Castles of Scandinavia. Castles in Sweden

Palaces and castles of Sweden. Part 1

The Kingdom of Sweden (Swedish: Konungariket Sverige) is a state in Northern Europe on the Scandinavian Peninsula, a member of the European Union since January 1, 1995 and a signatory to the Schengen Agreement. Constitutional monarchy. Not a member of NATO. The name of the country comes from the Scandinavian svear-rige - “state of the Sveans”. The capital is Stockholm (population 1.7 million).

In terms of area (449,964 km²), Sweden ranks third among Western European countries and fifth among countries in all of Europe.

Sweden is located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Scandinavia. It borders Norway in the west, Finland in the northeast and Denmark in the southwest. It is washed by the waters of the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea. The Scandinavian mountain range in the western part of the country separates Sweden from Norway. Largest cities: Gothenburg (with suburbs - 800 thousand), Malmo (500 thousand).

The head of state is the king. However, Sweden is a constitutional monarchy, so the king currently has no power. The state is governed by a government headed by a prime minister, who is elected by parliament - the Riksdag. Parliament is re-elected by popular vote every four years.

The unique beauty of Swedish nature was sung by the ancient skald poets, and the castles of Sweden seem like pearls scattered across its emerald hills and wooded cliffs. The impenetrable walls of the fortresses remind of their military past, and the luxurious palaces attract tourists from all over the world with their rich interiors and exhibitions.

Many castles are privately owned, and some belong to the state and even public organizations, but almost all are open to the public. There are about 20 castles in the Lake Mälaren region alone. And the royal castle of Drottningholm - “Versailles in miniature”, located near Stockholm, is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Arfustens Palace

Akere

Ålhult Palace

Castle Bershammars

Broborg Castle

View of the castle in 1700. 19th century engraving.

Broborg is a Renaissance castle of the kings of Sweden, destroyed during the Northern War by Russian troops and has not been restored since then.

The ruins of the royal castle of Broborg are located in eastern Sweden, in the county of Östergötland, on the territory of the commune of Norrköping, on the shore of Broviken Bay. Total area The Broborg estate, 250x190 meters in size, in addition to the ruins of the castle (32x30 m) with preserved basements, also includes ramparts, dams and the base of the chapel. It is surrounded by protective ditches ranging from 10 to 15 meters wide and a total length of 400 meters. The base of the chapel is triangular. The palace park, laid out during the Renaissance, has been partially preserved.

Palace Bond

Bohus Fortress

It is located almost on the border with Norway, in Bohusl?n county on an island where the Gota Alv divides into two branches - Gota Alv and Nordre Alv. The fortress was built in the 14th century and played an important role during the wars between Norway, Sweden and the Kingdom of Denmark. It was considered the most powerful fortification of that time in Scandinavia. Over time, due to the advent of firearms, bastions were added to the fortress, and after the end of the Northern Wars, the castle gradually fell into disrepair and decay. Today, picturesque ruins remain, against the backdrop of which the local population organizes fairs and “medieval tournaments.”

The fortress was founded in 1308 by the Norwegian king Hakon V (1270-1319) as a counterbalance to the nearby Kungälv, in which the Swedish Duke Erik Magnusson settled at that time, who, together with his brother Valdemar, was challenging the crown of Sweden against his third brother, Birger. The fortress was initially built of wood, but since it was located in the border region, it was soon rebuilt in stone, and it became one of the strongest fortresses in Scandinavia.

At this time, Bohuslan belonged to Norway and was one of the strategically important lines of defense against the Swedes. The fortress was besieged many times, but was never taken. During the Northern Seven Years' War (1563-1570), the castle was seriously damaged. In 1566, 250 Swedish soldiers were able to capture the north-eastern tower, and having achieved no further success, they blew up one of the warehouses nearby.

The commandant of Bohus ruled first the southern and subsequently the northern part of the province, which later received the name Bohuslän, based on the name of the fortification. Bohus played an important role in relations between Norway and Sweden. In 1333, a herredag ​​convened in Bohus, at which King Magnus Eriksson was declared of age, and in 1344, Magnus's son Håkan was proclaimed king of Norway here. In 1389, the fortress became the place where King Albrecht of Mecklenburg was imprisoned.

Fortress plan 1786

Since the Middle Ages, Bohus has been besieged many times, but has never been taken. In 1531 it was besieged by the Danish king Christian II, and during the Scandinavian Seven Years' War (1563-1570) the Swedes unsuccessfully tried to take it over five times. The most serious test for the fortress was the siege in March 1566, when Nils Boyer and Nils Sture made four assault attempts. During the last of them, the Swedes managed to occupy the main tower, but were blown up along with it.

Bohus, heavily damaged by sieges, was fortified and completed several times: in 1595, 1605 and 1645. In the middle of the 17th century, the fortress was a quadrangle with towers, the northwestern one (“Father’s Hat”) was quadrangular, and the other three were apparently round. In the western part of the fortress stood the “Red Tower”, in which the church was located. The external fortifications formed an irregular heptagon.

Tower "Father's Hat"

Bohus Fortress is located on the “fortress island” (F?stingsholmen), where the Gota Alv divides into two branches - Gota Alv and Nordre Alv. Initially the island was called Bagaholmen - Baga Island. The castle received the same name and became known as Bagahus - "House of Bug", which later transformed into Baahus, B?hus or Bohus - These three forms make up the modern pronunciation of the castle, the same in Swedish, Norwegian and Danish.

The castle itself was originally built from granite and stone. In 1450, the castle was already surrounded by long fortress walls 3 meters at the base, and with a height of 8.5 to 13.5 meters, depending on the terrain. The castle was rectangular. There were four towers in the corners. In the western part there was a brick tower, and in the center of the eastern part of the castle there was a gate with a drawbridge.

“Royal Hall” was the name of the vaulted entrance to the castle in one of the towers; there were four more floors above the vaults. Inside the fortress walls there was a castellan's residence, a chapel, guard rooms, barracks, a kitchen and other outbuildings. The approaches to the castle were very small, only 250 by 150 meters, so a large garrison was not required for defense. Only the ruins of the castle, the northern tower of Fars Hatt and the ramparts have survived to this day.

