Kalmar Castle

Kalmar Castle in the Swedish city of Kalmar is the best preserved Renaissance palace in Northern Europe and played an important role in Swedish history due to its location at the former border with Denmark. The castle stands on a small peninsula on the Baltic coast, and is separated by a moat from the mainland.

The castle dates back to a 1180 built during the reign of Knut Eriksson defense tower ( Kastal ) for protection against pirates and other enemies that threatened from the sea the city. Magnus Ladulås built a surrounding wall, including four towers around the actual defense tower end of the 13th century.

The castle was the first location of Gustavus Vasa in Sweden after his escape from captivity Danish. That is why one finds in the castle a well, which is named after him and a monument in his honor. Gustav and his sons could further expand the castle. Gustav himself it was supplemented by a stone and earth wall, which was intended as a defense against the emerging artillery. The sons of Eric XIV and John III. put more emphasis on the artistic decoration of the castle. For the interior of the building they undertook foreign architects and artists.

At the end of the 17th century began a long period of decline. The fortress, which was besieged under the previous 395 years, 22 times, but could never be stormed, was demoted to prison, granary and the royal distillery. Large parts of the old equipment were destroyed and there were even proposals to demolish the castle. In the 1850s they started renovation work that lasts until today.

The chapel of the castle is now used like for weddings.

Construction of the castle

In the original version of the 12th century Kalmar was surrounded by an irregular ring wall. For a better defense was built the keep the raging sea, and protected him by two massive round towers. Two square gate towers protected the routes into the target. The round towers - actually a Franco- German development - were for many years the only towers of its kind in Scandinavia. Gustav Wasa changed the castle later fundamentally. Conserves the old Donjon. The building but were palatial rebuilt. Instead of the towers he built lower, but more massive bastions for artillery. Another outer wall complemented the enhanced attachment.

Pictures

Patio

Chapel

Cannon on the castle wall

Castle view from the north

Outer wall

Castle Bridge

Southwesterly round tower in the outer wall

View from the southeast