Gripsholm Castle – a Royal Fortress Full of Surprises

About 70 km west of Stockholm, in the little town of Marifred in the municipality of Strängnäs, lies one of Sweden’s most prominent and beloved estates: Gripsholm Castle. Of all the castles in Sweden, Gripsholm seems to be the biggest crowd-puller.

With its red brick walls and green copper domes, the elegant structure surrounded by the calm waters of Lake Mälaren presents more than 400 years of Swedish history.

The History of Gripsholm Castle

Gripsholm Castle was the creation of King Gustav Vasa, Sweden’s most influential king. In 1526 Gustav I seized this piece of land and built a fortification with circular corner towers and a defensive wall.

The fortress primary purpose was the military defense. However, after the completion, the king liked it so much that he used Gripsholm as his residency. After that, Gripsholm Castle became one of the official royal residences of the Swedish monarchy.

The exterior of the castle was built in Renaissance architectural style. The interior is quite big, with numerous rooms and corridors, furnished in the 16th to the 19th century styles. 

In the late 1800s, Gripsholm went through some extensive restorations that brought the castle to its initial splendor. The only room in the castle that was preserved almost untouched is the bed chamber of Duke Karl.The room still has the original furniture from the 1570s.

Even though Gripsholm was last occupied by royalty (Charles XV) in 1864, it’s still a royal castle. 

Why Should You Visit the Gripsholm Castle?

Sweden has literally hundreds of castles, palaces and manors, most of which are located in the southern part of the country. Throughout history kings and noblemen built their fortresses in this area as here it has always been the country’s most fertile region.

Some of these castles are absolutely outstanding, but the one that absolutely stands out is Gripsholm Castle. If you are into royalty and want to learn more about Swedish history, you should definitely visit it. There are some other reasons why you should visit this place, so keep reading.

1. Gripsholm Castle Has One of the Oldest Portrait Collections in the World

Gripsholm Castle is home to the National Portrait Gallery, one of the oldest and largest portrait collections in the world. The gallery was officially founded in 1822 with about 4000 works.

The current collection has over 4500 portraits of not only kings and queens, but also of prominent Swedish personalities. That seems quite surprising, as you wouldn’t expect to see Hollywood star portraits like Greta Garbo’s and Ingmar Bergman’s hanging on the walls of a 16th century castle. 

Each year the Gripsholm Society commissions and donates a portrait of a famous Swede to the collection.

2. Gripsholm Has Its Own Theater

Perhaps the most unique feature of the Gripsholm Castle is its famous theater, built around 1780 by King Gustav III.

Gustav III, who famously described himself as the ‘actor king,’ was a real theater lover. A ‘ham’ actor, the king used to cast himself as the star in both comedy and drama.

The theater, which was built in the shape of a circles one of the best-preserved theaters in its era in Sweden. The amphitheater could sit about sixty guests, whereas the servants could watch the play from the dome. The home-built theatre looks quite impressive and is equipped with a very sophisticated backstage technology.

The painted set is still intact and has been preserved in its entirety since the last recorded performance in 1785.

3. There is a Badly Stuffed Lion at Gripsholm Castle

Up in the attic of Gripsholm Castle there is a stuffed lion that was once a king’s precious possession. The story goes that in 1731 King Frederik I of Sweden received a lion from the Bey of Algiers.

The King was so enamored with his lion that a few years later, when the animal died, he tried to have it mounted. But all that was left of the lion was the pelt and some bones.

The taxidermist didn’t know anything about this animal called “lion,” but he did the best that he could with what he had in his hands. The result was a comic creature that bears very little resemblance to the mighty king of the jungle. Nonetheless, the lion of Gripsholm Castle became the most famous stuffed animal in Sweden.

4. The Rune Stones Outside the Castle

Gripsholm is impressive both inside and outside. The castle grounds have a beautiful landscape , although not in the style of the fanciful gardens around the French châteaux.

But the beautiful park surrounding the castle building is not the only attraction around. Right outside the main entrance, there are two old rune stones dating back to the 11th century.

The runes are the oldest existing writing system in Scandinavia, used by the Vikings to record their history. They were carving their stories with a knife or chisel into stones, hence the name rune stones.

One of these two runestones was discovered in the early 1820s by the caretaker of Gripsholm Castle. At the time he discovered it, the rune was forming the cellar threshold in one of the castle towers. 

It took about 100 years before they could retrieve the stone from the castle and deciphre it. The inscription says that the stone stood in memory of Haraldr, the brother of Ingvar, who died in the region of the Caspian Sea.

Where to Stay When Visiting Gripsholm Castle

Gripsholm Castle is located in the charming little town of Mariefred. With its narrow streets and colorful cottages, Mariefred makes the perfect base for visiting the castle and the area around it. 

There are a few attractions that you might like to see in Mariefred, like Karnbo Church, the Steam Train, and the little Museum at the old train station.

Given its close proximity to Stockholm, Gripsholm Castle makes for a lovely day trip from the capital. You can reach the castle and the picturesque village of Mariefred either by train (a short 40 minute ride), by car, or by the steam engine boat (about three hours).

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