owners can be traced to at least the 1550s. The original farm, known as Haga, is believed to be quite a bit older which is not least proven by a will dating back to 1371.

An inventory of old manors by the Nordic Museum sets the foundations of the main house to some time during the 1600s while adjacent buildings were added during the 17- and 1800s.

The entire estate, apart from the magnificent tower house, burnt to the ground during the 1700s. The tower house is built in Carolean style and is 400 years old. It is one of only two remaining tower houses from this period in Sweden. The second can be found at Misterhult Manor in Kalmar.

It was renovated by Professor Lars Ågren and Anna Lena Zetterberg who owned the manor between 1989-2006. In 2020 it was for sale by @residencechristies

Photo: @residencechristies

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Svartå Manor in Degerfors was built by Lord Chamb

Svartå Manor in Degerfors was built by Lord Chamberlain Carl Falkner between 1775-1782. Built in stone over two floors and in Gustavian style it was certainly built to impress.

For a long period of time, the manor was closely associated with Svartå ironworks. From 1925 it was run as a guest house and domestic science school until it in 1946 was taken over by the Frantzén family. They have successfully offered the manor as a bespoke hotel and conference facility - including nearby Villa Lugnsbo which has been the residence of Svartå's owners since around the turn of the Century.

Following the work of no less than three generations, the Frantzén family are now selling the estate.

Photo: @wredefastighetsmakleri

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FRIDAY VIBES! The medieval castle Ekenäs is loca

FRIDAY VIBES!
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 favour 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.

Photo: @ollenilssonen

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Thureholm, originally known as Gieddeholm (Gäddeh

Thureholm, originally known as Gieddeholm (Gäddeholm), is an estate outside Trosa in Södermanland County south-west of Stockholm. It is owned by the Bonde family and a house where time has stood still. A true experience to visit.

The palace sits on an elevated position in the landscape and has done so since the 1300s. The oldest owner that we know about is Nils Gädda. It stayed with the Gädda family until Nils' grand-daughter Iliana married Chancellor of the Realm Svante Nilsson of the Sture family. Their son Sten Sture the Younger gave Gäddeholm to his wife Kristina Gyllenstierna as a wedding present. When Kristina died in 1559 it passed to their son Svante who was later killed in what has come to be known as the Sture Murders when King Erik XIV in 1567 killed many of the Sture family members since they were seen as a plausible threat to the royal Vasa family.

In the 1640s Sten Nilsson Bielke commissioned Erik Dahlberg to build a grand castle stretching over three floors. In 1719 it was burnt to the ground during the Russian Pillage of 1719-1721 when the Russians attacked the Swedish coast and destroyed many castles and manors. It remained a ruin until Thure Bielke commissioned Carl Hårleman to build a new castle between 1728 to the 1740s. It was renamed Thureholm in 1761. It remained in the Bielke family until Thure Bielke, in 1915, sold it to Knut Tillberg. It was returned to Thure just a year later but in 1921 it was purchased by Consul General Herman Gullberg. In 1935, the Bonde family became its owner and they still own it although they reside in the Palace wings.

Photo: @sormlandskaslott.se

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Tullgarn Palace has been a royal residence since 1

Tullgarn Palace has been a royal residence since 1772 but its history is, of course, much older than that. It is situated on the coast south of Stockholm in the province of Södermanland. It is particularly known for housing one of Sweden’s finest examples of interior decors.

During the 1400s, Tullgarn was no more than a village. In the 1490s Nils Gyllenstierna merged three of the farms to form a main estate. Through marriage, the estate stayed in the very top of Swedish society being owned by the Sture family, and for a short time by Gustav I (Vasa) himself. When Svante Sture was killed by none other than Erik XIV it once again became the property of the Crown until Erik’s brother Johan III gave it back to the family. For the rest of the 1600s the estate belonged to the very top of Swedish nobility like Sture, Leijonhufvud, Brahe and De la Gardie. The last owner of the old castle at Tullgarn was Count Magnus Julius De la Gardie who inherited it from his father in 1713.

