Västerås Castle

The Västerås castle is located in the Swedish town of Västerås near the mouth of the river Svartån in Lake Mälaren.

History

Västerås was called in the 12th century Västra Aros (western estuary ) and was at this time bishop's seat. It was the main port for the transport of products from the Bergslagen region and next to Stockholm 's most important city on Lake Mälaren. There was a need for a residence for the royal steward, who could also act as a protective building. There was a tower with four floors, in the top floor of the defense shooters were stationed. This tower still exists today on the northeast corner of the castle.

Västerås experienced several disputes and so the castle was extended in stages. The castle played an important role in the fighting during the Kalmar Union, and was the first major investment, which was conquered during the Engelbrekt uprising by the rebels. The castle was conquered in 1454 by the Archbishop Jöns Bentsson Oxenstierna and Christian I did besiege it in 1464 without success. 1522 Gustav Vasa conquered the castle after it was a year in Danish hands.

Gustav Vasa made ​​the palace to the royal residence and held two Reichstag in Västerås, which were important milestones in Swedish history. At the Diet of 1527 the Reformation catchment in Sweden and the band to the Catholic Church in Rome did was cut. The abolition of Wahlkönigtums happened at the Diet of 1544th Before the last Reichstag several reconstructions were performed at the castle. Above the east wing a new king floor was set up in which a modern main entrance was built. Furthermore, the west wing was extended. Later in the 1570s developed under John III. a large courtroom and a palace church.

When Katharina von Pfalz - Kleeburg, the mother of Charles X Gustav died in 1638, ended the period of the castle as a royal residence. This led to a slow decline of the building. In the late 17th century, the renovation began under the direction of architect Mathias players. Charles XII. used the palace in time of war, like other castles and forts as a prison camp. Already in 1573 Erik XIV had been imprisoned for a year in the castle.

1736 a large fire broke out in the castle, where all the facilities were destroyed from the Wasazeit and several wooden buildings in the area. The subsequent reconstruction and expansion of the castle 1740-1750 was led by Carl Hårleman. In general renovation in the 1920s by the city architect Erik Hahr one focused primarily on the hearing room, the adjoining rooms and the residence floor.

Since 1889 there was a collection of prehistoric objects in the castle. When the provincial government in 1961 moved into their new town house, the castle was renovated again 1965-66 under Nils Tesch. Thereafter, the Provincial Museum of Västmanland pulled a. A small part of the castle has been expanded in recent years as the residence of the provincial chief.

59.60638888888916.544444444444Koordinaten: 59 ° 36 ' 23 " N, 16 ° 32' 40" E

• Castle in Sweden
• Västerås municipality
• Building in Västmanland County