The Kingdom of Sweden

Sweden was a part of the Danish Kingdom between 1397 and 1523.

Gripsholm

Gripsholm Slott was built in the 14th century for the Swedish governor Bo Jonsson Grip. Two centuries later it was rebuilt as a royal residence for King Gustaf I Wasa. Some kings as Erik XIV, Johan III and Gustaf IV Adolf were kept as prisoners here. Now the castle is a museum with paintings, works of art, furniture, two Russian cannons and a theatre. The castle is surrounded by water. In the park are two rune-stones.

Helsingborg
Kärnan used to be a 14th century fortress, but was demolished in 1857. It was built by King Erik of Pomerania so he could dominate the toll collection on the Sont. Left of the fortress is the 25m high tower in the park. In there is an exhibition on the history of the fortress. From the tower you have a beautiful view.

Sofiero is a little ivy-grown castle built as a summer residence for the later King Oscar II in 1865. The garden with statues has the biggest European rhododendron nursery.

Kalmar
The renaissance castle Kalmar was built for the kings Johann II and Erik XIV. It has five towers, walls and a castle-moat. Some rooms are to view and the chapel. Kalmar was the place where Queen Margrethe I signed the Union of Kalmar which united Denmark, Sweden and Norway in 1397.

Örbyhus
The Örbyhus Slott from the Middle Ages got his present outlook under the kings Gustaf I and Erik XIV. Erik XIV was held prisoner in here by his brothers and died here in 1577, possibly poisoned.

Örebro
Örebro Slott was built in the 12th and the 13th century, and enlarged by King Magnus Eriksson in the 14th century and by King Karl IX in the 16th century in renaissance style. King Gustaf II Adolf was crowned here, and the French Jean Baptiste Bernadotte was here chosen as the heir to the throne in 1810 (he later became King Karl XIV Johan). A castle-moat and a park surround the castle. It is the residence of the governor of the province, but it is to visit. Outside is a statue of King Karl XIV Johan.

Solliden, Öland
Solliden is an Italian renaissance palace built in 1906 as a summer residence for the Swedish Queen Victoria. Now it is the summer residence of King Carl XVI Gustaf and his family. When he is not here, you can pay a visit to the palace.

Stockholm was founded in 1252.

Drottningholm Slott, the Versailles of Sweden, was built between 1662 and 1700 in French style for Queen Hedwig Eleonora. It is still a royal residence, but is to visit when the royal family is not at home. The magnificent garden lodges a theatre museum from 1766, a Chinese palace from 1769 with the Chinese puppet theatre of King Gustaf III.

King Gustav III's Pavilion.
Haga Slott is the place where King Carl XVI Gustaf was born. It was built between 1802 and 1804 and modernized in 1932. Now it is used for representations. The English garden has some pavilions and a butterfly-garden. On an island in the Hagaparken is a royal cemetery where amongst others the grandparents and the father of the present king are buried.

The Kungeliga Slott was built between 1690 and 1750 on the fundaments of the 13th century castle Tre Kronor (burned down in 1697). It was built in combined Italian renaissance, baroque and French classical styles. The royal family uses it as working and reception residence. The 600 rooms and halls contain many treasures: porcelain, statues, gobelins, the royal orders of knighthood and the Swedish thrones and regalia. There is also a chapel. The changing of the guards, with band, takes place between June and August at 12:50pm.

The Riddarholmskyrkanhas fundaments from about 1270. It was then a part of a Franciscan monastery. It was partly rebuilt in the 15th and the 16th century. Since the 17th century many Swedish kings and queens are buried here. There are some baroque tombs.

Rosendals Slott, on Djurgården Island, was built between 1823 and 1827 as summer residence of King Karl XIV Johan. Now it is a museum furnished in 18th and 19th century French Empire style.

The Stadshuset, Stockholm’s town hall, was built in 1923. Here the Noble prizes are presented. It has a 106m high bell-tower with on its side the tomb of Birger Jarl, a Swedish regent. Interesting are the council-hall, the statues, paintings, colonnades and the golden hall for banquets. Prince Eugen made some wall paintings.

The Storkyrkan is a 13th century cathedral, consecrated in 1306. It was enlarged in the 15th century. Inside is a royal box. This is the cathedral where some Wasa-kings and all Bernadotte-kings were crowned.

Prince Eugen's Waldemarsudde, on the Djurgården Island, was built between 1903 and 1905 for prince Eugen (1865-1947), who was a painter. Since 1913 the house is an art gallery also. Prince Eugen left his work and his art collection to the Swedish state. They show his inheritance here.

·  Välkommen till Waldemarsudde

Strängnäs
In the 13th century Domkirke, built in gothic style, are the tombs of the Swedish governor Sven Sture and King Karl IX with both his wives. The church has a rich interior with frescoes.

Uppsala
The Dom is the most important cathedral of Sweden. The church of 1154 was rebuilt in gothic style between 1270 and 1435. The two towers are 120m high. There are four rune-stones in the cathedral. Here also the Kings Gustaf I and Johann III are buried in chapels.

The Slott is the castle of the royal Wasa-family. It lies on a hill with a great view on the town. It was built under King Gustaf I since 1549, but never entirely finished. It partly burned down in 1702. Inside is an art museum, and also the hall where King Gustaf I was crowned and where Queen Christina abdicated in 1654. Now the castle is a government seat, but it is partly open for the public. In front of it is a bust of King Gustaf I.

Vadstena
The Blåkyrkan is an abbey church, consecrated in 1430, and built of blue limestone. It contains the relics of Swedish national saint Birgitta and some church art. Here is also the tomb of prince Magnus, the youngest son of King Gustaf I.

The renaissance castle Vättersborg was built for King Gustaf I and his sons between 1545 and 1620.It has a wide castle-moat, some towers and gates, and a gothic chapel. It was restored in the 19th century and now houses the state archives.

Västerås
The 13th century Cathedral has a 103m high tower. Inside are some church treasures and the tomb of King Erik XIV.