Architecture, Norrkoeping

The castle is visible wide around and has three towers with stately hoods. It appears to be one of Sweden's most powerful 16th-century castles, surprisingly well preserved despite rebuilding and decay. The estate has long belonged to the families Sture and Banér. It has been uninhabited since 1934. In recent years the restoration has recreated both exterior and interior and the castle is now on display as a museum. Since 1974, Ekenäs Castle has been a building monument. Ekenäs Slott is a genuine fairytale castle, dating back to the 17th century. A popular jousting tournament is arranged in spring, guided tours in summer, ghost tours in autumn and Christmas market in winter. Just 20 km east of Linköping. https://visitlinkoping.se/en/g%C3%B6ra/attraktioner/slott-och-herres%C3%A4ten/eken%C3%A4s-slott

Stjärnorp manor ruins are ruins of a 17th-century manor of the northern shore of Lake Roxen. The manor burned down in 1789 and the main building was never restored. Stjärnorp's castle was erected in 1655–1662 (in the parish of Vreta monastery ) by the Count and Field Marshal Robert Douglas (1611–1662). The castle and terraces were designed by Nicodemus Tessin. According to a story, it is said that when the war comrades and arms brothers Robert Douglas and Axel Lillie came home from the Westphalian peace, they entered into an agreement to build their respective castles, Stjärnorp's castle and Löfstad castle, so high that they could see and send greetings from the top floor to each other. All buildings were destroyed by a fire on May 12, 1789, but the castle chapel was restored already that year. The wing buildings were also rebuilt soon but financial resources were lacking for the main building, which is still a ruin. https://visitlinkoping.se/en/do/attractions/castles-and-manors/stj%C3%A4rnorps-slottsruin

Sturefors Castle by Lake Ärlången belongs to the Bielke family. It is a three-storey building with wings, constructed in 1704 by Tessin the younger for Carl Piper. The castle is known for its 1700s interior. You can only see Sturefors Castle from the outside, but it is worth a visit for the fine English Park that was created during the 1700s with a magnificent mirror pond, and the nature reserve which lies in the grounds of the old castle. https://visitlinkoping.se/en/do/attractions/castles-and-manors/sturefors-slott

For almost 800 years people have been coming to worship and pray at Linköping Cathedral. Work on the Cathedral was started in 1230, with the main building works being completed in 1520. The belfry and the west façade were added in 1885. Linköping Cathedral is the most impressive and expensive Swedish church building of the Middle Ages. http://visitlinkoping.se/index.php/en/churches-and-monasteries/link%C3%B6ping-cathedral

The oldest parts of Linköping Castle stems from the 1100s and the castle is the oldest secular building in Sweden. Large parts of Linkoping burned down in 1700, including the town hall. http://visitlinkoping.se/index.php/en/castles-and-manors/link%C3%B6pings-slott

Experience the development of the Swedish military aircraft at the Air Force Museum in Linköping - from the flight's childhood to today's JAS 39 Gripen. The Air Force Museum is modern technology and cultural history museum that reflects the development of the Swedish military aircraft from the pioneer era to the present day. The museum attracted over 170,000 visitors in 2017 and won the 2011 Museum of the Year award by the Swedish ICOM (International Council of Museums) and the Swedish National Museum of Sweden. In the museum's exhibitions, you can botanize in a unique collection of military aircraft and other objects linked to the flight's hundred-year history. Or you can step right into typical Swedish homes from the second half of the last century in the big exhibition about the Cold War. A time when the whole world trembled before a war that never broke out. On the ground floor of the museum rests the DC-3, a reconnaissance aircraft with a very special history. The downed reconnaissance aircraft was salvaged after 50 years on the seabed. Now you see it in a suggestive and thought-provoking exhibition about political play and the family's longstanding search for the truth. https://www.flygvapenmuseum.se/om-flygvapenmuseum/om-museet/#

Dating back to the Middle Ages, Lagersberg's manor is one of Sweden's best-preserved cholinergic farms. Lagersberg Säteri is located about 3 km southwest of the center of Eskilstuna and offers an exciting history. The manor is open during the summer with displays of, among other things, the fine ceiling paintings and tiled stoves in the main building. The tour also includes a visit to the state residence. In one of the wings, there is a summer café. Eskilstuna City Museum conducts this activity on behalf of the Lagersberg Foundation, which owns and manages the estate. Impressions can be booked year-round. https://eskilstuna.nu/gora/sevardheter/lagersbergs-sateri#googtrans(sv|en)