According to the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658, Bohus moved from Denmark to Sweden. During the Danish-Swedish war of 1675-1679, the fortress was again besieged by a ten-thousand-strong Norwegian army under the command of Gyllenløve. The siege lasted almost two months - from May 25 to July 22, 1678 - and Bohus would have been forced to capitulate if G. O. Stenbock had not come to her aid.

Almost completely destroyed, the fortress was rebuilt according to the plan of engineer Erik Dahlberg and until 1700 it was the seat of the Landshövding of Bohuslän, although it had largely lost its military significance. Under Charles XII, the fortress guns were transported to Sundsborg, which, according to the king’s plan, was supposed to strengthen the border with Danish Norway. After the death of the king, the guns were returned to the fortress. In the 18th century, Bohus served mainly as a prison.

Subsequently, Bohus only fell into decline. In 1783, the inhabitants of Kungelva received the right to break out stones from the fortress for construction purposes. During the Danish-Swedish war of 1788-1789, it was occupied by Danish troops, and after the end of the military conflict, the Swedes decided to raze Bohus. In this regard, the inhabitants of Kurgelv were again granted the right to use its stone, but in 1838, King Karl Johan, for cultural and historical reasons, prohibited further destruction of the Bohus Fortress.

In 1898-1904, archaeological excavations and conservation work were carried out in the fortress. In 1925, the ruins of the Bohus Fortress came under the jurisdiction of the Construction Authority, and in 1934, under the direction of the Unemployment Commission, restoration work began, during which the main gate was restored, which is now decorated with the monogram of Gustav V.

Currently, restoration work in the fortress continues.

Strengthening Visingsø

Visingsö (Swedish: Visingsö) is an island in the southern part of Lake Vättern, Sweden. Located 30 km north of Jönköping and 6 km west of Gröna

In the 12th-13th centuries, Nes Castle was located in the southern part of the island, which served as the residence of the kings of Sweden. Kings of Sweden Karl Sverkersson, Erik Knutsson, Johan Sverkersson and Magnus Ladoulos died here.

In the 17th century, the noble Brahe family settled on the island, in Visingsborg Castle. At the same time, the Swedish Admiralty began to grow oak on the island for shipbuilding needs. Currently, the oak groves have been partially cleared, and most of the island is occupied by agricultural land.

During the Northern War, Russian prisoners of war were stationed on the island, among whom were generals A. M. Golovin and I. Yu. Trubetskoy. The prisoners were kept at Visingsborg Castle. According to legend, it was they who set fire to the castle in 1718, upon learning of the death of King Charles XII. A Russian cemetery (sv:Rysskyrkogården) has been preserved on the island.

Vengarns

Vasteryas

Wrangel Palace

Another area of ​​Stockholm that cannot be ignored is tiny Riddarholmen, or Knight's Island, which stretches just 300m long and 200m wide. The first inhabitants here were Franciscan monks, who founded in the 13th century. on the territory granted to them there is a monastery of the Order of the Gray Brothers. The Reformation of Gustav I Vasa did not spare the local inhabitants, and in 1527 the monks were driven out by the poor, who instantly flooded the island.

What explains such a strange name of the island - Knight's? He got this name much later - only in the era of the Great Power, when the Swedish king Gustav II Adolf, and later his daughter Queen Christina, began to give away lands to the noble men of their great kingdom, who immediately began building luxurious palaces. It was they who immediately turned Stockholm into a capital, in no way inferior even to Paris.

The most magnificent palace of Riddarholmen belonged to the commander and general Carl Gustav Wrangel (1613-1676), who became rich in the Thirty Years' War. He longed with all his heart to buy a piece of land on Knight’s Island and build a palace there, but Queen Christina was ahead of him - she was the first to acquire the territory that Wrangel liked and personally presented it to her faithful warrior!

Wrangel Palace is the largest private residence in Stockholm. Even before the appearance of the palace itself, its southern tower, like Birger Jarl's Tower, was part of the defensive fortifications built by Gustav Vasa in 1530.

However, the nobles also had difficult times when they were unable to pay for their vast estates and abandoned them. The majestic palaces immediately passed to various departments (among which was the oldest department in Sweden, established back in 1539), in whose hands they remain to this day. Today only the names of the buildings remind us of the former owners - the Wrangel Palace, the Schering Rusenhanes Palace, the Hessenstein Palace, the house of the Chief Commissioner.

The palace was built in the 1630s as a residence for the nobleman Lars Sparre. A few decades later, the palace came into the possession of Field Marshal Carl Gustav Wrangel, who hired the architect Nicodemus Tessin the Elder to rebuild the palace to his liking. The result is the largest private palace in Stockholm.

While at war, many wealthy commanders and generals dreamed of a quiet life in future palaces. Wrangel decided not to postpone construction “for later,” despite the fact that at that time, not far from Stockholm, the construction of his other palace, Skukloster, was in full swing.

In 1693, Wrangel lost most of his property, and four years later, when another fire destroyed the Tre Kronor castle, royal family moved to Riddarholmen, Wrangel Palace became a royal residence and received the name Kungshuset, which meant “Royal House”. In this palace in 1697, 15-year-old Charles XII took the oath after the death of his father. Gustav III was born and lived here for ten years. In 1754, the construction of the Royal Palace was completed and the royal family moved there, and the State Headquarters settled in the palace.

King Gustav 3

On those rare days when Carl Gustav did visit the Stockholm house, life in it was in full swing: the general lived on a royal scale. Apparently, this is why the Vrangel Palace was chosen as a temporary refuge for the royal family when its own home, Tre Krunur Castle, burned down in 1697.

The fact that the choice of the royal family fell specifically on the Wrangel Palace eloquently testifies to its scope: in 1694, three years before the fire in the Royal Palace, the Wrangel Palace also burned, as a result of which the facade of the building was severely damaged. But these destructions were insignificant: Nicodemus Tessin Jr. quickly gave the castle the proper appearance, and since then Wrangel’s palace began to be called the Royal House - Kungshuset..

