Castles in Scania
Hanaskog Castle
Hanaskog estate was first mentioned in 1308. It has been owned among others by Walkendorff, Citzwitz and Rosentvist families. The current two-storey castle was built in 1852-1854 by Carl Axel Wachtmeister. He sold Hanaskog to famous De Geer familyin 1891 and it is still owned by Baron Willem De Geer.Jordberga Castle
Jordberga estate was first mentionedin 1355. The original castle was destroyed by fire in 1644 and rebuilt. The current Baroque-style exterior dates from 1906-1908, when the castle was rebuilt according the design of Danish architect Heneri Glaesel. The park is an English-style garden and dates from the mid-19th century. Today castle is owned by Otto von Arnold, member of the Swedish Riksdag.Karsholm Castle
Karsholm Castle was first time mentioned in 1336. The current exterior originates from 1862, when the castle was reconstructed to the neo-Renaissance style by Rudolf Hodder Stjernswärd. Today the castle is owned by Treschow family and in private use.Klågerup Castle
The history of Klågerup estate dates from the early 15th century, when it was owned by Peter Spoldener and his son. In the 18th century buildings were in bad shape and in 1737 Fredrik Trolle started an extensive restoration. The present main building got its appearance in 1858, when it was rebuilt to the French Renaissance style by architect Helgo Zettervall. Klågerup was a center of local peasant riots in 181 ...Rosendal Palace
Rosendal Palace was built 1615 by Privy Council Anders Bille. The Bennet family has owned the palace for centuries. The castle consists of main building and wings with towers in corners.Råbelöv Castle
The oldest known owner of Råbelöv estate was Ingeborg Kjeldsen Krognos, who was born in the mid-1300s. In the 1616 it was sold to Christoffer Ulfeldt, who built the current castle in 1637. During the Scanian War in 1677 Råbelöv was fortified by the order of Danish Crown against Swedish forces. After several owners Råbelöv belongs today to Murray family and is in private use.Ovesholm Castle
The first known owner of Ovesholm estate was Åke Holm in 1580. In 1620 Ove Urup built an earlier main building near to the current site. In 1774 it was donated to Henning Reinhold Wrangel and his son Carl Adam Wrangel af Adinal built the present castle between 1792-1804. Carl Adam also created a notable library and collection of art and sculptures to Ovesholm. The latest enlargement was made by Axel Hugo Raoul Hamil ...Össjö Castle
The current main building of Össjö Castle was built in 1814 after the previous was destroyed by fire. The two wings, dating from 1766 and 1770s survived from the fire. The Össjö history dates from the 16th century, when it belonged to the powerful Danish Krabbe family. Today it is privately owned and not open to the public.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 interior w ...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 ...Skabersjö Castle
Skabersjö Castle was already known in the 14th century, when it was a residence of Passow and Ulfstrand families. The old moated castle was burned down in 1523 and rebuilt by Holger Ulfstand. The current castle, which consists of two-storey main building and two wings, dates mainly from the 18th century. Governor Tage Thott made an extensive restoration in 1775-1782. Today the castle is owned by Skabersjö gods AB founda ...Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings
Historic Site of the week
Church of the Savior on Blood
The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is one of the main sights of St. Petersburg. The church was built on the site where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated and was dedicated in his memory. Construction began in 1883 under Alexander III, as a memorial to his father, Alexander II. Work progressed slowly and was finally completed during the reign of Nicholas II in 1907. Funding was provided by the Imperial family with the support of many private donors.
Architecturally, the Cathedral differs from St. Petersburg's other structures. The city's architecture is predominantly Baroque and Neoclassical, but the Savior on Blood harks back to medieval Russian architecture in the spirit of romantic nationalism. It intentionally resembles the 17th-century Yaroslavl churches and the celebrated St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow.
The Church contains over 7500 square metres of mosaics — according to its restorers, more than any other church in the world. The interior was designed by some of the most celebrated Russian artists of the day — including Viktor Vasnetsov, Mikhail Nesterov and Mikhail Vrubel — but the church's chief architect, Alfred Alexandrovich Parland, was relatively little-known (born in St. Petersburg in 1842 in a Baltic-German Lutheran family). Perhaps not surprisingly, the Church's construction ran well over budget, having been estimated at 3.6 million roubles but ending up costing over 4.6 million. The walls and ceilings inside the Church are completely covered in intricately detailed mosaics — the main pictures being biblical scenes or figures — but with very fine patterned borders setting off each picture.
In the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, the church was ransacked and looted, badly damaging its interior. The Soviet government closed the church in the early 1930s. During the Second World War when many people were starving due to the Siege of Leningrad by Nazi German military forces, the church was used as a temporary morgue for those who died in combat and from starvation and illness. The church suffered significant damage. After the war, it was used as a warehouse for vegetables, leading to the sardonic name of Saviour on Potatoes.
In July 1970, management of the Church passed to Saint Isaac's Cathedral (then used as a highly profitable museum) and proceeds from the Cathedral were funneled back into restoring the Church. It was reopened in August 1997, after 27 years of restoration, but has not been reconsecrated and does not function as a full-time place of worship; it is a Museum of Mosaics. Even before the Revolution it never functioned as a public place of worship; having been dedicated exclusively to the memory of the assassinated tsar, the only services were panikhidas (memorial services). The Church is now one of the main tourist attractions in St. Petersburg.