Eskilstuna's oldest church, Fors church, is located in central Eskilstuna on the western shore of Eskilstunaån and was erected during the middle of the 11th century on the initiative of the monk S: t Eskil. The old wooden church was replaced by a Romanesque stone church as early as the 11th century. Parts of the old wooden church remain in the north and west walls. The armoury was built during the 17th century when it took its present form. If you are visiting the church, please stay in the armoury and raise your eyes to the classic ship hanging from the ceiling. Fors church got its name after its beautiful location along the river. It belongs to the Eskilstuna parish in Strängnäs diocese. It has probably been the foundation church for an area consisting of western Södermanland, southern Västmanland and eastern Närke. https://eskilstuna.nu/gora/sevardheter/fors-kyrka#googtrans(sv|en)

The Old Town is one of Eskilstuna's oldest and most well-preserved areas. Here there is very beautiful architecture to take part in and the area houses several attractions and opportunities for shopping. The cobblestoned Köpmangatan with cultural buildings from the 18th century extends along the river in the Old Town. There are narrow alleys and beautiful views from the gates down to the river. Along Köpmangatan there were once workshops and tanneries, today the street is surrounded by a variety of small unique shops, salons, flea markets, cafes and restaurants. Feel free to stop and relax and enjoy the atmosphere. Good food and drink can be found in the area's cosy restaurants and cafes. https://eskilstuna.nu/gora/sevardheter/gamla-staden

Eskilstuna city museum is located on Faktoriholmarna in central Eskilstuna. It is an industrial and technological history museum where you can experience a functioning, mechanical workshop with steam engines from a bygone era. In the experience room Faktotum, large and small can experiment on magnetism, electricity and centrifugal power. Here you will also find the Lilla Stadsmuseet , a colorful journey to the past, where children and adults can experience Eskilstuna's history together. The museum organizes lectures, workshops, various events and exhibitions. The Eskilstuna City Museum also includes the Rademachers forges , Lagersberg's seats in, Sörmlandsgården and large collections. The Eskilstuna City Museum was formerly called Faktoriet and Faktorimuseet. https://eskilstuna.nu/gora/sevardheter/eskilstuna-stadsmuseum

Experience art at the Eskilstuna Art Museum. Here you will find everything from modern to historical art as well as a fun museum shop - perfect for finding unique gifts. The Eskilstuna Art Museum is a meeting place for people and the arts and is located in the historic district of Munktellstaden, in Bolinder Munktell's former gear workshop. Here you will find the permanent collection, temporary exhibitions with contemporary arts and crafts, educational activities, Swedish children's picture archive, program activities and museum shop. The Eskilstuna Art Museum's collection consists of works from the 17th century to the present, mainly Nordic and Northern European art, with the emphasis on Swedish 20th century painting. In the basic exhibition with art from the collection about 200 works are shown by, among others: Vera Nilsson, Carl Larsson, Emil Österman, Hannah Ryggen, Lars Lerin, Lena Cronqvist, Sven X: et Erixson, Astrid Sylwan, Carl Johan De Geer, Frida Fjellman, Otto G Carlsund and Siri Derkert. The museum is one of Sweden's oldest art museums, which opened outside the big cities. https://eskilstuna.nu/gora/sevardheter/eskilstuna-konstmuseum

Travel back in time at Örebros old art castle. Here you can go for exciting ghost walks, look for treasures and guided tours that take you from the castle's dark and humid prison caves for prisoners of war, thieves and witches up to the magnificent halls built for royalty like Karl IX, and Karl XIV Johan. http://www.visitorebro.se/en/gora/aktorer/orebro-slott/

Västerås Cathedral, the oldest parts of which date back to the 13th century, is well worth a visit. Its art treasures and modern contrasts are unusual in a shrine of this kind. http://visitvasteras.se/en/actor/vasteras-cathedral/

Take a day trip to Drottningholm and experience a historic milieu of the highest standard. Drottningholm Palace is Sweden's best-preserved royal palace constructed in the seventeenth century, the permanent residence of the royal family and one of Stockholm's three World Heritage Sites. The palace was constructed according to a French prototype by the architect Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, by commission of Queen Hedvig Eleonora. Many royal personages have left their mark on the palace since then. The palace features magnificent salons from the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, a beautiful park, a unique palace theater and a Chinese Pavilion. The imposing Baroque garden was laid out beginning in 1681 according to drawings by Nicodemus Tessin the Younger. The palace and the park are mostly open to visitors year round. https://www.visitstockholm.com/see--do/attractions/drottningholm-palace/