Married to Hedvig Catharina Lillie, Magnus Julius was immensely rich and built the new palace which was completed in 1727 after drawings by Frenchman Joseph Gabriel Destain. It was sold by their son, Ulrik Gustaf, in 1772 to Councillor of the Realm Melcher Falkenberg who in turn sold it to the state after only a month. The Parliament had decided that those princes who did not have a house in Stockholm would get one in the countryside. This meant that Prince Fredrik Adolf moved there, with his Court, in 1788.

Following his death it was empty for some time until his sister Sofia Albertina began using it from 1807 until her death in 1829. Oscar I used it between 1830-1859. His son, Oscar II did not use it very long and instead gave it to his son, Gustav V. Gustav V and his Queen Victoria used it extensively as their summer residence from 1881 and much of the interior comes from their days at the palace. A fun fact is that the Russian Tsar Nicholas II visited with his entire family in 1909 and the future Emperor Haile Selassie visited in 1924. Since 1975, the current King Carl XVI Gustaf disposes of Tullgarn but it is open to the public throughout the summers.

Photo: @addesmith

Salsta Palace just north of Uppsala is known since

Salsta Palace just north of Uppsala is known since the end of the 1200s. Its earliest Lord was Karl Gregersson who in 1301 traded Salsta to Adbjörn Sixtensson from the family Sparre of Tofta. During the 1400s it was owned by the Oxenstierna family and in 1550 it came under the ownership of the prominent Bielke family. Nils Bielke built a Renaissance palace on the site in 1613. His grandson, also by the name of Nils, decided to demolish large parts of his grandfather's palace in 1670 and build a new more impressive castle to show off his position in upper society.

The younger Nils Bielke became quite a bit more famous serving as Royal Councillor, Lieutenant General, Ambassador and Field Marshal. He commissioned Nicodemus Tessin the Older and Mathias Spihler to build him a new castle, the one we still see today, in 1672. The inspiration came from the French castle Vaux le Vicomte just outside Paris.

Bielke established his position in Swedish history by being the one who stayed behind at the battlefield of Lund in 1676 to defend Sweden when the King, Charles XI, chased after the fleeing Danish cavalry. After the battle the King proposedly said that “the existence of my Crown was at the tip of Bielke’s sword, and apart from God I have Bielke to thank for my victory”. During the 1700s the palace came under the ownership of the Brahe family but the von Essen family purchased it in 1904. In the 1980s the estate was taken over by the state through the National Property Board.

Photo: @castlesofsweden

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Castles of Sweden mainly writes about castles and

Castles of Sweden mainly writes about castles and palaces built from the Middle Ages and forward. There is however an earlier period in Swedish history when castles were built. The largest, which can be found on Gotland, is Torsburgen and the most famous are perhaps the ones that can be found on neighbouring island Öland - Ismantorp, Eketorp, Gråborg and during later years also Sandby borg which in archaeological excavations have proven to be a very special castle. In all of Sweden, but foremost in the Mälardalen region, we can visit some 1000-1600 so-called hilltop forts (fornborg in Swedish). It is usually believed that they trace their roots to the Iron Age until the early Middle Ages, primarily the Migration Period, circa 400-550 AD.

The purpose of the castles is unclear and there have only been a few archaeological excavations. The literature do suggest that they have mainly been castles of refuge when the surrounding inhabitants felt threatened, but some may also have been built for safe-guarding important routes along the coast or land.

Salsta hillfort is one of 170 ancient castles that we can find in the region of Uppland. It is built on a natural mount and extends 95x110 meters. The castle consists of two walls. The openings in the outer wall are offset to the inner which indicates that any intruders were forced to move alongside both walls which made them exposed for defensive measures in order to reach the inner circle. The original walls were vertically much higher, 3-5 meters externally and only 1-2 meters internally, compared to the collapsed wall that greets today’s visitors. The castle is easily accessible and close to Salsta Palace.