Tre Krunur burned down at the very time when the embalmed body of Charles X Gustav was in it, and the young Charles XII was being prepared for the throne. Many guests were invited to the coronation, but Tessin, no matter how hard he tried, did not have time to create a new magnificent salon in Wrangel’s palace, and it was replaced by an improvised hall in the open air, on the terrace.

By December 13, 1697, when all classes had to take an oath of allegiance to the new monarch, the floor was covered with expensive carpets, the external charred walls were hidden behind woven wallpaper, and Queen Christina’s silver throne was even erected against the wall.

King Charles 12

For several years, the lights in the palace windows did not go out and the music did not stop - young Karl constantly organized balls, masquerades and dinner parties, for which his friend Tessin was always responsible. But in March 1700, the fun came to an end: Charles XII left “his” home for the sake of wars with Denmark and half of Europe, and he was never destined to see these lands again.

In the first years, joyful news appeared in the palace almost every day, but after the shocking defeat near Poltava in 1709, despair and pain settled here.

Only once, in 1710, was good news brought here again from the front: Charles XII defeated the Danes at Helsingborg. They say that the “simple courier” Henrik Hammarberg (1686-1768), who carried this message day and night from southern Sweden all the way to Stockholm, was personally given a glass of wine by Queen Hedvig Eleonora (1636-1715) and invited to sit down, while she stood

Queen Hedwig-a-Eleanor

In fact, by calling Henrik a “simple courier”, the narrators are slightly disingenuous: he traveled in a comfortable carriage and spent the night in decent inns - Hammarberg entered all this into the expense book, a sheet from which hangs today in a frame in one of the rooms Wrangel Palace - the same one where the audience of the queen and the courier took place.

The construction of the new royal palace took 57 years - it was ready only in 1754, and therefore the entire royal generation was forced to “huddle” within the hospitable walls of Wrangel’s palace.

Queen Ulrika Eleonora (1688-1741) and her husband Fredrick I (1676-1751) were content with this peculiar residence all their lives; they were succeeded by Adolf Fredrik (1710–1771) and Luvisa Ulrika (1720–1782), whose son, who later ascended the throne as Gustav III, was also born in Wrangel's palace.

Queen Ulrika-Eleanor

It is interesting that later, in 1792, it was here that the murderer of Gustaf, Jakob Johan Anckarström (1762-1797), whose cell remained untouched since then, would be tried.

Two years after the pompous relocation of the royal couple back to Tre Krunur, several departments moved to the Wrangel Palace, including the Supreme Court of Sweden, which today occupies the entire building

In the Great Hall, today the plenary hall, hang portraits of all the chairmen of the Supreme Court since 1614. The beginning of this collection was laid in 1717 by Anna Maria Erenschtral, who gave the Supreme Court several portraits painted by herself.

Vic Castle

Wik Castle is located on the shores of Lake Mälaren, in the town of Mälardalen, 2 km from the medieval capital of Sweden - Uppsala and 85 km. from Stockholm.

The castle was built at the end of the 15th century in imitation of the architecture of the 13th century based on the models of the castles of Normandy and with its spiers and turrets it gives the impression of a real fairy-tale castle. The castle is surrounded by a moat with water and was not criminal when, during the internecine wars, the soldiers of Gustav Vasa besieged it for a year, but were never able to take it. The thick brick walls of the castle still remember those times.

The castle was partially rebuilt several times. The first and most extensive reconstruction of the castle was carried out in 1656 - 1560s under the leadership of the owners of the castle at that time, Marshal Gustaf Horn and his wife. The roof and several upper floors were dismantled, and the castle became lower. Vic Castle acquired its current appearance after another reconstruction, which was carried out in 1858 - 1860.

The castle was passed on by inheritance until 1912, then it was sold. Vik was later restored and rebuilt as a hotel. The hotel has 29 fully equipped rooms, each with WC, telephone, radio, and in some rooms TV. For hotel guests, horseback riding, wine tasting, castle tours and much more are organized.

Currently, the castle also offers services for conferences, weddings and engagements, and has a restaurant.

Grønsey Castle

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The castle was built on the shores of Lake Malaren for Chancellor Johan Skytte in 1607 - 1611. The building was built in the Renaissance style from gray stone and brick. At the corners of the castle there are four square towers. Andreus Liloneus, who visited the castle in 1651, spoke of the castle as follows: “There is a large building of brick, beautifully formed like a wonderful palace, and, built with great grace and style, it is especially impressive when looking at the castle through the garden and hedges.”

At the end of the 17th century, the castle was seized from the Skytte family in favor of the crown and fell into disrepair. After the estate went through several owners, it was bought by the wealthy Falkenberg family at the beginning of the 18th century. The castle was restored, but the four corner towers were demolished.

In 1820 the estate was purchased by Chief Justice Reinhold Fredrik Von Ehrenheim, whose descendants still own Grønsee Castle today.

It is noteworthy that the estate was never completely restored; each new owner of the castle made his own contribution, characteristic of its historical period, to the development of Grønsey.

The castle is surrounded by a park and garden of 720 hectares; the first park was laid out during the construction of the castle in 1611 under Johan Skytte. Thanks to the gradual expansion of the park by all generations of the castle's residents, Grønsey Park serves as a living example of at least five periods of development of landscape art, interior design and architecture in Sweden from the 17th century to the present day. Today, Grönsøjö garden is looked after by specialists from the Swedish University. Agriculture(The Swedish University of Agriculture).

House Gunnebo

The best example of Swedish neoclassical architecture is the Gunnebo house and garden. The house was built in the late 18th century for wealthy entrepreneur John Hall and was used by him as a large summer residence. Contemporaries described it as the most beautiful and exquisite wooden building in the kingdom.

The name Gunnebo also bore the name of the estate, which, until acquired by John Hall in 1778, was church property. The construction of the residence was entrusted to the architect Karl Wilhelm Karlberg. He was responsible not only for the building, but also for the design, decoration, furniture, gardens, and outbuildings.

Under the leadership of this talented architect, gardens were laid out on the estate. There were three in total. The elegant French Baroque garden, where statues, decorative vases and garden furniture were placed, was supplemented with exotic plants. In this garden, all vegetation was subjected to hand pruning only.

