Gripsholms castle

Gripsholm Castle ("Gripsholms Slott" in swedish) is a castle in Sweden and is regarded as one of Sweden's finest historical monuments. It is located in the town of Mariefred by the lake Mälaren in south central Sweden, in the municipality of Strängnäs, about 60 km west of Stockholm.

A fortress was built at the location around 1380 by Bo Jonsson (Grip), and belonged to his family until the confiscation of mansions and castles by King Gustav I (Gustav Vasa) in 1526. The King tore it down, and built a fortified castle with corner towers and a wall, for defensive purposes. Of the original medieval fortress, only the façade of a wall remains.

Since Gustav Vasa, Gripsholm has belonged to the Swedish Royal Family, and was used as their residence until 1713. In the years 1563-1567 King Eric XIV imprisoned John III Vasa and his wife Catherine Jagiellon in the castle. Their son Sigismund III Vasa, King of Poland and Sweden, was born there in June 20, 1566.

It was briefly used as a prison between 1713 and 1773. In 1773 it was renovated by King Gustav III, on behalf of his wife. A theater was also added at this time.

Between 1889 and 1894 it underwent a heavy and controversial restoration by the architect Fredrik Lilljekvist, and many of the 17th and 18th century alterations were removed. The largest change that took place was the addition of a third floor, though the planned demolition of a wing did not take place.

Today part of the castle houses the National Collection of Portraits, the oldest portrait collection in the world.