Hovdala Castle

Hässleholm, Sweden

The oldest parts of Hovdala castle date from the 16th century, although it was first time mentioned already in the 12th century. There are so-called anchoring irons visible on the facade of one of the buildings are marked with the date 1511. Hovdala's gate tower, built in the early 1600's, served as a formidable entrance for the complex. This four-storey structure, with three-foot walls, withstood intensive fighting during Scania's turbulent periods. Hovdala Castle is today a popular visitor attraction and it is managed by the National Board of Antiques.

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Address

Hovdala Slottet 6223, Hässleholm, Sweden
See all sites in Hässleholm

Details

Founded: ca. 1511
Category: Castles and fortifications in Sweden
Historical period: Kalmar Union (Sweden)

More Information

en.wikipedia.org
www.travelgatesweden.se
www.hassleholm.se

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Vannaröd Castle (7,2 km)


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Eslöv Museum (38,9 km)
Wånas Castle (22,5 km)
Södra Sandby Church (48,5 km)
Perstorp Church (20,6 km)
Hällestad Church (50,9 km)
Christinehof Castle (45,7 km)
Övedskloster Castle (46,8 km)

User Reviews

de Gourét Litchfield (3 years ago)
An historic building and area with a great many activities and some beautiful scenery in the area... not least the Tree House and sleeping pods up on a nearby ridge.
Sebastian Huynh (3 years ago)
Its a wonderful place to relax and take a walk.
Anna Cismasu (3 years ago)
We took a brief visit as it was raining lots that day. Nothing we could visit inside of you don't get to come in time for the guiding. Nice and I'm sure you get much to see on a sunny day. If you love Batman and Dracula you got to see the exhibition. Love the red building called Orangeriet where they brought exotic plants when the Ehrenborgs owned the castle.
Pälle Syrén Mandelkonvalj (3 years ago)
An out of the ordinary castle dating back to the 16th century. Complete with bullet holes from the many wars between Denmark and Sweden. The castle is frequently host to different events during the year, such as medieval festivals, bat excursions and historic lectures. Has a restaurant and a cafe.
Gregor Shapiro (3 years ago)
Wonderful setting, especially in nice weather. One of, if not the, best gift shops weight crafts I have ever been in. A fine restaurant and a nice café.
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Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

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Historic Site of the week

Glimmingehus

Glimmingehus is the best preserved medieval stronghold in Scandinavia. It was built 1499-1506, during an era when Scania formed a vital part of Denmark, and contains many defensive arrangements of the era, such as parapets, false doors and dead-end corridors, 'murder-holes' for pouring boiling pitch over the attackers, moats, drawbridges and various other forms of death traps to surprise trespassers and protect the nobles against peasant uprisings. The lower part of the castle's stone walls are 2.4 meters (94 inches) thick and the upper part 1.8 meters (71 inches).

Construction was started in 1499 by the Danish knight Jens Holgersen Ulfstand and stone-cutter-mason and architect Adam van Düren, a North German master who also worked on Lund Cathedral. Construction was completed in 1506.

Ulfstand was a councillor, nobleman and admiral serving under John I of Denmark and many objects have been uncovered during archeological excavations that demonstrate the extravagant lifestyle of the knight's family at Glimmingehus up until Ulfstand's death in 1523. Some of the most expensive objects for sale in Europe during this period, such as Venetian glass, painted glass from the Rhine district and Spanish ceramics have been found here. Evidence of the family's wealth can also be seen inside the stone fortress, where everyday comforts for the knight's family included hot air channels in the walls and bench seats in the window recesses. Although considered comfortable for its period, it has also been argued that Glimmingehus was an expression of "Knighthood nostalgia" and not considered opulent or progressive enough even to the knight's contemporaries and especially not to later generations of the Scanian nobility. Glimmingehus is thought to have served as a residential castle for only a few generations before being transformed into a storage facility for grain.

An order from Charles XI to the administrators of the Swedish dominion of Scania in 1676 to demolish the castle, in order to ensure that it would not fall into the hands of the Danish king during the Scanian War, could not be executed. A first attempt, in which 20 Scanian farmers were ordered to assist, proved unsuccessful. An additional force of 130 men were sent to Glimmingehus to execute the order in a second attempt. However, before they could carry out the order, a Danish-Dutch naval division arrived in Ystad, and the Swedes had to abandon the demolition attempts. Throughout the 18th century the castle was used as deposit for agricultural produce and in 1924 it was donated to the Swedish state. Today it is administered by the Swedish National Heritage Board.

On site there is a museum, medieval kitchen, shop and restaurant and coffee house. During summer time there are several guided tours daily. In local folklore, the castle is described as haunted by multiple ghosts and the tradition of storytelling inspired by the castle is continued in the summer events at the castle called "Strange stories and terrifying tales".

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