Landscape park or the English garden was created, as it should be, like an area of ​​​​wild nature. The third garden was...a vegetable garden. It was called the kitchen garden and played a significant role in the household

After his father's death, the estate passed to John Hall Jr., who, although gifted with artistic taste, did not inherit his father's business acumen. Hall's trading house falls into disrepair and the Gunnebo estate is sold under the hammer. Owners changed several times until the residence became the property of Baron and Baroness Sparre.

They treated the house with care and preserved many of the original details that created such a cozy and at the same time sophisticated style of the estate. After the death of Hilda Sparro, her husband Karl sold Gunnebo to the municipality.

Between 1949 and 1952, the house was renovated according to surviving original drawings and other documentation. Based on the drawings made by Karlberg himself, the gardens and even part of the vegetable garden were restored.

Now Gunnebo bears the title of a cultural reserve; a souvenir shop is open on the territory, chamber concerts, historical evenings, a Christmas market, and theatrical performances are held.

Gervälns Castle

Görväln Castle on Görväln, a bay of Lake Mälaren. The castle, which was completely renovated in 2008 and is protected as a historical building, now houses a hotel and restaurant.

Kalmar Castle

Kalmar Castle, located on south coast Sweden in a small town of the same name, became a “hot spot” of events in the history of medieval Scandinavia. The castle often took part in battles and at the same time became one of the significant centers of political events. Its favorable location on the shore made it one of the tax collection sites for the Swedish crown and, in fact, a “storehouse” for the royal court.

The area around Kalmar has been inhabited since ancient times. Excavations have shown the presence of ancient burials here. However, the first information about this place dates back to the 11th century.

According to medieval legend, the patron saint of Norway, St. Olaf (Olaf II the Saint), led his ships into the Kalmar Strait in 1027. There are quite a few written sources about this event, but archaeologists discovered a stone in which there is mention of this strait.

In the Middle Ages it was the third largest in the state and was a center of trade, mainly the export of iron, which was carried out by traders from Germany. Located in the southeast of the country, on the shores of the Baltic Sea. The city was formed around Kalmar Castle, which in turn was built in the 12th century around a watchtower designed to protect against pirates and Danes. Among other attractions, the Kalmar Cathedral designed by Tessin stands out.

Kalmar Castle, located near Kalmar's medieval pier, has played a key role in Swedish history since its construction in the 12th century. Once called “the key to Sweden,” this historic castle was established for the Kalmar Union, in which Sweden, Norway, and Denmark were united into one kingdom in 1397, thanks to the efforts of Queen Margaret of Denmark.

According to the most common version, Kalmar is a translation from Old Swedish - “stone shores”. However, when the Icelandic saga writer Snorre Sturlasson visited Kalmar in 1219, he referred to it as "Kaupbaer", meaning "trading city".

The same writer reports that Sigurd Jorsalafarare also sent a fleet to Småland in 1123 in an attempt to convert the local population to Christianity. This hike was called "Kalmare ledung".

During the 12th century. the majority of Swedes became Christians, and the main boundaries of the state were outlined. Each city now had its own bailiff, who collected taxes for the benefit of the royal treasury.

Construction of the fortress began in the 12th century. In the 16th century the fortress was improved under the reign of King Gustav I and was used as royal palace. It contains the beautiful room of the royal son Eric XIV.

It is believed that in the 13th century. the city reached its peak, largely thanks to rich merchants from Lübeck and the Hanseatic League. The Kalmar Seal, which dates from 1255 to 1267, is the oldest seal in Scandinavia.

A letter from the judge of Kalmar Castle, Magnus Bengtsson, addressed to the bailiff and councilor of Lübeck has been preserved. In it, the judge calls himself “prefectus Kalmarnensis”, and the letter itself is sealed with a seal on which you can read “Sigillum inhabitantium Kalmarniam” (seal of the inhabitants of Kalmar)

On November 10, 1276, Magnus Ladulus himself performed the wedding ceremony in the castle. His chosen one was Helvig av Holstein. The reign of Ladulus is characterized by an increase in the prosperity of the nation, which made it possible to implement such a large-scale project. Despite this, all work was completed only around 1300 during the reign of Tyrgyl Knutsson.

After the completion of the fortification work, Kalmar became one of the most protected places not only in Sweden, but throughout Scandinavia.

The walls of the room are decorated with wooden paneling, above which there is a colorful border of paintings painted on plaster. Kalmar was captured by the Danes in 1613 and burned to the ground in 1647. Since then, the fortress has served as a distillery, granary, prison and museum.

After the Swedish border was moved to the Oresund Strait (?resund), the star of Kalmar Castle set. In the XVII-XVIII centuries. royalty visited the castle only occasionally. The last to live in the castle was King Charles XI, who was on the throne from 1673 to 1692.

During the 18th century, the castle housed a prison and a grain warehouse, and during the reign of Gustav III a distillery was established. The latter turned out to be unprofitable and was closed in 1787.

In 1852, a new prison was built in the city, and restoration began at the castle, as a result of which most of the historical interiors were restored.

In the nineteenth century the castle was in poor condition and it was proposed that some of its historic interiors should be moved to another building. Frederic Schöland put an end to this plan and began restoration of the castle instead. In 1856 he presented his proposals for the restoration of the royal apartments, which came to fruition five years later. From 1880, Helgo Zetterval continued the restoration of the castle and in 1891 the castle received the silhouette it has today.

Today the castle is the main attraction in this port city Sweden, where you can start exploring the “Kingdom of Crystal” and buy glass products quite cheaply. In addition, Kalmar Castle is the best preserved of the Renaissance castles in Sweden.

(To be continued)

– full of peculiar charm. One of its calling cards are castles and fortresses, of which there are countless in Sweden. Most of them belong to the state, but some are leased from private and public organizations on the condition that their original appearance and intended use are preserved. The country treats these ancient monuments with care and reverence and annually allocates large funds to maintain them in perfect condition.