The Stockholm City Hall is one of Sweden’s most famous buildings, and one of the capital's most visited tourist attractions. It is famous for its grand ceremonial halls and unique pieces of art and is the venue of the Nobel Prize banquet held on 10th of December each year. Since the City Hall is a governmental office building, you can only visit together with a guided tour. Public tours are offered all year round. When you take a guided tour, you will experience Stockholm City Hall at its very best. Enter the Blue Hall where the annual Nobel Banquet takes place. See the Golden Hall with its exquisite mosaic, and visit the Council Chamber, where the City Council of Stockholm meets. http://international.stockholm.se/the-city-hall/

Gamla Stan, the Old Town, is one of the largest and best preserved medieval city centers in Europe, and one of the foremost attractions in Stockholm. This is where Stockholm was founded in 1252. All of Gamla Stan and the adjacent island of Riddarholmen are like a living pedestrian-friendly museum full of sights, attractions, restaurants, cafés, bars, and places to shop. Gamla Stan is also popular with aficionados of handicrafts, curious, and souvenirs. The narrow winding cobblestone streets, with their buildings in so many different shades of gold, give Gamla Stan its unique character. Even now cellar vaults and frescoes from the Middle Ages can be found behind the visible facades, and on snowy winter days, the district feels like something from a storybook. https://www.visitstockholm.com/see--do/attractions/gamla-stan/

The Palace is open to the public and offers no less than five museums. The Palace was largely built during the eighteenth century in the Italian Baroque style, on the spot where the “Tre Kronor” castle burned down in 1697. Visit the reception rooms with splendid interiors from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Rikssalen (the Hall of State) with Queen Kristina’s silver throne, and Ordenssalarna (Halls of the Orders of Chivalry). You can also see Gustav III’s Museum of Antiquities, the Tre Kronor Museum, and the Treasury. The Royal Palace also contains the Armory, with royal costumes and armor, as well as coronation carriages and magnificent coaches from the Royal Stable. Make sure not to miss the parade of soldiers and the daily changing of the guard. https://www.visitstockholm.com/see--do/attractions/the-royal-palace/

The City Theatre (Stadsteatern) holds seven theatres under one roof at Sergels torg in central Stockholm. Each of those theatres have a profile of their own in terms of repertoire and audiences. http://international.stockholm.se/visit-stockholm/culture/

The Culture centre was opened November 7, 1964 in connection with the city council's 100th anniversary and was the country's first cultural center. http://www.vastsverige.com/en/skovde/b/46830/Skovde-Cultural-Centre

St. Helena Church is located in central Skövde and has its name after Skövde's patron saint St. Elin, or St. Helena as she is also called. As a visitor, you can come here to sit down for a while, light a candle or pray. The church stands on a medieval foundation, but what we see today is built in the late 18th century just after the big fire in Skövde in 1759. St. Helena Church is a centrally located excursion destination in Skövde and is open daily for those who want to come in and experience the tranquillity. The church meets old and new in a harmonious way - if you look at the church from the outside you see an older building dating back to the Middle Ages, but on the inside, you are met by a bright and modern church last renovated in 2013. In the church, you can visit both services and concerts. The church can accommodate about 375 people. https://www.vastsverige.com/skovde/produkter/sta-helena-kyrka/

Wik Castle is located in a scenic area close to Lårstavikens strand. In the Wik Castle area, you will find lovely walks, well-kept green areas, a beach for swimming, hotel buildings, as well as the beautiful mediaeval castle – perfect for a day trip and a cup of coffee in their summer café. Here you can book your banquets, conference meals and eat a delicious lunch in Sigrid’s dining room. Wik offers an atmosphere out of the ordinary and you can also book various experience packages. Why not try the popular wine and chocolate tasting or a cooking class? At Wik the 1400s meet the present day in a unique combination that creates the very best conditions for an excursion, conference, hotel weekend or wedding reception. https://destinationuppsala.se/en/activities/wik-castle/

Building started on Uppsala Slott (Uppsala Castle) in 1549 during the reign of Swedish King Gustav Vasa who intended it as a fortress. Look up from almost any location in Uppsala and you'll see it on the skyline at Kasåsen. The castle is the location of several major events in the history of Uppsala and Sweden; for example, ‘the Sture Murders’ in 1567 when several noblemen were butchered at the behest of deranged King Erik XIV who had accused them of treason (their clothes are displayed at Uppsala Cathedral). Like many mid-1500s castles in Sweden, bloodbaths, conflict and political plotting were par for the course. As fired, which engulfed Uppsala and the castle in 1702 when it virtually burned to the ground. Its remnants were then scavenged for the building of the Royal Palace in Stockholm, which didn’t help matters much. The castle façade you see today is faithful to the bright colour it was following its reconstruction in 1740. https://destinationuppsala.se/en/activities/uppsala-castle/

