- Address: 647 31 Mariefred, Sweden
- Website: www.kungahuset.se/gripsholm
- Phone: +46 159 101 94
- Date of construction: 1538
- Opening hours: October to April - Sat-Sun 12: 00-15: 00; from May to August - every day 10: 00-16: 00, in September - 10: 00-15: 00 all days except Monday
On the island in Lake Mälaren there is Gripsholm Castle - one of the most beautiful and picturesque in Sweden . Authentic historical interiors, an extensive collection of paintings, including a portrait gallery of Swedish statesmen, a large collection of artifacts - all this makes this place very attractive for tourists. In addition, Gripsholm is one of 10 palaces belonging to the royal family, which gives it even more appeal.
A bit of history
At the end of the XIV century, the local lands were acquired by the noble knight Bu Jonsson Grip, chancellor of King Magnus Eriksson. The small defensive structure built on his order was named in his honor. After his death, the castle fell into decay and began to collapse, and in 1472 it was bought by the Swedish aristocrat Sven Sturre the Elder and gave it to the Carthusian monastery.
In the possession of the church Gripsholm was until 1526, when King Gustav I Vaza confiscated the castle after the church reform and ordered to demolish it, and on this place to erect a large fortified structure, which was supposed to become an outpost on the border with Denmark. Construction was completed in 1538, and the king chose the palace as his residence. Since then, the building is owned by the royal family. It managed to visit the residence of the widowed queens, as well as a prison for notable prisoners.
Architecture
The peculiarity of Gripsholm Castle lies in the fact that its spirit and interiors have preserved the spirit of the last four centuries of its existence.
The acquaintance begins directly from Lake Mälaren - the castle is visible from afar, and its bright walls and graceful towers make a tremendous impression. The yard is paved with paving stones. There are two captured guns captured in the war with the Russians. They are called "Galten" and "Suggan", although the Russian gunsmith Andrey Chokhov who created them called them simply "the wolf". In fact, it's not really guns, rather - they squeaked. The first gun was captured in 1577, the second - in 1612. In addition, in the courtyard attracts the attention of the only wooden part of architecture - carved attic.
Interiors
The most interesting species inside the castle are:
- The Great State Hall. Visiting it, you can imagine what the interiors of Gripsholm looked like during the reign of King Gustav Vaz. Here, the painted ceiling and portraits of the king and his nobles attract attention.
- White Room (Oval Office of Gustav III). It is known not only for portraits of Swedish monarchs, but also for beautiful stucco molding, as well as for a luxurious chandelier. The room of the Duke of Carl is known for its ceiling with floral motifs. In addition, it has a very beautiful fireplace, and the walls are decorated with wooden panels. It was in these rooms that the dowry queen lived - Maria Eleonora, and then Hedwig Eleanor.
- Theater. In the XVIII century, King Gustav III castle was turned into a palace. It was then that the home theater of the royal family appeared here. It can be seen today - this is one of the few theaters of the 18th century that have survived to this day. At the same time, around Gripsholm, the park and orchard were broken up, and pasture was also organized for the inhabitants of the barnyard.
- Art Gallery. In 1744, Princess Lovisa Ulrika, the future Queen of Sweden, initiated the creation of a gallery. The collection of portraits to date has more than 3,500 paintings and is the largest in the world, and more than 4,5 thousand paintings in the castle.
Park and garden
The park is located on the adjoining park territory of 60 hectares. In its western part is a fenced plot of land used for growing a variety of spices. It is called the Spice Pavilion. There is also an orchard, which is especially beautiful at the time of flowering. Most of all in the garden of apple trees. Of apples, a drink is produced right on the castle's territory, which visitors can purchase.
How to visit?
In the summer, Gripsholm accepts tourists without days off (except for those days when the royal residence is used for receptions, the schedule of work can be found on the castle's website) from 10:00 to 16:00. In September, it is open for visits until 15:00, Mondays - weekends. From October to April inclusive, you can visit the palace only on Saturdays and Sundays, from 12:00 to 15:00.
The tour lasts 45 minutes. Here you can easily find a Russian-speaking guide. To visit you need to buy tickets. It costs 1 ticket 120 SEK (approximately 13.5 USD).
You can reach the castle from Stockholm by car or by train. The car should travel E4 to Sodertalje , and from there - drive another 30 km along the E20 in the direction of Gothenburg , and then turn onto road number 223.
By train from Stockholm Central Station in less than 40 minutes, you can reach Luggest, and from there you can reach Gripsholm by bus or taxi, spending 5-10 minutes. You can get to Gripsholm and by water, renting a boat.