Photo: @castlesofsweden

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Magnificent Örbyhus Castle lies some 30 minutes n

Magnificent Örbyhus Castle lies some 30 minutes north of the prestigious university city Uppsala. Being one of the truly historic castles of Sweden, it is known since the 14th Century. It is mostly known for being one of the Vasa castles and where the King Erik XIV of Sweden was imprisoned by his brother Johan III of Sweden and later died in 1577 (possibly murdered by his brother). The estate is known since the 14th century. It is first mentioned in 1352 as the seat of Magnus Gislesson (Sparre av Aspnäs). During the 15th century, a stone keep was erected for defensive purposes by Johan Kristensson Vasa, grandfather of future king of Sweden Gustav Eriksson Vasa. The stone tower still forms the core of the castle complex.

The castle stayed within the royal family until 1641, when it through an exchange became the property of the Banér family, who remained owners until 1729. During the ownership of Gustaf Banér, the castle was in the 1660s transformed into a Baroque palace which more or less is what greets the visitors today.

From 1718, the year when King Charles XII died, until 1909 it passed through the hands of the most prominent families in Sweden like Bielke, De Geer, von Platen, De la Gardie and von Rosen. In 1909 Count Eugen von Rosen became its owner and restored it completely.

Today it is a massive estate of some 3300 hectares and is managed by Örbyhus Gods AB. It is owned by Eugen's grandchildren.

Photo: @castlesofsweden

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Happy Birthday Your Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf!

Happy Birthday Your Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf!
Stenhammar Palace outside Flen in Södermanland is a royal residence although not part of the royal household’s castles- and palaces. We will explain more below.

Stenhammar is known since the 1300s but the present palace (or at least the oldest parts of it) was commissioned by Johan Rosenhane in 1658 and the architect was most likely Jean de la Vallée. The Rosenhane family were, through marriage, relatives of the Arp family who had inhabited the estate since the 1500s. Rosenhane’s widow was forced to leave Stenhammar during the Reduction and it was taken over by Governor Leonard Ribbing af Zernava due to the Crown being in debt to him. It then stayed within the family though Ribbing and Falkenberg.

Wholesale dealer Anders Petter Söderberg purchased the estate in 1809 and during his time the house was given its current appearance. In 1870 it was inherited by his grandson Marshall of the Court Robert von Kræmer. He shared his grandfather’s enthusiasm for the estate and continued improving both the agricultural work and the estate as such. Robert and his wife died childless and Stenhammar was willed to the State on certain terms, the main one being that it should be made available, for life, to a Swedish Prince of the ruling house. Prince Wilhelm was the first to fulfil the specific terms and following his death in 1965 King Gustav XVI Gustaf, then Crown Prince of Sweden, was given the rights.

It is still very much a functioning estate with meat production and 2000 hectares of grounds. Following the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus in the Spring of 2020 the King and Queen isolated themselves at Stenhammar.

Photo: @statensfastighetsverk

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Boo Manor traces its roots to the Viking Age and g

Ekebyholm Palace outside Rimbo in Uppland has been

Ekebyholm Palace outside Rimbo in Uppland has been known in written sources since 1409 but unconfirmed sources do exist from the early 1300s. In 1523 it was purchased by Märta Slavika, widow of Knight Bengt Kristiernsson Oxenstierna of Salsta. Ekebyholm was later incorporated in the massive Oxenstierna estate in which neighbouring Mörby Castle was the main family seat.

In 1595 Ekebyholm became the possession of Bengt Bengtsson Oxenstierna, known as “Bengt the Traveller” due to his many travels to faraway lands. In the beginning of the 1600s he built Ekebyholm Palace on a ness in lake Syningen and separated it from the Mörby Estate.

