Chuleholm


Sweden today is one of the most beautiful and popular with travelers in European countries. The rich and eventful history of the Kingdom, as well as the amazing culture of the locals , are reflected in the numerous sights , among which the most interesting from a tourist point of view are, of course, ancient castles and palaces . One of the best representatives of this category is the magnificent Chuleholm Castle, which we will discuss later in this article.

Historical facts

The origins of the castle date back to the XIII century, when he was first mentioned in the land book of the Danish king Valdemar. In the following centuries, the palace belonged to many outstanding families. In 1892 Chuleholm was bought by James Fredrik Dixon and his wife Blanche. There they created once the largest stud farm in Sweden, where they bred and raised purebred horses. There was also founded a driving school, where the future coachmen and drivers were trained.

The manor purchased by the couple was in a bad condition, so the Dixons decided to build a new castle on this place and announced a competition for the best project. The winner was still unknown at the time architect Lars Valman, inspired by the British sense of style, although the young man himself until 1900 was never in England. The construction of Chulyolma lasted 6 years and, finally, in 1904 it was completed.

What is interesting about the castle?

The palace is located on the seashore, in a valley surrounded on all sides by mountains. At his first visit to Chuleholm in 1904, priest Gustav Ankar admired: "I seem to have got into a fairy tale - so different from anything I've ever seen before!". The plan of one of Sweden's most beautiful buildings was both creative and challenging. The entire structure was carefully divided into sections: for noblemen, guests, children and servants. It should be noted that both the interior and exterior of the castle are worked out to the smallest detail and show a high level of quality and professionalism of the young Lars Valman: smooth lines and stylized floral and vegetable themes are repeated throughout the palace.

Each of the rooms of the castle is of special interest for tourists:

  1. Main room and dining room. Chulyolm was originally built to hold gala evenings, and it was in the main hall that all the guests usually gathered. The heart of the room is a large 8-meter fireplace, which symbolizes hospitality of the hosts. In addition, here you can see Julius Kronberg's famous painting "The Queen of Sheba" and the ancient British watch - the legacy of the Dixon family. To the main hall adjoins a huge dining room with stucco ceiling, and above it is a music balcony, where the ensemble was located to entertain guests during dinner
  2. Billiard room. After a delicious dinner, men were traditionally removed to a special room for gentlemen on the ground floor. In addition to playing billiards, it was possible to talk about business and business in a relaxed atmosphere. By the way, this is the only place in the entire castle, where it was allowed to smoke.
  3. Living room and library. On one of the floors of Chuleholm was an elegant living room, where the ladies gathered to chat in comfort, drink tea, discuss art and literature, etc. The library adjoins the living room - a huge dark room with tall oak columns and golden leather patterns. A distinctive feature of these 2 rooms are luxurious green carpets, which were very hard to clean - for this purpose the first vacuum cleaner in Sweden was purchased.

The architect Chuleholma designed not only the building, but also the surrounding garden. It is noticeable that near the castle the park is more structured, and all the plants in it are placed symmetrically. In the distance, it gradually adapts to the natural environment, creating a smooth transition from the artificially created landscape to the wild.

How to visit?

The castle regularly conducts excursions , weddings and other ceremonial events are organized. For the public, Chuleholm's doors are open every weekend all year round, and in the summer months (June-August) you can visit the palace any day of the week. To get to one of Sweden's main attractions, book a special tour at a local agency, use a taxi or rent a car , because public transport to the castle does not go.