Gripsholm Castle

Gustav Vasa'S Round Towered 16th Century Royal Castle On Lake Malaren, Home Of The Swedish State Portrait Collection, Reached In Summer By Steamboat From Stockholm · Mariefred, Sodermanland County

Gripsholm Castle stands on a small island in Lake Malaren beside Mariefred, about 60 km west of Stockholm. King Gustav Vasa began it in 1537 on the site of an older castle, as a fortress to hold the new Vasa dynasty's power, and its round brick towers reflected in the lake make it one of the most photographed castles in Sweden. Later kings changed its rooms, from the 16th-century chambers of Duke Charles to Gustav III's small theatre in one of the towers. Today it is a royal palace open to the public and holds the Swedish State Portrait Collection, often described as one of the oldest national portrait collections in the world, with thousands of faces from Vasa kings to modern Swedes. People come for the castle, the walk through wooden Mariefred and, above all, for the summer trip by the steamboat S/S Mariefred from Stockholm. The honest caveat: it is closed or weekends-only for much of the year, the rooms are mostly portraits and period interiors, and the steamboat takes most of a day.

Gripsholm Castle, on Lake Malaren beside the small town of Mariefred, about 60 km west of Stockholm, Mariefred, Sodermanland County, Sweden

Gripsholm runs on a seasonal pattern. From about mid-May to the end of September it is open daily, with the longest hours in June, July and August; in spring and autumn it is usually open at weekends only; for most of the winter it is closed, apart from some special weekends such as Advent - confirm it is open and check the current schedule before you travel, as the royal palaces set dates each year. Getting there: in summer the steamboat S/S Mariefred leaves from the quay by Stockholm City Hall and takes about 3.5 hours each way - confirm the timetable. By rail, regional trains towards Eskilstuna stop at Laggesta, about 40 minutes from Stockholm, and from there a local bus or, on summer days, the narrow-gauge museum railway runs into Mariefred. Driving takes about 50 minutes via the E20. Steamboat seats and group tours should be booked ahead in July.

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