Gripsholm Castle
A Swedish royal castle turned museum with a famous stuffed lion.
Gripsholm Castle is a castle in Mariefred, Södermanland, Sweden, located by Lake Mälaren about 60 km west of Stockholm. Since the reign of Gustav I Vasa, it has belonged to the Swedish royal family and was used as a royal residence until the 18th century; it is now a museum but remains a palace at the disposal of the King, part of the Crown palaces in Sweden.
Quick Facts
- Location Town
- Mariefred
- Location Country
- Sweden
- Architect
- Henrik von Cöllen
- Construction Start Date
- 1537
- Architectural Style
- Renaissance
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
A fortress was built at the location in the 1370s by Bo Jonsson Grip. It was sold to Queen Margaret I in 1404, and remained crown property until acquired by Sten Sture the Elder in 1472. Sten donated the place for use as a Carthusian monastery in 1498, and it functioned as Mariefred Charterhouse for almost 30 years. In 1526, the monastery was dissolved by King Gustav I during the Swedish Reformation, and the estate was confiscated by the Crown. The King tore down the monastic buildings and old castle, building a fortified castle with circular corner towers and a wall between 1537 and 1545. Of the original medieval fortress, no substantial façade remains visibly preserved, though some medieval masonry may be incorporated.
Reader's Guide
Gripsholm Castle served as a royal residence and prison. Between 1563 and 1567, King Eric XIV imprisoned his brother John and his consort Catherine Jagiellon there; John's son Sigismund III Vasa was born in the castle on June 20, 1566. Eric XIV was later imprisoned there from 1571 to 1573. The castle was the dower residence of Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg from 1636 to 1640, and of Queen Hedvig Eleonora from 1654 to 1715, who rebuilt and expanded it. After her death, the castle was abandoned by the court and used as a prison for a period. In 1773, it was renovated by King Gustav III, who added a theater in one of the towers. After the Coup of 1809, Gustav IV Adolf and his family were imprisoned there. In 1822, the building came to host the National Portrait Gallery. Between 1889 and 1894, a controversial restoration by architect Fredrik Lilljekvist removed many 17th and 18th-century alterations and added a third floor. Today the castle is a museum open to the public, containing paintings and works of art, and includes a badly-stuffed lion that has become infamous in recent years.
Did You Know?
- The castle was built on the site of a Carthusian monastery dissolved in 1526.
- The castle houses the National Portrait Gallery, founded in the 1820s and one of Sweden's oldest portrait collections.
- A badly-stuffed lion in the museum has become infamous in recent years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gripsholm Castle?
Gripsholm Castle is a water castle perched on the banks of Lake Mälaren in Mariefred, Södermanland, roughly 60 km west of Stockholm. It has been owned by the Swedish royal family since the 16th century and still holds official Crown palace status today.
Who built Gripsholm Castle and when?
King Gustav I Vasa ordered its construction, and the building work ran from 1537 to 1545. It was created to serve as a fortified seat for the Swedish monarchy.
What is Gripsholm Castle used for now?
It operates as a public museum while simultaneously remaining a palace at the King's disposal as part of Sweden's Crown palaces. It is no longer a day-to-day royal residence but retains its official royal designation.
What is the National Portrait Gallery at Gripsholm?
The castle is home to Sweden's National Portrait Gallery, a collection of painted likenesses of historically significant Swedes. It is arguably the single most visited exhibit within the castle's walls.
Why is Gripsholm Castle important?
As a royal residence from the 1500s through the 1700s, it anchors centuries of Swedish monarchical history in Södermanland. Its unbroken royal ownership since Gustav Vasa's reign makes it a rare surviving link to the early modern Swedish crown.
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