Örebro Castle

Örebro, Sweden

For over 700 years Örebro Castle has kept a watchful eye on everyone crossing the bridge on the River Svartån. The oldest part of the castle, a defence tower, was erected in the latter half of the 13th century. This tower was added to in the 14th century to make a larger stronghold. The castle was expanded during the reign of the royal family Vasa between 1573-1627 to the impressive Renaissance castle.

After Vasa family Örebro castle was left to decay, but the main restoration took place in 1758-1764 by Carl Johan Crondstedt. After him the castle was used as a residence of county governor. The castle was finally restored to the 16th century appearance between 1897-1900.

Today there are guided tours, an exhibition centre and the castle is a very worthwhile sightseeing destination.

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Address

Kansligatan 3, Örebro, Sweden
See all sites in Örebro

Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Sweden
Historical period: Consolidation (Sweden)

More Information

en.wikipedia.org
www.visitsweden.com
www.orebrotown.com

Rating

4.3/5 (based on Google user reviews)

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Esplunda Manor (7,6 km)


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Stjärnsund castle (49,6 km)
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Sofia Magdalena Church (47,2 km)

User Reviews

Gábor Dániel Szelley (11 months ago)
Very beautiful, interesting place but i couldnt find a great swedish restaurant in that area.
Sivakumar Annadurai (12 months ago)
Beautifully maintained and it's very well lighted from outside. Heard that it's a restaurant now inside. But it looks great at the river side.
Sissara Chansiri (12 months ago)
It's so beautiful. I got a lot of pretty pics around the castle area. It's worth to come. Örebro is a cute city. I really feel impressed.
D Wasem (15 months ago)
Really nice water castle / palace. Small, but interesting museum about it's history. Depending on the time of year open for guided tours only on the weekend. Nice park around.
Gionatan Torricelli (16 months ago)
Very original building that had a central position on the ancient history of the Sweden. The visit of the castle, its garden and the center of the city can be done easily in one morning. It should be visited if traveling from one side to another of the Sweden.
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Bergenhus Fortress

Bergenhus fortress is one of the oldest and best preserved castles in Norway. It contains buildings dating as far back as the 1240s, as well as later constructions built as recently as World War II. The extent of the enclosed area of today dates from the early 19th century. In medieval times, the area of the present-day Bergenhus Fortress was known as Holmen (The islet), and contained the royal residence in Bergen, as well as a cathedral and several churches, the bishop's residence, and a Dominican monastery. Excavations have revealed foundations of buildings believed to date back to before 1100, which might have been erected by King Olav Kyrre. In the 13th century, until 1299, Bergen was the capital of Norway and Holmen was thus the main seat of Norway's rulers. It was first enclosed by stone walls in the 1240s.

Of the medieval buildings, a medieval hall and a defensive tower remain. The royal hall, today known as Haakon's Hall, built around 1260, is the largest medieval secular building in Norway. The defensive tower, known in the Middle Ages as the keep by the sea, was built around 1270 by King Magnus VI Lagabøte, and contained a royal apartment on the top floor. In the 1560s it was incorporated by the commander of the castle, Erik Rosenkrantz, into a larger structure, which is today known as the Rosenkrantz Tower.

In the Middle Ages, several churches, including the Christ Church, Bergen's cathedral, were situated on the premises. These however were torn down in the period 1526 to 1531, as the area of Holmen was converted into a purely military fortification under Danish rule. From around this time, the name Bergenhus came into use. Building work on the Christ Church probably started around 1100. It contained the shrine of saint Sunniva, the patron saint of Bergen and western Norway. In the 12th and 13th centuries it was the site of several royal coronations and weddings. It was also the burial site of at least six kings, as well as other members of the royal family. The site of its altar is today marked by a memorial stone.

In the 19th century, the fortress lost its function as a defensive fortification, but it was retained by the military as an administrative base. After restoration in the 1890s, and again after destruction sustained during World War II, Bergenhus is today again used as a feast hall for public events. During World War II, the German navy used several of its buildings for their headquarters, and they also constructed a large concrete bunker within the fortress walls. The buildings, including the Haakon's Hall, were severely damaged when a Dutch ship in the service of the German navy, carrying approximately 120 tons of dynamite, exploded on 20 April 1944 in the harbour just outside the fortress walls, but the buildings were later restored.

Bergenhus is currently under the command of the Royal Norwegian Navy, which has about 150 military personnel stationed there. The fortifications Sverresborg fortress and Fredriksberg fortress also lie in the centre of Bergen. Haakon's Hall and the Rosenkrantz Tower are open for visits by the public. Koengen, the central part of Bergenhus Fortress is also known as a concert venue.

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