Between 1643 and 1716 Ekebyholm was under the care of the family Horn af Ekebyholm and in 1724 it was acquired by Count and Statesman Arvid Horn. He commissioned a large renovation scheme and gave the palace its current Caroleanian appearance. Horn was also responsible for planting the magnificent oak avenue that greets visitors to the palace to this very day. The estate stayed under the care of the Horn family until it was sold to Karl Gabriel Oxenstierna in 1828. In 1932 the last private owners, siblings Johan Beck-Friis, Eva Lewenhaupt, Ebba Thott and Lotten Hamilton sold Ekebyholm to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Today it functions as their boarding school.
Photo: @castlesofsweden

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We just had to add another one! Lejondal Castle is

We just had to add another one! Lejondal Castle is one of Sweden’s youngest castles – completed in 1892. It is together with Thorskog, Tjolöholm, Bjertorp and Teleborg among the last castles built in Sweden.

The estate traces its roots to the early 1400s when it was owned by Swedish Queen Filippa of England, the wife of Eric of Pomerania. It was originally known as Bro-Lövsta and renamed Lejondal during the 1600s after its owner Erik Abraham Leijonhuvud. During the 1700s it was owned by the Funck- and Gripenstedt families.

Governor and Count Eric Samuel Sparre purchased the estate in 1810 and in 1843 it was inherited by his son Erik Josias Sparre who also owned neighbouring Brogård. When Erik died in 1886 it passed to his daughter Louise Ulrika Sparre who was also married to Louis De Geer av Leufsta. After Louis died in 1887, Countess Louise Ulrika decided to build the present house while the lands had been divided between Louise Ulrika and her brother Johan Sparre who became the owner of Brogård. Lejondal was built by Isak Gustaf Clason between 1889-1891 and while Louise Ulrika established herself in the new house in 1892 it was not completely decorated until the turn of the century. Her new husband, Fredrik Rappe, never liked the castle so it became their summer residence instead. After mentioned Rappe managed to peculate his wife’s money they were forced to sell the place in 1914 to Norwegian Aal who, unfortunately, was more interested in the surrounding woodland than the castle.

When Axel Robert Bildt acquired the estate in 1918 he renovated the and modernised the main building and turned the estate into an exemplary estate. He lived there until his death in 1944. For the past 50 years the castle has functioned as a conference facility and is currently owned by Excellence hotels.

Photo: @castlesofsweden

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Lejondal Castle is one of Sweden’s youngest cast

Lejondal Castle is one of Sweden’s youngest castles – completed in 1892. It is together with Thorskog, Tjolöholm, Bjertorp and Teleborg among the last castles built in Sweden.

The estate traces its roots to the early 1400s when it was owned by Swedish Queen Filippa of England, the wife of Eric of Pomerania. It was originally known as Bro-Lövsta and renamed Lejondal during the 1600s after its owner Erik Abraham Leijonhuvud. During the 1700s it was owned by the Funck- and Gripenstedt families.

Governor and Count Eric Samuel Sparre purchased the estate in 1810 and in 1843 it was inherited by his son Erik Josias Sparre who also owned neighbouring Brogård. When Erik died in 1886 it passed to his daughter Louise Sparre who was also married to Louis De Geer av Leufsta. After Louis died in 1887, Countess Louise decided to build the present house while the lands had been divided between Louise and her brother Johan Sparre who became the owner of Brogård. Lejondal was built by Isak Gustaf Clason between 1889-1891 and while Lovisa established herself in the new house in 1892 it was not completely decorated until the turn of the century. Her new husband, Fredrik Rappe, never liked the castle so it became their summer residence instead. After mentioned Rappe managed to peculate his wife’s money they were forced to sell the place in 1914 to Norwegian Aal who, unfortunately, was more interested in the surrounding woodland than the castle.

When Axel Robert Bildt acquired the estate in 1918 he renovated the and modernised the main building and turned the estate into an exemplary estate. He lived there until his death in 1944. For the past 50 years the castle has functioned as a conference facility and is currently owned by Excellence hotels.

