Stjärnsund castle, Askersund, Sweden

The beautifully situated Stjärnsund Manor and estate lies on the point where Alsen joins Lake Vättern. The present building was built between 1798-1801. The interior furnishings, curtains, carpets, chandeliers and mirrors together form one of the best preserved interiors from the mid 19th centry in Sweden. The décor originates from Prince Gustav, "The Singing Prince".

The manor of Strjänsund was established in 1637 by Johan Gabrielsson Oxenstierna. The present castle was built by Olaf Burenstam, who acquired the manor in 1785. His son-in-law sold it to the King Carl XIV Johan. Today Stjärnsund is owned by Vitterhetsakademien, The Royal Institute of Lettets, History and Antiques.

Guided tours of the main living quarters and two wings are given daily. The café is nearby, in what was once the Estate Manager's cottage.

References:

User Reviews

Eva Wahlborg (21 months ago)
En under plats. Vackert, fantastisk god mat och härlig äggbod med mycket gott att erbjuda

Mathias Karlsson (2 years ago)
Otroligt fin miljö. Slottet eller mera herrgård skulle Jag klassa den som såsom västanå slott som med är herrgård fast kallas slott... . I alla fall hit har ja planerat åka i flera år och idag blev det äntligen. Så fint så man får gåshud och välbevarat och omskött. Guidningen av Matilda var väldigt bra och professionell. Hon hade vanan inne och vi var hennes femte visning för dagen. När man kommer in i hallen i slottet så är det som att resa tillbaka i tiden och man känner en närvaro av det gamla. Alla målningar som hur man än står så ser de rakt in i din själ. Mycket mäktigt med målade väggar och målade stukaturer istället för riktiga. Alla möbler var otroligt fina och välbevarade såsom allt annat. Solljuset har de försökt att hålla ute så mycket det går för att inget ska bli blekt. Rekommenderar starkt ett besök och guidad visning (60kr vuxen) . Även ett besök på äggboden med alla läckerheter från närodlade råvaror som sylter, saft, marinader, färskvaror, kött i alla former och smaksatta olivoljor. Slottscafeet var fin och gammal miljö mycket gott att välja bland.

mohammad alafandi (2 years ago)
Bra

Alexander E. (3 years ago)
Went to this place more or less by accident. It has some nice views over the surrounding lake and good paths to take a stroll.

Åsa Bengtsar (6 years ago)
Nice place to take a strall and lunch.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Dan Lundberg

Historic Site of the week

Hagios Demetrios

The Church of Saint Demetrius, or Hagios Demetrios, is the main sanctuary dedicated to Saint Demetrius, the patron saint of Thessaloniki. It is part of the site Palaeochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessaloniki on the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO since 1988.

The first church on the spot was constructed in the early 4th century AD, replacing a Roman bath. A century later, a prefect named Leontios replaced the small oratory with a larger, three-aisled basilica. Repeatedly gutted by fires, the church eventually was reconstructed as a five-aisled basilica in 629–634. This was the surviving form of the church much as it is today. The most important shrine in the city, it was probably larger than the local cathedral. The historic location of the latter is now unknown.

The church had an unusual shrine called the ciborium, a hexagonal, roofed structure at one side of the nave. It was made of or covered with silver. The structure had doors and inside was a couch or bed. Unusually, it did not hold any physical relics of the saint. The ciborium seems to have been a symbolic tomb. It was rebuilt at least once.

The basilica is famous for six extant mosaic panels, dated to the period between the latest reconstruction and the inauguration of the Byzantine Iconoclasm in 730. These mosaics depict St. Demetrius with officials responsible for the restoration of the church (called the founders, ktetors) and with children. An inscription below one of the images glorifies heaven for saving the people of Thessalonica from a pagan Slavic raid in 615.

Thessaloniki became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1430. About 60 years later, during the reign of Bayezid II, the church was converted into a mosque, known as the Kasımiye Camii after the local Ottoman mayor, Cezeri Kasım Pasha. The symbolic tomb however was kept open for Christian veneration. Other magnificent mosaics, recorded as covering the church interior, were lost either during the four centuries when it functioned as a mosque (1493–1912) or in the Great Thessaloniki Fire of 1917 that destroyed much of the city. It also destroyed the roof and upper walls of the church. Black-and-white photographs and good watercolour versions give an idea of the early Byzantine craftsmanship lost during the fire.

Following the Great Fire of 1917, it took decades to restore the church. Tombstones from the city"s Jewish cemetery - destroyed by the Greek and Nazi German authorities - were used as building materials in these restoration efforts in the 1940s. Archeological excavations conducted in the 1930s and 1940s revealed interesting artifacts that may be seen in a museum situated inside the church"s crypt. The excavations also uncovered the ruins of a Roman bath, where St. Demetrius was said to have been held prisoner and executed. A Roman well was also discovered. Scholars believe this is where soldiers dropped the body of St. Demetrius after his execution. After restoration, the church was reconsecrated in 1949.

Do you know an ancient castle or magnificent church near you?

Why not share it with other people interested in history? You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory.com.

It's absolutely free, easy, and doesn't even need registration!

Upload data

Looks like you are a history fan!

Do you know an ancient castle or hidden ruins near you?

Why not share it with other people interested in history? You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory. It's absolutely free, easy, and you can do it even without registration (of course you an also create an free account)!

Stjärnsund castle

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Most beautiful castles in Lithuania

Cultural Landscape of Sintra, Portugal

The Beauty of Cinque Terre

Historic Site of the week

Hagios Demetrios

Looks like you are a history fan!

Do you know an ancient castle or hidden ruins near you?