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Top 10 Castles to Visit in Sweden

In the past, castles were mainly used for military defence. Sweden was divided into provinces and into the Svea and Göta kingdoms in the early medieval times. Sweden used to have a very strong military and they built many castles during the medieval and Renaissance period. 

1. Gripsholm Castle

Gripsholm Castle Processed by: Helicon Filter; Gripsholm Castle

The Gripsholm Castle was built during the reign of King Gustav Vasa in 1537. It sits majestically on the shores of Lake Mälaren in Southern Sweden. The interior furnishings and Renaissance architectural style reign from the 16th to 19th century. The interior of the castle is very large with several rooms.This castle is now a public museum. Inside it, you find  the National Portrait Gallery which carries one of the oldest portrait collections in the world.

2. Drottningholm Palace

Drottningholm_Palace by Juanna Annasdotter Wikimedia Commons

Known fondly to some as the ‘‘Â鶹APP of the North’, the Drottningholm Palace was built for the Queen Hedvig Eleonora in 1662. Today, the southern wing of the Palace is reserved for the current Royal Family in Sweden as their permanent residence. Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, a famous Swedish architect design this palace.

The interior and architectural  design is full of baroque flavor, and it was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. The theatre, Chinese pavilion and garden are the best examples of an 18th century Northern European royal residence in Sweden.

3. Ekwtorps Fortress

Eketorps by Pål-Nils Nilsson / Riksantikvarieämbetet Wikimedia Commons

The  southern Öland area has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it showcases outstanding examples of ancient human settlement. In this place,  a breathtaking castle called the Ekwtorps Fortress is found. Here you can experience how people lived in the past and how houses were built during the iron age.

Ekwtorps is an ancient fortress which was built in three settlement phrases, two in the Iron Age and one in the Middle Ages, ranging from 300 AC to 1240 AC. 

4. Bohuss Fortress

Bohus_fortress byVitold Muratov Wikimedia Commons

Right along the old Norwegian-Swedish boundary in Kungälv, Sweden stands the most quintessential 

Northern European medieval castle, Bohus. It is a must see.This castle is  considered to be one of the best designed and preserved in the country.

It  castle was constructed by the Norweigian King Haakon V Magnusson in 1308. At that time, it belonged to Norway and its main use was military defense against Sweden. 

5. Örebro Castle

Örebro_castle_in_Sweden by sk12 – Örebro castle in Sweden

Örebro literally means ‘a bridge over a graveled river’. Örebro castle is in Örebro city, the sixth biggest city in Sweden.The fortress was built by King Karl IX. It castle was once a logistics center, that kept track of every ship crossing the bridge on River Svartån.

The castle consists of four three-storey ranges surrounding a courtyard with a round tower in each corner. It was considered one of the strongest defensive castles in Sweden  during the medieval period. Here, there are restaurants, exhibitions, and regular music concerts to keep you entertained year round. 

6. The Kalmar Castle

Kalmar_slott.nordostra_sidan by Alexandru BaboÅŸ Albabos Wikimedia Commons

The Kalmar Castle displays the history of a castle that dates back 8 centuries. It explains the role of the castle as an important fortress  because of its location close to the South, which used to be Dansih territory. Inside the Grey Hall of the Castle, there is a reconstructed display of a set table that depicts the royals’ celebration of Easter. You will feel like you have travelled back onto time.

Duke Erik had a favorite mistress and in this castle one finds her room which is royally furnished. You can get a glimpse into how the olden day mistresses were treated. The Castle has touch screen installations all over that give more information about the castle in the form of texts, anecdotes, and tales about the Castle.

7. Trolleholm Castle

Trolleholms_slott by Jorchr on sv.wikipedia Wikimedia Commons

This castle was formerly known as Kattisnabbe and Eriksholm before it came to be known as the Trolleholm Castle. It lies in the southern part of Sweden called Scania. The castle, consisting of 110 houses, is spread over 12300 acres and has beautiful gardens that will take you back to the Victorian Era. The castle is still privately owned by the Trolle-Bonde family. They renovated the whole castle in 1887 and gave it the fairytale look that it has until today.

Rosendal Palace was largely designed by , one of the leading architects of the time, who received a royal commission to draw and build the palace building after the original buildings burned down.

8. Rosendal Palace

Rosendals_palace By Arild VÃ¥gen Wikimedia Commons

To experience a great example of Swedish architecture, visit the Rosendal palace. Located right in the heart of Stockholm is the beautiful Rosendal palace. A Swedish pavilion that was built between 1823 and 1827 by King Karl XIV Johan. Rosendal Palace created as an escape for the king, from court life formalities at Royal Palace. It was designed by one of the best architects of the era, Fredrik Blom,who got the royal commission to the built palace after the last buildings burned. 

9. The Royal Palace

The_Royal_Palace_of_Madrid by Rodrig. RM Wikimedia Commons

The Royal Palace is one of the largest European palaces. It is the official residence of  His Majesty the King of Sweden, boasting around 600 rooms! The palace has five museums open to the public. The palace was built around the 18th century in Italian Baroque architecture, replacing  the castle named Kronor that burned down in the year 1697.

10. Borgholm Castle

Borgholm Castle by Håkan Dahlström Wikimedia Commons

Borgholm Castle is one of the most significant tourist attractions of this region, and it gives a serene and amazing way to get retrospect into the Nordic, Swedish, and European history of over 900 years. Borgholm Castle belongs to the cultural heritage, and the National Property Board manages it impeccably.

The castle strategically combines history to the present days as a living museum. It blends the prominent exhibits of the historical importance of the castle with kids’ activities, art exhibitions, concerts, and guided tours. New concerts and exhibitions in the castle are presented well to form an exciting and serene environment.