Photo: @castlesofsweden

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Sturefors Castle is situated outside Linköping, b

Sturefors Castle is situated outside Linköping, by lake Ärlången, in the province of Östergötland.⁣ The first castle was constructed by Ture Bielke (1548–1600) in the 16th century. Only the north wing remains of this building. The present castle was constructed in 1704 by Carl Piper as a dower for his spouse Christina Piper. It was designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Younger. After the death of Christina Piper in 1752, it was inherited by her grandson Nils Adam Bielke, and has since then belonged to the Bielke family.⁣ Photo: @_ann_liljegren_

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⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣Leufsta (or Lövsta) Manor is wh

⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣Leufsta (or Lövsta) Manor is what in Swedish is called ”Vallonbruk”, describing an iron-works with a work force from Wallonia (today southern Belgium). The production of iron at Lövsta is mentioned already in 1578 and the first Manor house was built in 1615.

In 1643 Louis De Geer bought the rights from the Swedish Crown. According to sources Louis never actually visited Lövsta.

The Iron Empire in Uppland was later inherited by Louis’ grandson Charles De Geer as his uncle died childless. Unfortunately for Charles, the Russians burnt the entire area during 25-26 July in 1719. Today’s manor house was rebuilt but was not finished until the 1730s (Charles himself died in 1730). In the 1750s Jean Eric Rehn was commissioned for the drawings of both the surrounding buildings and the interior design of the manor house. It was, at the time, considered the most modern and impressive manor house in Sweden. The King, Gustav III, visited Lövsta in 1768 and wrote to his mother that “I dare say, that my beloved mother has seen nothing of Sweden if she has not seen Leufstad”. It was owned by the De Geer family until 1986. Today the National Property Board Sweden owns the estate while the up keeping of the Manor house is the responsibility of the Leufsta Foundation.⁣ Photo: @castlesofsweden

@statensfastighetsverk #lövsta #uppland #destinationuppsala #sweden⁣ #visitsweden #passionpassport #travelinggram #travelphotography #goexplore #discoverglobe #discoverearth #roamtheplanet #history #castlesofsweden #castle #slott #svenskaslott #vsco #vscosweden #vscocam #instagood #travel #castlehunting #castle #castles #architecture #architecturephotography #schloss #chateau #scandinaviaclub⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

Gustavsvik Manor in Nacka just outside Stockholm i

Gustavsvik Manor in Nacka just outside Stockholm is known since the beginning of the 1500s when two farmers lived there but can probably trace its roots to late Swedish Medieval times, then known as Backebol. When neighbouring Boo Manor was enlarged by Olof Bure during the 1600s, Backebol was one of the farms that was incorporated. It stayed under Boo until 1704 when it was subject of a trade between Boo- and Kummelnäs Manors making Johan Lillienstedt its owner.

In 1825 it was purchased for the sum of 33 333 riksdaler banko (equivalent to 4 953 852 SEK today) by Major Gustaf Montgomery who renamed it Gustafsvik. Interestingly enough, the original name Backebol is still used in registers and as the legal name of the property. The old main house was torn down in 1864 and today’s main building was erected in 1866. In 1868 it was purchased by Master Builder C A Eriksson who realised that the surrounding area was ideal as a summer retreat for the ever increasing bourgeoisie of Stockholm. He commissioned a grand building scheme consisting of elaborate and expensive summer villas along the coast. When the last private owner, Sofia Montgomery, died in 1900 the heirs created a limited company in order to continue selling plots for developing summer villas which, in a way, continues to this very day. The area is a very popular residential area and the old villas between Gustavsviks- and Boo Manors are still also used as holiday homes.

When Film Director Schmyl Bauman acquired the manor in 1939 he had the entire estate redone, giving the house its current Gustavian appearance. This house was for sale in 2014 with an asking price of 24 800 000 SEK.

