A Visit to Gripsholm Castle in Sweden
If you are a regular reader of my blog, then you know that I recently traveled to Stockholm, Sweden, to speak at the Bonnier GRID media conference. As is my nature, I wanted to take in as much of Stockholm and its surrounding areas as possible, and a trip to Gripsholm Castle in Mariefred was a destination on my itinerary. Interestingly, there are hundreds of castles in Sweden, located mostly in the south. Because there are so many dotting the countryside, the Swedes take these castles for granted, but they are popular destinations for tourists.
Throughout history, the south of Sweden has been the most fertile area of that country and kings and other noblemen built their fortresses with a steady food source in mind. Gripsholm Slott (the Swedish word for castle) dates back to 1380, when Bo Jonsson Grip built a fortress on that location. In 1526, King Gustav I seized the land and built a fortified castle with circular corner towers and a wall for defensive purposes. I found this castle fascinating, as it always intrigues me to walk through a structure so ancient and full of history.
1 A visit to Gripsholm Castle commences with a walk near the exterior farm buildings.
2 It also includes a lovely old-fashioned greenhouse.
3 Kevin Sharkey and Jill Dienst, my traveling companions, posing in front of the castle greenhouse, where the tropical plants used throughout the castle are kept in the winter months.
4 A private house across the water from the castle was inviting. We learned that it was once part of the castle grounds.
5 This is one of the barracks of the castle.
6 An old fashioned drawbridge used to get over the moat
7 The roof of the castle is domed, and turreted, and very beautiful.
8 These iron braces are actually holding the thick stone walls together.
9 This is the main entrance into the castle and was once heavily fortified.
10 A pleasing view over the moat and into the town of Mariefred, where Gripsholm Castle is located
11 The doors to the castle are heavily paneled.
12 A fanciful stencil design decorates the plaster arched ceilings.
13 More designs were painted on the walls.
14 Everywhere are charming iron lanterns.
15 Two canons, heavily encrusted with decorations, sit in the courtyard.
16 The castle has about 150 rooms, with windows, and several wells like this.
17 The old brick is beautiful.
18 Inside are models of the castle at different peiods in its history.
19 Another model
20 An ornate portrait of King Gustav I, who ruled Sweden from 1523 until his death
21 One great feature of the castle is the ornate painted decoration everywhere. This is a lovely painted tile floor.
22 Every room seems to have a different parquet pattern on the floor.
23 Another floor pattern
24 Another great floor - good ideas for flooring at Home Depot!
25 Another parquet pattern
26 The windows are leaded and ornate.
27 Historic portraits abound throughout the castle.
28 A small built-in bed in one of the bed chambers - Notice the painted scenery.
29 More painted designs over very ornate wood work
30 The panels tell the stories.
31 Even the ceilings were painted and paneled.
32 I loved how practical the wood work was. These benches were built-in surrounding the walls.
33 Another fanciful, yet practical bench
34 Kevin was entranced with all the decoration and took many pictures.
35 Each room has tiled stoves - traditional in Swedish homes and palaces.
36 A better view of this plain, but well-proportioned stove
37 A faux bois painted decoration - great inspiration
38 More faux bois
39 A finely paneled ceiling
40 The furniture was quite plain in most of the rooms and of the period.
41 Hand painted - the decoration pre-dates wall paper.
42 There was a lot of inlay in the paneling, also.
43 A more decorative stove
44 These deep window seats indicate the thickness of the stone and brick walls.
45 Heavy iron hardware, with every room boasting different patterns
46 This is an amazing door handle with lock.
47 Another room with many portraits
48 Kevin at it again
49 This is an extremely deeply recessed window.
50 This was part of the fortification - canons, gunpowder storage, and artillery.
51 The vault for gunpowder lies beneath the wooden floor.
52 These stairs have withstood the footsteps of history.
53 This candle sconce is hand-pounded brass.
54 One of the throne rooms with a mural of standing portraits
55 Each panel portrays the costume of the times.
56 A few of the rooms from the 19th century were more brightly decorated.
57 Gilded moldings outlined the walls, corners, and ceilings.
58 All the furniture was slip-covered.
59 Plaids and checked fabric are traditional in Swedish interior design.
60 Underneath is often much fancier silks or wool.
61 This was a common style of chair in Sweden during the18th-century.
62 The servants' beds were small and narrow.
63 Bed coverings, like this one, were meant to keep out drafts.
64 A back staircase
65 This is an unusual tiled stove.
66 I love these giant cupboards found in Swedish homes.
67 A royal bedroom with brocaded hangings
68 This Japanese inlaid chest was meant to hold treasures.
69 Swedish crystal chandeliers are very popular in stately homes.
70 This light fixture is actuially made from papier mache.
71 A better view of the gilt chandelier.
72 Many of the queens and royal family wore ermine, a prized fur.
73 This portrait gallery was very interesting.
74 These galvanized tin fire screens were used during the summer months.
75 A fine boiserie inlay in a hallway
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
All of the pitures of the out-buildings and inside the castle remind me of a GRAND old house, but larger. It doesn't seem to have the usual "cold feeling" seen in lots of castles. Or, I should say...pictures of castles. I've only been in the inner court yard of one castle in Germany.
Martha, I would love to be in your employ, or your friend, even for a short time. You lead the most interesting life of anyone I've ever read about. You even seem happy, even though no one's life is perfect, yours comes close to looking like it is. But, I'm sure you have some problems just like everyone else does.
I just read an article that said money can't buy hapiness, but it can come close, and I'd sure like to be able to prove that it can make you happy, up to a point.
Living well and being able to afford the necessities of life can make a person happier.
Reading about the interesting things you do is a close second.
Gloria!!