Uppsala Cathedral (Uppsala domkyrka) is the largest and tallest cathedral in the Nordic countries. Construction on the cathedral began around 1270, with consecration taking place in 1435. The church towers were added later in the 15th century. The exterior of the medieval cathedral is unknown. The building has undergone several major restorations. Also, the fact that the church of Sweden became Evangelical Lutheran in the 1500s has had an impact on the appearance of the cathedral. Uppsala is the see of the Church of Sweden’s archbishop since 1164 and the place where bishops of other dioceses are consecrated and priest and deacons of Uppsala diocese are being ordained. Until 1719 many coronations took place in the cathedral. The cathedral is used for services every day all year round. The cathedral’s attractions include the reliquary of Saint Erik (Sweden’s patron saint), a medieval Saint Anne altarpiece and the 18th century Baroque pulpit. Mary (The Return) by Anders Widoff, the candle trees by Olof Hellström and wooden sculpture tableaux by Eva Spångberg are appreciated examples of modern art in the cathedral. https://destinationuppsala.se/en/activities/uppsala-cathedral/

Visit Gamla Uppsala Museum, one of Scandinavia’s most noteworthy cultural environments, and learn more about the centuries-old myths surrounding the area. Exhibits include unique and original finds from the royal mounds, which have long served as a symbol of a magnificent past. On display are found from archaeological digs and tales of Yngling dynasty kings, victims of the Viking era, pagan gods and a warring Iron Age. Follow along on a journey through the oceans of time, from 6th-century local heathen kingdoms to the religious upheaval of the Viking era to the building of the cathedral in the 1100s. https://destinationuppsala.se/en/activities/gamla-uppsala-museum/

Take a trip back in time to see what life was like in rural Uppland during the late 1800s. The estate is an open-air museum consisting of old buildings that together give visitors an idea of what an Uppland village may have looked like back in the mid-1800s. The buildings, which have furnishing typical to the time period, were brought to the site from their original locations throughout Uppland. The open-air museum is situated in an idyllic location on the edge of Gamla Uppsala, just behind the Uppsala mounds and Gamla Uppsala church. Opening hours 1st June- 31 st August, 10 am to 5 pm. Closed 10th June. Free admission. https://destinationuppsala.se/en/activities/the-disa-farm/

Kronobergs Slott is a medieval castle ruin, picturesquely situated on a bankside island in the lake Helgasjön. It is located about 5 kilometres north of the provincial capital Växjö . The emergence of Kronobergs Slott goes back to the period around 1444 when Bishop Lars Mikaelsson built a fortified residence for the bishops of Växjö. During the Dacke War in 1542/43, Kronobergs Slott was the headquarter of a farmers' army, which was fighting against the troops of the Swedish King Gustav Vasa under the leadership of Nils Dacke, who was honoured as a national hero in Småland. Over the next 200 years, Kronobergs Slott was frequently the subject of military conflicts, because of its function as a border fortification to the former Danish provinces Skåne and Blekinge. During this time, the fortress was burnt down at least twice by Danish troops and rebuilt a bit bigger each time after the reconquests. Today's ruins of the rectangular castle with its four round corner towers are the remains of Kronobergs Slott after the last reconstruction in 1616. After the Danish provinces had finally become Swedish in 1658, the fortress lost its strategic value. It was abandoned and ruined at the end of the 17th century, served as a temporary quarry for building houses in Vaxjö. https://www.guidebook-sweden.com/en/guidebook/destination/kronobergs-slottsruin-castle-ruin-vaexjoe

Växjö Domkyrka, the cathedral in Växjö is the main church of the Diocese of Växjö and is located on the edge of the modern city center of Växjö. The present ground plan of the church with its striking double tower spire dates from the 15th century, but some fragments are already from the 12th century. The first church on the site of today's Växjö Domkyrka was a small wooden church in the 11th century. According to legend, established on the initiative of the missionary and later canonized Saint Sigfrid. The diocese of Växjö was founded around 1170 and the first cathedral for the new bishops' seat was built. This first cathedral was built of natural stone, had a Romanesque ground plan with only one nave, a narrow chancel with a semicircular apse and a mighty tower. Parts of the old foundations and some pillars in today's main nave, as well as the masonry in the lower part of the church tower remained until today. https://www.guidebook-sweden.com/en/guidebook/destination/vaexjoe-domkyrka-cathedral-vaexjoe