Castles and fortresses of Sweden

Below is a list of Swedish medieval castles, varied in design, but equally majestic: let's get acquainted with their names and photos, which will certainly interest lovers of antiquity:

1. This majestic structure was erected over a hundred years under the leadership of five architects, replacing one another. Work began in 1549 by order of King Gustav I Vasa. The building was supposed to surpass the archbishop's castle in its size and wealth in order to show the greatness of the state and the Swedish king in particular over the church. Now there are three located here.
2. in Sweden in ancient times it protected the city from the invasion of neighbors from. Negotiations were held here and historical documents important for the country were signed. At this time, the beautiful fortress-fort is open to tourists.


3. in Sweden, built and owned by the Bo Jonson Grip family, was radically rebuilt by the king, who confiscated it from its rightful owner and left only the façade unchanged. Located 60 km from, this castle was classified as a defensive structure. Nowadays there is a famous portrait gallery here.


4. in Sweden it is one of the brightest monuments of the Renaissance. It consists of four cannon towers and three stone structures in the middle. Until 1716, the castle was the residence of kings, but after that it was forgotten and served for technical purposes. At the end of the century before last they began to bring him back to life. Now here is historical museum, which neighbors the Vadstena International Academy, a travel agency and an archive.


5. Tide Castle in Sweden - a massive medieval structure, erected by order of Alexei Oxenstierna, a famous Swedish politician under King Gustav II. At the very height of his reign, he built a majestic castle, which to this day has retained its pristine beauty and grandeur.
6. , located in the city of the same name in Sweden on the banks of the Svarton River, was built to protect against attacks by unfriendly neighbors back in 1240. Subsequently, its appearance changed due to numerous destructions and restorations, so that only the watchtower remained in its original form. Nowadays it is a majestic building, towering above the surface of the river, with the peaks of its watchtowers pointing into the endless blue sky of Sweden.


7. (Svanholm) in Sweden is located 30 km from. Once it was the territory of Denmark, and the castle passed from hand to hand of Danish nobles, and later became the property of the royal crown of Sweden. Visitors can stroll through the extensive estate with a beautiful park and admire the life of the nobility in the local museum.


8. It was built a little later than other royal castles and palaces in Sweden, and therefore it was much better preserved. After it lost its defense purpose, there was a prison here. Now tourists, having passed through a moat with water, find themselves in the middle of a historical structure and can admire the weapons of medieval Vikings, samples of plants and fauna of the region, as well as other historical finds that have survived to this day.


9. , standing on an island, is not like other Swedish castles. It was built in 1550 and looks more like a rich nobleman's manor, although in fact it has always belonged to the royal family. The castle houses a rich collection of paintings, as well as an equestrian club, which annually holds noisy and crowded competitions.


10. - This is the Swedish Versailles. It has its own theater, church, a huge park of snow-white sculptures and ringing fountains, and of course, a rich interior.

The most impregnable castle in Sweden was built by the Norwegians. For centuries, the border between the two kingdoms ran along the Nurdra Elv, a branch of the Iota Elv River. In 1308, the Norwegian king Haakon V Magnusson ordered the foundation of a fortress on his shore to protect himself from the treacherous southern neighbors. Over three centuries, the Swedes besieged Bohus thirteen times, but were never able to take it. They eventually received the castle along with the neighboring town of Kungälv and the rest of the province of Bohuslän. The fourteenth and most fierce assault took place in 1678, when the Danes and Norwegians already besieged the Swedish garrison. After a month and a half of continuous bombing, the fortress was practically wiped off the face of the earth, but this time it did not give up. In the 18th century, the restored castle mainly served as a prison. Now it is a grassy ruin with a single surviving tower and a view of a picturesque river valley. The road is half an hour from the center.

Vadstena

Severe towers and deep ditches leave no doubt - the Renaissance castle on Lake Vättern was built by the kings of the Vasa dynasty so that it could withstand a long siege and survive. Now Vadstena lies in the depths of Sweden, and in the middle of the 16th century Danish possessions began nearby - wars followed in succession. There was not always enough time and money for arrangement: when another fire destroyed the interiors, they did not restore part of the furnishings, but simply painted them on the walls - right down to the folds of the curtains. By the end of the 17th century, the defensive need for the fortress disappeared - Vadstena was even converted into a granary for some time. Only in our time, the interiors have been restored, the ramparts have been restored, baroque chamber operas are now staged in the castle theater, and concerts are held in the courtyard in the summer.

Gripsholm

The brick walls of Gripsholm are reflected in the waters of Lake Mälaren - the royal castle stands on an island near the town of Mariefred. The fortress was founded at the end of the 14th century by Chancellor Bu Jonsson Grip, completely rebuilt in the mid-16th century by Gustav Vasa, and two centuries later updated by Gustav III - it was he who added to the pot-bellied towers and state halls a court theater and a portrait gallery, which is still replenished with images of outstanding Swedes (the collection contains more than 4,000 paintings). In the interiors of the castle ABBA group shot the cover for her album “Waterloo”. And in the last decade, a stuffed lion has attracted unexpected attention to Gripsholm. An unlucky 18th-century taxidermist had never seen the exotic predator and turned to his imagination - as it turned out centuries later, to the delight of the creators of numerous Internet memes. To see this funny, twisted face with your own eyes, in the summer season you can sail from the capital to Mariefred on an excursion ship.

Squid

Since the 12th century, the fortress opposite the island of Öland has been a strategically important fortification - in the endless Danish-Swedish wars, Kalmar Castle survived eleven sieges. In 1397, a union was concluded within these walls, uniting Denmark, Norway and Sweden under one crown. But by the middle of the 16th century, the rivalry between Copenhagen and Stockholm flared up again, so the Swedish king Gustav Vasa and his sons Eric XIV and Johan III spent a lot of time in Kalmar, constantly rebuilding, strengthening and decorating it - it turned out to be one of the best Renaissance castles in the kingdom. From Eric's richly furnished bedroom secret passage leads to the roof - the king was paranoidly afraid of an assassination attempt (and was eventually overthrown by his brother). Johan's bedroom is decorated with a bed taken from Denmark, with the noses of the carvings broken off so that the souls of the previous owners do not come for the stolen bed. By the end of the 17th century, the castle lost its military significance, was abandoned and was reconstructed only in XIX century. But the figured spiers of squid towers, cutting the sky above the calm expanse of the sea, are an iconic Swedish sight, replicated on covers, booklets and postcards.

