City: Sweden
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Top 10 Castles in Sweden, Sweden
Coordinates: 63°N 16°E / 63°N 16°E / 63; 16
Restaurants in Sweden
1. Kalmar Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 854 reviews
The history of this legendary castle goes back 800 years. For a long time, Kalmar Castle was an important fortification and known as the key to the kingdom because of its strategical location. The Swedish-Danish border was located only a short distance to the south, because Scania and Blekinge were Danish territories at the time. Kalmar Castle was given its current design during the 16th century, when the Vasa kings Gustav, Erik XIV and Johan III rebuilt the medieval castle and made it into a Renaissance palace, furnished and decorated in continental fashion. Even before then the castle had played an important role in Nordic politics, for example as the location for the signing of the Kalmar Union in 1397. This event was celebrated during the whole year of 1997, the union's 600th anniversary. Kalmar Castle is a symbol for Kalmar. The castle's history features international politics, court intrigues, fiery sieges and fierce battles. Today the castle is vibrant and lively place where many people visit.
Reviewed By fjtange - Etten-Leur, The Netherlands
Highly recommendable to visit! Fantastic medieval castle with authentic sceneries. Would be good though to read-in a bit on the history before visiting.
2. Sofiero Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 661 reviews
Sofiero Palace was, until the 1970s, a summer residence for Swedish royalty. The magnificent heritage of thousands of rhododendrons, beds, borders and kitchen gardens is carefully tended by a team of dedicated experts. In 2010, Sofiero was voted Europe’s Best Park.Sofiero is situated just north of the town of Helsingborg in southern Sweden. Interesting exhibitions in the palace and a variety of exciting events and activities in the beautiful park and gardens are some of the things you can look forward to when planning your visit. The season, during which the palace, shops, restaurant and café are open for visitors, starts March 31 and ends in September. However, you are welcome to visit Sofiero for a guided tour, a walk in the park and a chance to enjoy the view over the strait of Öresund to Denmark at any time of the year.
Reviewed By SverigeBill - Lund, Sweden
Sofiero is a great place to visit for the formal gardens, especially in the spring for the rhododendrons and in the autumn for the ljusstämning (where the grounds are open at night with all the paths lit by candles.)
3. Ulriksdal Palace
4. Gripsholm Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 293 reviews
Reviewed By chucklazer - Herzliya, Israel
So - a beautiful castle, big decorated guns when you enter, nice scenery, and the castle hosts the national portrait gallery of Sweden - so you get to see portraits of all the kings and nobles. but the great anecdote were the word scratched by prisoners who supported sigismund the 3rd when he was deposed and stayed in the castle's tower...
5. Vadstena Klosterkyrka
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 150 reviews
Reviewed By StevenKolsteren - Groningen, The Netherlands
The church and monastery were at the time of our visit, very quiet, at a peaceful lake. The story of Saint Birgitta is very interesting. There are several nice sculptures representing her, one in ecstasy, another more realistic. The church also had fine altarpieces. The town itself is well worth a visit too, with wooden houses and a castle as a bonus.
6. Lacko Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 376 reviews
Reviewed By tork1968 - Solna, Sweden
This great castle really offers a fantastic "castle-experience". Well preserved, interesting history, good information for visitors (also in English), nice staff, beautiful surroundings, very nice café and also a nice drive to get there.
7. Bohus Fastning
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 163 reviews
Bohus fortress is an unprecedented Nordic heritage. Forces from Sweden, Denmark and Norway has unsuccessfully besieged the site 14 times and during more than 700 years Kings, Queens, witches and saints have put their mark on the history of the site. Prisoners have suffered hellish torment in its dark dungeons and in the courtyard there is still a well, built by the toil of condemned prisoners. The fortress has been a ruin for the past two centuries, ensuring that its violent past is but a memory, today the site is a popular destination for excursions, far from gun smoke, witchcraft commissions and corporal punishment. Nowadays, foreign visitors are more than welcome inside its walls, where peace now reigns most of the time. Make a visit to the Bohus fortress, and be a part of the Nordic history.
Reviewed By PeterR7 - Gothenburg, Sweden
We go here every 2-nd year about.. the fortress is really a fascinating place with lots of rooms to see, and lots of information about all the great battles that have taken place here. Well worth a visit!
8. Skarhults Slott
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 79 reviews
Welcome to one of Sweden's best preserved Renaissance castles, its exhibits, park, and cafe. During 2021 the exhibits, park and cafe will keep closed. Welcome back in 2022! The Skarhult estate is owned by the von Schwerin family. You are most welcome to visit our farm shop where we offer organic products from the fields of Skarhult. It is located next to the castle and is open every day of the year.
9. Tjoloholms Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 263 reviews
Reviewed By FontanaACS
Ms. Blanche Dickson, with roots in Scotland had this manor, located close to the sea, built around the turn of the 20th century (completed 1904 to be more exact). The inspiration came for the Arts & Craft movement (William Morris among others). The furiture originally came from Liberty in London and some of it still remains in the building.(When the family sold the manor in the sixties the furniture was scattered but it has been possible to buy a lot back.) Running a vast estate as this required a fairly large workforce. As commuting was not a option a workers village was build on the estate. These houses are now restored and it is even possible to rent a cottage. To provide for the kids there was also a school, now converted into a restaurant. (Serving a good luch at a fair price and ample seating outside.) And to make it all complete there is a church close to the school. Touring the manor this summer was selfguiding with an extensive documentation. The tour-guides working as hosts and available for additional informaning (one-on-one and appropiate social distancing). Outside (the manor) there is an extensive garden. Part of it is still under reconstruction. The guided tour (yes, outside and a live guide) took us around the garden and explained all the different flower bed and, among other things, how to form trees (thuja occidentalis) in a cone form. Between the manor and the sea is a vast lawn, off limits, except for the garden tour. Entering the lawn was on par with entering the pitch in the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. Simply awesome.
10. Visby City Wall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 609 reviews
Reviewed By TWal1 - Canberra, Australia
Visby’s City Wall is an iconic structure that surrounds the essence of the Old Town. The most impressive part is that it is largely complete with a range of towers, turrets, and gateways. This is a reminder of the wealth in the city and the need to protect it from invaders. A magical part of the city today. Thanks for your vote.
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