Lövstad Castle, Norrköping, Sweden

Lövstad Castle has its origins from the 15th century, but the present building was erected by Axel Lillie in the 17th century. It came to the von Fersen Family through Hedvig Catharina De la Gardie (who was the heir of her mother Hedvig Catharina Lillie) and to the Piper Family through Sophie Piper, who was sister to count Axel von Fersen.

The interior is intact since 1926, when the last owner died. Lövstad is today a museum open to the public with guided tours. There is a café and a restaurant at the castle.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Per Bjureus (8 months ago)
A pretty castle located in a beautiful landscape just two minutes from E4. The Inn had a very good lunch menu at decent prices, served by friendly staff in a calm environment.

Nils Holmberg (9 months ago)
traditional midsummer festivities, beautiful palace park, great lunch

Sareh Sh (2 years ago)
Cosy atmosphere Great resturant Wheelchair and stroller accessible

Anne Foo (2 years ago)
Beautiful place. They have a lovely outdoor café next to a nursery with beautiful plants and flowers. There are two categories of castle tour. We managed to go on one - it's worth it. Food at the restaurant was good. Not too pricey. Very well maintained. Dogs are welcomed to the outdoor café and the castle garden and park.

Anne FKL (2 years ago)
Beautiful place. They have a lovely outdoor café next to a nursery with beautiful plants and flowers. There are two categories of castle tour. We managed to go on one - it's worth it. Food at the restaurant was good. Not too pricey. Very well maintained. Dogs are welcomed to the outdoor café and the castle garden and park.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright caminanteK

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Château de Foix

The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.

In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians. The county became a privileged refuge for persecuted Cathars.

The castle, often besieged (notably by Simon de Montfort in 1211 and 1212), resisted assault and was only taken once, in 1486, thanks to treachery during the war between two branches of the Foix family.

From the 14th century, the Counts of Foix spent less and less time in the uncomfortable castle, preferring the Governors' Palace. From 1479, the Counts of Foix became Kings of Navarre and the last of them, made Henri IV of France, annexed his Pyrrenean lands to France.

As seat of the Governor of the Foix region from the 15th century, the castle continued to ensure the defence of the area, notably during the Wars of Religion. Alone of all the castles in the region, it was exempted from the destruction orders of Richelieu (1632-1638).

Until the Revolution, the fortress remained a garrison. Its life was brightened with grand receptions for its governors, including the Count of Tréville, captain of musketeers under Louis XIII and Marshal Philippe Henri de Ségur, one of Louis XVI's ministers. The Round Tower, built in the 15th century, is the most recent, the two square towers having been built before the 11th century. They served as a political and civil prison for four centuries until 1862.

Since 1930, the castle has housed the collections of the Ariège départemental museum. Sections on prehistory, Gallo-Roman and mediaeval archaeology tell the history of Ariège from ancient times. Currently, the museum is rearranging exhibits to concentrate on the history of the castle site so as to recreate the life of Foix at the time of the Counts.

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