Carlsten Fortress

A powerful fort above the city of Marstrand appeared in the second half of the 17th century. Sweden fought its way to the North Sea for a long time and, when it recaptured the province of Bohuslän from the Danes, it immediately began to dig in: a tower and ravelins embedded in the rocks protected the approaches to the strategically important ice-free harbor. Fortification work continued until the mid-19th century, although even then the fortress was mainly used as a prison. Here, for a quarter of a century, the thief and adventurer Lasse-Maia, who became famous for committing robberies while dressing in a woman's dress, served his sentence. The city at the foot of the fortress had by that time become a popular seaside resort, and vacationers often went up to Karlsten to listen to the stories of criminals. Today the fortress is the main attraction of Marstrand: stunning views of the sea and harbor, battle reconstructions in the courtyard, for the hungry there is a cafe with signature waffles, and those who are especially enthusiastic can book a room in a hotel located in the former barracks.

Lekko

Surrounded on three sides by the waters of Lake Vanern, the castle was founded at the end of the 13th century as an episcopal residence, but owes its current impressive appearance to the two Counts of Delagardie - representatives of the most influential and richest family in Sweden in the 17th century. Field Marshal Jacob Delagardie took possession of Lekko in 1617 in gratitude for having conquered the entire Izhora land from Ivangorod to Korela from the Moscow kings, and began to actively rebuild and decorate the new estate. His work was continued by his son Magnus Gabriel, the Ricks Chancellor of the kingdom, who added another floor to the castle. The chambers of his wife, Princess Maria Euphrosyne, turned out to be especially elegant. However, in 1681 Delagardie had to leave Lekko forever - Charles XI dismissed the Chancellor and returned the castle to the treasury. Much of the luxurious furnishings were sold off or moved to other crown properties, but the interiors themselves survived and were later restored. Now excursions are held here during the season, and opera performances are staged in the courtyard in the summer. A special pleasure is the views of the lake, the far shore of which is hidden behind the horizon.

Marsvinsholm

A small castle with two lace towers, surrounded by a pond, was built in southern province Skåne in the 1640s, when it was still part of Denmark. Christian IV had been sitting on the Danish throne for half a century, the builder king, who continuously founded cities, fortresses, palaces and temples throughout Scandinavia, and of all architectural styles preferred the openwork red-brick Renaissance of the Dutch masters. The noble Dane Otte Marsvin rebuilt his estate according to the highest taste - like royal Frederiksborg or Rosenborg, but only on a more modest scale. And even subsequent Swedish owners tried to preserve the character of the castle, hiring architects in Copenhagen for reconstruction. You cannot get inside the castle; it is only rented out entirely on special occasions, but walking around in the park and taking a hundred photographs from different angles is not forbidden.

Nyköping

A whitewashed tower on the river bank in the center of a provincial town an hour's drive away is almost all that remains of the once powerful castle that protected the southern approaches to the capital. In December 1317, King Birger Magnusson held a banquet in Nyköping, invited his brothers, Dukes Eric and Valdemar, to it, after the meal he arrested them, imprisoned them in a dungeon and, according to legend, threw the key to the dungeon into the river. The dukes died of hunger, a civil war began in the country, the castle burned down in a fire in 1665, and a large rusty key was caught in the 19th century - the medieval piece of iron is now displayed in an exhibition occupying the halls of the castle. That rare case when a beautiful legend, centuries later, suddenly receives substantive confirmation.

Skarhult. Photo: Ralf Turander/Skarhult

Skarhult

A real aristocratic nest in Southern Sweden. The owners of the castle - Barons von Schwerin - still live in it and manage the estate: the Renaissance house is still inhabited, and the landscape park around is in exemplary order. Visitors began to be allowed inside only five years ago, and thematic exhibitions were prepared not only about the castle, but also about the role of women in the history of Sweden and the education of men. After a tour of the halls and park, you will be served soup and pastries by candlelight in the basement cafe. By prior arrangement, the tour is conducted by Baroness Alexandra herself, talks about herself, explains how she works on the estate, so that then each guest can independently answer the question “Being an aristocrat today - is it a privilege or hard work?”

Skukloster. Photo: Jens Mohr/Skokloster

Skukloster

The Baroque castle with a regular park on the shores of Lake Mälaren was built (1654–1676) for Field Marshal Carl Gustav Wrangel, who commanded the Swedish army at the end of the Thirty Years' War. The commander furnished his new residence on a grand scale - paintings, carpets, tapestries, furniture, dishes, the library and armory are especially impressive - but he did not really have time to live in it: past wounds and gluttony brought the old warrior to the grave. After his death, work stopped. The new owners, the Brahe family, preserved the 17th-century furnishings, and in 1967 they sold the castle to the government, which turned it into a museum of that glorious era when the Swedish crown owned almost the entire Baltic. The journey from Stockholm takes about an hour, and from nearby Uppsala in the summer you can get to the castle by ship - the most picturesque option.

Sofiera

The most idyllic castle in Sweden, which has absorbed the love and care of several generations of Swedish kings. In 1864, Crown Prince Oscar bought a farm on the seashore in Skåne near Helsingborg and built himself a romantic cottage with towers and spiers, where he began to spend every summer with his wife Sophia and children. In 1905, the king gave his beloved residence as a wedding gift to his grandson Gustav Adolf and his Danish bride Margaret. The Crown Princess laid out beautiful gardens around the palace, in which five hundred species of rhododendrons now bloom. Tourists come to Skåne specially for their flowering in late May - early June. According to the will of Gustav Adolf in 1973, the castle was transferred to the ownership of the city, but the royal family continues to finance the work of gardeners - for example, for the 150th anniversary of Sofier, the current king Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia ordered the construction of a new geometric Jubilee Garden.