Utvandrarnas Hus, only a few steps away from the provincial museum of Småland in the city of Växjö, is a special kind of a museum. It is dedicated exclusively to the great Swedish emigration movements between 1846 and 1930. It is hard to believe, but 150 years ago Sweden was one of the poorest regions in Europe. Before the first industrial revolution, which had begun a lot later in Sweden, it was an agricultural country without enough agricultural areas, no longer able to feed the rapidly growing population in the middle of the 19th century. The museum was founded in 1965 by the Swedish Emigration Institute with the purpose of keeping the archive with its extensive collection about the emigration era in a central place and making it easier for the public to access. In addition, the institute opened its own research department, which has become a preferred address for ancestry and immigration researchers. https://www.guidebook-sweden.com/en/guidebook/destination/utvandrarnas-hus-emigration-museum-vaexjoe

Welcome to Smalands museum, Sweden's oldest provincial museum, with collections dating from 1792. The glass collection is the source of the museum's international reputation Smalands Museum reopened in 1996 as Sweden's museum of glass following extensive expansion and renovations. Småland's cultural heritage and the history of Kronoberg County are profoundly informed by the work done and the lives lived on its rural industrial estates, which are now primarily devoted to the production of glass. The museum has nationwide responsibility for collecting, documenting and exhibiting Swedish glass and its production. http://www2.glasriket.se/en/to-do/a1997/sm%C3%A5lands-museum-swedish-glass-museum/showdetails?filter=c%3D1360%2C22596%2C1361

Its hilarious properties was in fact not discovered until after it was built, and has since become a simple but interesting tourist attraction. The towers vault construction makes any sound made under the dome echo like crazy. You can hear even the smallest whisper or squeel. Throw some rocks, scream, laugh and have fun! The water tower is fun both for the young and the old. The water tower is located just outside Teleborg, a couple of kilometres from town. You can go by car or take the bus. If the weather permits you can even walk, and take the chance to see some of the växjös beautiful lakes on the way. http://www.vaxjotourist.com/teleborg-water-tower.php

Bergunda church was probably built during the later part of the 12th century as a romanesque church. The church did not initially have a tower; it was added sometime during the 16th century. The church got its present look during a rebuild around 1825 to 1826, where both the in- and outside constructions were concerned. The longhouse is the oldest part of the church and it was built in the end of the 12th century. An expansion to the church was built between 1825 and 1826, which included the present choir, a wing with the sacristy and a balcony, which was meant to host the owners of Bergkvara castle. The balcony is called "the count's balcony" even today. The tower was built during the 16th century, as a defense tower against the danes, who's front was close by. The pulpit, the altarpiece, the altar cloth and the chasuble are all gifts from Bergkvara. The count had advowson, which means the right to appoint the priest, until 1921. https://www2.vaxjo-co.se/en/to-do/a550118/bergunda-church/showdetails

Beautiful Huseby Bruk shows you a bygone era. Go for a stroll in the park and gardens, and visit the well-preserved castle. At the old ironworks, the stories of the 1800s are told over and over again. The main building at Huseby is reverently called the castle. Many remember Ms Stephens, the last owner of Huseby. In her last will and testament, she wrote that everything should be preserved for coming generations to take part in. The interior decor remains, and much of it comes from her parents’ time and up until the middle of the 1800s. The Stephens family were close to the royal house and sometimes had royal visitors at Huseby Bruk. The park and garden have been recreated in their 19th-century form. Much was documented – even shopping lists for seeds. The park is characterised by ‘embroidered’ flower beds that Miss Stephens’s mother Elisabeth Stephens designed. But the kitchen garden might be the best thing about Huseby - it is a real utility garden that used to supplied the work's gentry with vegetables, fruit and berries. It was designed with nine areas and follows a model from older times. Ms Stephens loved different breeds of hens and today, too, there are hens and peacocks to look at. https://www.visitsmaland.se/en/experiences/culture-and-history/huseby

A visit to the medieval castle at Kastelholm in Sund makes for an exciting outing for the whole family. It was mentioned for the first time in writing in an estate inventory for Bo Johnsson Grip in 1388. http://www.visitaland.com/en/articles/kastelholm-castle/