Castles in Scania
Tunbyholm Castle
Tunbyholm castle was built in between 1634-1640 and it may be the best example of so-called Renaissance style of Christian IV of Denmark. The main building has today two floors and two annexes. It is privately owned and not open to the public.Snogeholm Castle
Snogeholm farm dates from the 16th century and it was owned by Thott, Brahe, Marsvin and Bille families. In the 1690s Christian Bille built the new main building between two detached wings. The current castle was built by Erik Claes Piper in 1870. The French Rococo style building has two storeys and three towers. The German Emperor Wilhelm II visited in Snogeholm in 1899 and 1902. Today Snogeholm castle hosts a hotel and ...Gyllebohus
Gyllebohus was a medieval Danish castle. The earliest known owner was Verner Brahe in 1280. The stone castle was built between 1538-1544 Laurids Lauridsen Knob and was one of the largest castles in Scania. It was burned down several times in wars, the latest destruction happened in 1700. Today some fragments remain of Gyllebohus. The adjacent manor house was built Hedwig Sofia Schönström in 1813-1818 and it is p ...Hjularöd Castle
Hjularöd Castle was first mentioned in 1391, but the current castle was built in 1894-1897. It was built on command of the former owner, chamberlain Hans Gustaf Toll. French medieval castles, the château de Pierrefonds in particular, were inspiration for the castle when architects Isak Gustaf Clason and Lars Israel Wahlman designed it. Outside scenes from the television series Mysteriet på Greveholm (The ...Osbyholm Castle
The farm Ousbygård was first mentioned in 1405, but the current Osbyholm castle was built in the first half of the 17th century by Lene Ramel. The square-formed castle is surrounded by a moat and there is a rare octagonal tower, which dates from the 1570s. The castle was damaged in the Scanian War (1675-1679). Captain Georg Christian Cook started the major restoration in 1750s. The castle was enlarged and the inter ...Sinclairsholm Castle
Sinclairsholm estate was established in 1620 by Anders Sinclair. The current main building was built in 1788 after the previous one was damaged by fire. Today the estate hosts a restaurant, which is available for parties, weddings etc.Rössjöholm Castle
The first known owner of Rössjöholm castle was Danish knight Olof Geed around the year 1500. Later it was owned for example by Leijonsköld, Silfverskiöld, Sjöcrona families. The first strong castle was built in 1553 and it had even seven towers. The castle was destroyed by Swedish forces in 1676, but some ruins of this castle still remains. The new main building was built in 1696, but it was destr ...Vegeholm Castle
Vegeholm Castle was first built as a danish castle in the early 16th century, and was burned in 1525. It was rebuilt again in 1630 by the Danish Tyge Krabbe. It was owned by his family until 1663, when it was bought by Gustaf Otto Stenbock. After his death it was first possessed by Olof Nilsson Engelholm and thereafter by Johan Cedercrantz. His family owned Vegeholm Castle until 1814 when it was thoroughly renovated. It c ...Lindholmen Castle Ruins
Lindholmen Castle is a former Danish fortified castle on the banks of lake Börringe. It became an important fortification in the defence of Scania during the Middle Ages because of its strong encircling defensive walls and double moats. At the time, a small river and treacherous marshes made the terrain surrounding the castle hard to navigate. Originally a private castle, it was in 1339 turned over to Magnus Eriksson ...Sövdeborg Castle
Sövdeborg area belonged to bishops of Lund in the Middle Ages, but after Reformation the Crown of Denmark sold it to Frederik Lange in 1587. He built the new castle to the southern side of small Sövdesjön lake between 1590-1597. It consisted of a moat, tower and central section with two wings. Count Erik Piper made an major reconstruction to the castle in 1840-1844. Sövdeborg is open to the public. Th ...Bjärsjöholm Castle
Bjärsjöholm or Bjersjöholm Castle is a Renaissance castle from the 16th century. Originally consisting of four brick buildings built around a courtyard, the present castle consists of two buildings, with a newer addition close by. According the excavations there has been a manor already in the Middle Ages. The site is first mentioned in 1344. Since the 14th century it has been owned by families Munk, Rotfe ...Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings
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Château de Chaumont
The Château de Chaumont was founded in the 10th century by Odo I, Count of Blois. The purpose was to protect his lands from attacks from his feudal rivals, Fulk Nerra, Count of Anjou. On his behalf the Norman Gelduin received it, improved it and held it as his own. His great-niece Denise de Fougère, having married Sulpice d'Amboise, passed the château into the Amboise family for five centuries.
Pierre d'Amboise unsuccessfully rebelled against King Louis XI and his property was confiscated, and the castle was dismantled on royal order in 1465. It was later rebuilt by Charles I d'Amboise from 1465–1475 and then finished by his son, Charles II d'Amboise de Chaumont from 1498–1510, with help from his uncle, Cardinal Georges d'Amboise; some Renaissance features were to be seen in buildings that retained their overall medieval appearance. The château was acquired by Catherine de Medici in 1550. There she entertained numerous astrologers, among them Nostradamus. When her husband, Henry II, died in 1559 she forced his mistress, Diane de Poitiers, to exchange Château de Chaumont for Château de Chenonceau which Henry had given to de Poitiers. Diane de Poitiers only lived at Chaumont for a short while.
Later Chaumont has changed hands several times. Paul de Beauvilliers bought the château in 1699, modernized some of its interiors and decorated it with sufficient grandeur to house the duc d'Anjou on his way to become king of Spain in 1700. Monsieur Bertin demolished the north wing to open the house towards the river view in the modern fashion.
In 1750, Jacques-Donatien Le Ray purchased the castle as a country home where he established a glassmaking and pottery factory. He was considered the French "Father of the American Revolution" because he loved America. However, in 1789, the new French Revolutionary Government seized Le Ray's assets, including his beloved Château de Chaumont.
The castle has been classified as a Monument historique since 1840 by the French Ministry of Culture. The Château de Chaumont is currently a museum and every year hosts a Garden Festival from April to October where contemporary garden designers display their work in an English-style garden.