Chuleholm

James Fredrick Dixon, a wealthy entrepreneur and passionate Anglophile, planned to build a mansion in a neo-Tudor style on the shores of a sea bay in western Sweden. In 1898, he entrusted the project to the young architect Lars Israel Wallman, who carried out all the work according to the precepts of the then fashionable British Arts and Crafts movement - as a single ensemble, where every detail of the facade, every object in the interior and even every tree in the park obeys the general plan . James Fredrick died shortly after construction began; the project was carried out by his widow Blanche in memory of his late husband. Most of the materials for the construction of the castle were brought from England. Half a century ago, the mayor's office - the estate is located half an hour from the city - bought Chuloholm and turned it into a museum. Costume tours are conducted around the preserved rooms. They became especially popular after the release of the film “Melancholia” by Danish director Lars von Trier - it was here, in the castle park overlooking the Kattegat Strait, that Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg spend time waiting for the approaching end of the world.

Örebro

Sweden's most impressive city castle stands on an island in the middle of the Svarton River in the center of Örebro. The first mention of it dates back to the 13th century, and the castle acquired its current appearance - with four massive towers in the corners - under the kings of the Vasa dynasty at the beginning of the 17th century. Important events in Swedish history took place within these walls more than once: Gustav Vasa in 1540 announced the creation of a hereditary monarchy here (he himself was elected king), and Charles XIII in 1810 announced that he would transfer the throne to Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, Napoleonic marshal , the founder of the current ruling dynasty. However, Örebro lost its strategic importance three and a half centuries ago, and since then it has been used either as a prison, or as a warehouse, or as the residence of the governor. The historical interiors inside have not been preserved, and the guides mainly entertain tourists with legends about ghosts roaming the castle. The former prison cells on the top floor contain graffiti that was scraped onto the plaster by Russian prisoners three centuries ago. Whoever figures it out is a great guy.

Yularod

Don't believe your eyes! The most medieval looking, most postcard, most fairy-tale castle in the south of Sweden - with a round keep, with battlements, with pointed arches, with high chimneys and even with a protective moat - was actually built completely from scratch a little over a century ago, in 1890s. Such was the whim of the owner of the estate, chamberlain of the royal court Hans Gustav Tull - so that it would be like in the Loire Valley, but only made of red brick and the size of a small mansion. This is still a private property, so they won’t let you in, but everyone who drives past is free to stop, walk along the path among the mowed lawns, admire the toy stronghold and quietly indignant: “What a scam!”

Sweden's two most famous castles

Sweden's two most famous castles

Swedish nature has been famous for its beauty since ancient times, Scandinavian skaldic poets sang of its magical landscapes, and Swedish castles still seem like unique pearls of architecture and history. They are located in incredible locations, where scattered emerald hills and wooded cliffs create an aura of medieval courage. These castles today are crowned with impregnable walls that remind of their military past, in turn, rich and luxurious palaces attract travelers from all over the world interesting legends and charming interiors.

The incredible beauty of Scandinavian architecture

Most Swedish castles have long been in private ownership, but there is also a small proportion of those that belong not only to the country, but also to public organizations. Oddly enough, both private and state castles are open to visitors. Only near Lake Mälaren there are about 20 castles. In turn, Drottningholm Castle is considered a “Versailles in miniature”, it is located very close to Stockholm, and has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Today we will talk about two castles. The first is the Swedish Bohus Fortress, which is located on the border with Norway. This fortress was built in the 14th century. It was she who played far from the last violin in the difficult times of the war between Norway, Sweden and the Kingdom of Denmark. This fortress was considered one of the most powerful fortifications of those times throughout Scandinavia. Time passed slowly, and this fortress was improved in accordance with the development of weapons. For example, during the advent of firearms, bastions were added to the fortress walls. Unfortunately, after the end of the Northern Wars, this castle fell into disrepair. Today these are just colorful ruins; against their backdrop, local residents organize colorful fairs and “medieval tournaments.”

Bohus Castle

The construction of the Bohus fortress began in 1308, it was led by King Haakon V Magnuson, who was the king of Norway at that time. This fortress was to become one of many parts of the plan to strengthen the country's territory from attacks by the Swedes. In those distant times, the fortress was the property of Norway, as well as an important point in protecting the country’s borders. These walls were besieged many times, but the enemies were never able to take it. Since the Swedes constantly attacked the castle, it was completed and improved throughout the war period. Already in May 1658, the castle came into the official possession of King Charles X of Sweden, this happened in connection with the signing of the Peace Treaty in Roskilde.

Medieval traditions in the modern world

One of the last known attempts to besiege the castle is associated with the name of the Norwegian Ulrik Frederik Gildenlev, who in 1676 tried to storm the castle, of course, to no avail. But he did not retreat, and just 2 years later he returned. This time his army consisted of 15,000 people. For two whole months he shelled the castle, but it led to nothing. At that time, the castle garrison consisted of only 400 people, all of them survived, stood their ground and did not give up the keys to the fortress.

Ancient castles and ancient legends hovering around them

After these unfortunate events, the border with Sweden moved far enough away from the castle, as a result of which it lost its strategic importance. They began to use it as a prison. Decline came to this castle in the 18th century; the remnants of the garrison left its walls. And just six years later, the remaining buildings that were located next to the fortress were also abandoned. As a result, the local population stole parts of the once majestic structure for economic needs. Today, the castle has been turned into a museum, and the state budget allocates a large share of the money for its reconstruction.

Kalmar Castle

One more no less famous castle In Sweden there is Kalmar Castle, which is located on the southern coast of the country. This castle is located in a beautiful small town that bears the same name. Oddly enough, this small village, like the fortress itself, managed to become one of the “hot spots” in the history of medieval Scandinavia. The thing is that this castle took part in almost all important battles, moreover, it managed to shine as one of the most significant centers of political events in the country. It's all about its good location, because it is on the coast, which made it one of the tax collection sites for the crown of Sweden, as well as actually the “storeroom” of the royal court. The territory of Kalmar Castle has been inhabited since ancient times. Not long ago, excavations were carried out here, which proved that there are very ancient burials here. But, despite the words of archaeologists, the first mentions of this place should be dated back to the 11th century. If you believe the medieval legend, then the patron saint of Norway - Saint Olaf - brought his ships into the strait directly next to the lands of Kalmar in 1027. And although there is practically no written information about this event, archaeologists found a stone on which this information was carved. Even today, disputes and discussions continue around this castle, and it remains an unknown fact whether Kalmar was a city or just a small settlement near the Kalmar Strait.