Photo: @residencechristies

#boo #gustavsvik #Stockholm #sweden⁣ #visitsweden #passionpassport #travelinggram #travelphotography #goexplore #discoverglobe #discoverearth #roamtheplanet #history #castlesofsweden #castle #slott #svenskaslott #vsco #vscosweden #vscocam #instagood #travel #castlehunting #castle #castles #architecture #architecturephotography #schloss #chateau #scandinaviaclub⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

Wenngarn Palace has a truly unique place in Swedis

Wenngarn Palace has a truly unique place in Swedish history and it is possible to trace its origins to 1160 when a stone house was built on the site of the current palace. It’s situated just north of Sweden’s oldest town - Sigtuna. One of the earliest owners that we know of was the Councillor of the Realm Folke Jonsson who died around 1313. From the end of the 1300s it was owned by the Banér family. Through heritage it passed from Eskil Isaksson Banér to his daughter Sigrid - Gustav Vasa’s grand-mother. Gustav Vasa’s grand-son Gustav II Adolf gave the estate to Count Frans Bernhard von Thurn who’s son Henrik sold it to Count Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie in 1653.

The current palace was built by Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie who commissioned architect Jean de la Vallée in 1670 for the buildings. The Crown took possession of the estate in the Great Reduction of the 1680s (1681 to be precise). de la Gardie had then transformed the old Medieval castle by the Vasa’s to a magnificent baroque palace. The Crown ruined de la Gardie, who was the largest landowner in Sweden at the time, but let him continue living in the palace. Venngarn was the only palace that the Crown allowed him to keep but he died just 5 years later in 1686. Venngarn then served as the residence for the Governors of Uppsala for many years until it in 1916 became an institution for alcoholics with the palace serving as the administration building. For a short while it was also owned by the Swedish Pentecostal movement Lewi Pethrus. After having been bought by a German in 1997 the entire estate fell in to serious decay and it is claimed that the Russian mafia operated from the surrounding building. Olle Larsson and his company Sisyfos acquired the estate in 2013 for over 100 million SEK. The Russian mafia refused to leave and on the night of the purchase four buildings burnt to the ground.

Today, the estate is only 37 hectares and has been beautifully renovated and has become a very popular place to visit in the weekends with its coffee shops, restaurants and beautiful grounds. The castle is open to visitors.

Photo: @castlesofsweden

#wenngarn #sigtuna #uppland #destinationuppsala #sweden⁣

Mörby Castle, sitting on a hilltop overlooking La

Mörby Castle, sitting on a hilltop overlooking Lake Skedviken outside Rimbo in Uppland, is known since the 1380s and often described as Uppland’s most prominent 16th Century castle.

There was a manor house on the site already in 1380 owned by the German nobleman Henrik Damerow and from 1412 the Pomeranian family Slaweka lived there and built the first stone house during the 1450s. Through marriage it then passed to the very prominent Oxenstierna family who used Mörby as their seat for 250 years. During the 1500s it was the seat of Gabriel Kristiernsson Oxenstierna who in the 1550s enlarged it to a phenomenal Renaissance palace. It was extended even more in the 1630s and at the middle of the century an orangery was added to the palace garden.

The palace reached its peak during the mid 1600s but was unfortunately abandoned at the end of the century and fell into a state of disrepair. When nobleman Arvid Horn purchased the estate in 1728 he wanted to put it back in order but after a survey made by famous castle architect Carl Hårleman it was clear that it would be a too costly endeavor. So instead he moved the valuable copper roof to nearby Ekebyholm Castle.

It was finally ruined forever by a fire in 1740 and stone was taken from the destroyed castle to build the nearby church. In 1772 it was incorporated with Rånäs Castle. Today, the ruin sits on private land belonging to the Schmiterlöw family who has lived at Mörby Manor since 1926.

Photo: @castlesofsweden

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