Posted by: Gloria | September 13th, 2010 at 12:40 am
Thank you Martha for a wonderful historical and informative tour, amazing photos.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you great success on your new season 6 with Hallmark Channel. Good luck and God bless.
Best regards,
Rowaida Flayhan
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | September 13th, 2010 at 4:34 am
I hope you enjoyed Sweden during your visit, we visited Gripsholms Slott this summer during our vacation. It's an amazing place!
Greetings from Linnéa in Sweden
Posted by: Linnea | September 13th, 2010 at 4:53 am
Martha great pictures thanks for sharing. Looking forward to the season premier today I can't wait
Posted by: ann | September 13th, 2010 at 6:39 am
The pictures of the Castle are just beautiful, glad your back home now and on with the show. Good luck with your new season on the Hallmark Chanel can't wait to see what's coming up.
Thanks Martha,
Bernadette
Posted by: Bernadette | September 13th, 2010 at 7:02 am
Martha!
I really hope you enjoyed Sweden!
There is mych to say about Sweden and lots to see, hope you will come back soon!
I watch your show online (since Sweden airs your episodes with six monts delay, for what reason i dont know)
And i update myself with help from your website and blog - you have helped me become a great housewife *proud* and enjoying it!
Tank you for making my life easier with your tips!
Lots of love from Jennifer in Stockholm, Sweden
Posted by: jennifer | September 13th, 2010 at 8:25 am
I love the heavy paneled door and also the painted floor tile. The hardware is amazing, too, and every photo makes me wonder what life was like back then. At first glance on page 34, Kevin looks like he is down on his knees praying.
Very nice photos!
Posted by: Gloria Brown, Winterport, ME | September 13th, 2010 at 8:46 am
Hi Martha,
I probably would have been thinking about the Tudors if I visited that castle. What a great adventure to be roaming those old historic rooms – lucky you and your companions! I liked the parquet floor patterns but those beds left a lot to be desired. The painted ceilings, walls and floor were quite fascinating and it makes me wonder where they got their paint. It’s kind of funny to see checked chair covers over fine silk and gold underneath but maybe they wanted to protect the more expensive material. I loved the decorated old stoves and even though most of the benches were plain, they were carved nicely.
~
Thanks for the great castle tour and now I’m looking forward to watching you on Hallmark in about 45 minutes. I will also stay tuned for the Whatever girls and Mad Hungry. It’s all good! Trish
Posted by: Trish | September 13th, 2010 at 9:18 am
Martha, thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | September 13th, 2010 at 10:34 am
Martha,
Your tours always create questions. My first one was "when did bricks come into existance for building materials". I know it has to with available building materials and I always think of the castles made out of stone. So with bricks, wood floors, and paints I must guess lots of trees and clay in Sweden.
Your new season will be a blast and I am excited for everyone involved whether they be members of the show or audience. We will enjoy together. Thanks as always.
Posted by: Margie | September 13th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
Hi Martha, What a grand day this is! I can hardly wait for 10AM to get here in less than an hour! Not only am I happy for you and all of MSLO, but I am so happy to finally be able to see your fantastic TV Show during the daytime again! Thank you so very much! Loved this blog about that wonderful castle in Sweden. Your photos are superb and I loved the delightful tour. Everything was truly fascinating. Being half Finnish, it was wonderful touring an area not far from Finland. Thanks again for all you do for us and thank you to the Hallmark Channel, also!! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | September 13th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Hi Martha,
Photos are beautiful. However I am very disappointed and upset that I can no longer see your show. Many of us can't afford or get cable in our area. We stuck by you when you had your problems so please don't abondon us! At least please put your entire show on the website - thank you.
Joan
Hilton New York
Posted by: joan vogt | September 13th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Thank you for sharing such a comprehensive set of photos of this lovely castle:
I have long wanted to visit Gripsholm and this photo tour is almost as good. Isn't Scandinavia wonderful? I always find it so inspiring and am pleased you did too.
Warmest wishes,
Nicola x
Posted by: Nicola | September 13th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
I just cannot tell you how much I enjoy your blog. Please please keep the pictures coming. I travel quite a bit (fortunate) and I love to come home and look at all the pictures my partner Chip and I take. Martha I have been a huge fan of yours for years and years. Thank you again for posting all these great pictures.
Paul Sanchez
Albuquerque, NM
Posted by: Paul Sanchez | September 13th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
Martha,
thank you for your website of Sweden.
I just loved all the pictures,they were breathe taking
Posted by: TC | September 14th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
I have toured a few castles and other historic buildings in Switzerland and many things- like the tiled woodstoves- remind me of them. This kind of look at history is very fascinating. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Clayvessel from Pie in the Sky | September 14th, 2010 at 8:25 pm
I like Martha shows, but I seem to have a problem. We have a cable company (ATT) that doesn't carry the Hallmark Channel; so I cannot see your show. I'm not sure of what to do in seeing your television shows. I hope you can put pictures in your magazine or put your shows on your web site. My husband e-mailed the cable company and may not get any good news since the Hallmark Channel costs our cable company too much. I would love to know what you think.
Cyn
Posted by: Cynthia Stevenson | September 15th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Hello Martha,
Best of luck with your new show on a new channel, am not happy that you have moved from ch. 4 to Hallmark. but best of luck to you and your show. will keep watching when I have a chance to view the hallmark ch.
Posted by: karen h | September 15th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Hello again Martha,
I agree with the other people that we are sad to see you no longer on regular tv. we have stuck by you through it all, wish there was a way you could come back to regular tv, and not cable. now they have this other crap on during your old time slot on ch. 4. what a shame, I dont get hallmark ch. and am sad to say I cant watch you. but will check on the computer to catch up with what I have missed. best of luck
Posted by: karen h | September 15th, 2010 at 5:08 pm