Kalmar Castle grounds

A fairly common theory is that Kalmar means “stone shores” in Old Swedish. Throughout the 12th century, the majority of Swedes converted to the ranks of Christians, and around this time the main borders of the state were outlined. On the territory of Kalmar, the first fortifications were built at the end of the 12th century, and it was then that a round watchtower was erected, which had defensive functions. At this time, raids by “pagans” - pirates who did not agree to accept Christianity - were especially common. After the Swedish border was moved to the Öresund Strait, Kalmar Castle began to fall into disrepair. In the XVII-XVIII centuries. royalty visited this fortress less and less. The last king to live here was Charles XI, until about 1692. Then, for decades, a prison and grain warehouses were located within the castle walls. Gustav III established a small distillery here. But all this turned out to be unprofitable and soon everyone left this castle. Today the castle has been completely restored and is open to the public.

Vintage Swedish cities carefully preserve the rich history of the Middle Ages. Here you can visit ancient castles that belonged to royal families and nobles, visit ancient churches where unique objects of the past are preserved and burials are located famous people countries. Go down into a deep mine, where in those ancient times silver was mined - a noble metal that was valued not only for its external qualities, but also for the magical properties that medieval alchemists attributed to it. Our sightseeing tour through the medieval castles of Sweden and its ancient cities will introduce you to some outstanding examples of fortification of the Middle Ages of this country.

Tour program:

• 1 day
• 0:30 - Departure by bus from St. Petersburg, from the station. Chernaya Rechka metro station.
• Moving towards the border.
• Passing border formalities.
• Time for lunch at the cafe.
• Moving to Turku.
• Excursion "Medieval Obu".
  The success of the Swedish Crusades in the 12th century was consolidated by the creation of the Bishop's Castle on the coast. From that time on, the development of Finnish lands began. The main city of Obu became the cultural and administrative center of Swedish Finland. Even today, in the city you can see reminders of the Middle Ages: the Cathedral, the Old Square, the cobbled street that once led to the monastery, the ancient church and site of the first bishop's castle, the famous Turku Castle and even the ruins of the Old Town.
  Walking tour of Old Square, Monastyrskaya Street and excursion to AboaVetus Museum, where the ruins of the Old Town are preserved after the fire.
• Free time.
• Boarding the ferry.
  Those interested can have dinner on the ferry*
• Day 2
• For those who wish, breakfast on the ferry*
• Arrival in Stockholm.
• Moving to Uppsala
• Great Mounds of Old Uppsala
  The great royal mounds preserve the memory of the greatness of the ancient kings of Scandinavia. It was here that the capital and the main pagan sanctuary were once located with idols of the most revered gods, to whom abundant bloody sacrifices were made. The largest ting in the country, a national assembly, where the most important state issues were decided, was held here. And with the advent of Christianity, the first church in Sweden appeared here, which has survived to this day.
• Sightseeing tour of New Uppsala.
  The small Swedish town is still one of the most important cultural centers country, thanks to its University, the oldest in Scandinavia. Since the 12th century, Uppsala has been the ecclesiastical center of Sweden, where the Swedish archbishop was located. You will see Uppsala cathedral, one of Gustav Vasa's palaces, ancient runes and other attractions of the city.
• Excursion to the silver mines of Sal.
  Since the 13th century, the mining of this noble metal began in Sweden, and for 400 years, from the 150-meter depth of the local depths, silver flowed in an inexhaustible stream into the royal treasury, and in neighboring Westeros, pure coins were minted. Now mining has stopped, but the grandiose underground halls are not empty: excursions are held there, and even an elite hotel has been set up! And after a cold mine, everyone can warm up with a delicious Swedish lunch in a cozy cafe.
• Return to Uppsala.
• Hotel accommodation. Free time.
• Day 3
• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Moving to .
  Excursion “The First Capital of Sweden”.
  We will get to know the city founded in 980! It was the largest political, spiritual and commercial center of the country, with the first residence of a bishop and a settlement of Novgorod merchants. Today it is a small town with a huge history, unique attractions, beautiful views and Scandinavian charm. You will see the street, which is considered the oldest in Sweden, and the Town Hall, which is called the “smallest”. You will visit a 13th-century temple and the ruins of a 12th-century church. This town has the most large number runic stones. On the cozy streets of the city there are houses with more than 300 years of history.
• Moving to Gripsholm
• Inspection of the exhibitions at Gripsholm Castle.
  The grandiose 14th century castle is located on one of the islands of the lake. It was the place of imprisonment of one of the Swedish kings and his family. It was rebuilt several times, but later it was decided to return it to its original appearance. Now it is a huge and very interesting historical museum.
• Moving to Stockholm
• Boarding the ferry. For those who wish, dinner on the ferry*.
• 4 day
• Breakfast on the ferry for those interested*.
• Excursion "Medieval motifs in the architecture of Helsinki."
  At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, a new direction in architecture appeared, called “Northern Art Nouveau”. This style also came to Finland. It arose from an increased interest in national roots, traditions, and folklore. And in Finland, whose history was connected for 700 years with Sweden, curious decorative elements and planning features appeared, reflecting medieval motifs.
• Moving towards the border.
• 23:00 - Estimated time of arrival in St. Petersburg.

Attention:

• To participate in this round You must have a valid visa and health insurance.
• To participate in tours to the Republic of Belarus, Armenia, Georgia, Uzbekistan and Turkey, a visa is not required.
• The tour program does not include visits to water parks, shopping complexes and fish shops.
• In late autumn, winter, early spring, due to the short daylight hours, visiting some of the objects stated in the program may take place in the dark.
• The organizer is not responsible for queues at border checkpoints, delays in transit associated with customs, border and other official formalities, weather conditions, as well as traffic jams.
• If weather conditions on the route may threaten the safety of tourists (heavy snowfalls, low/high air temperatures, mudflows, rainstorms, floods, forest fires, smog, etc.), the organizer reserves the right to unilaterally change the tour program: replace some objects to others, and if replacement is impossible, exclude objects from the program.
• Seats on the bus are allocated by the organizer as the group is recruited.