Gripsholm Castle

On the shores of the picturesque Lake Malaren, 60-70 kilometers southwest of the Swedish capital Stockholm, there is the ancient Gripsholm Castle. It got its name from the founder of the castle, the Swedish aristocrat Bo Jonsson Grip, who served as chancellor at the court of King Magnus Eriksson. The castle houses the National Portrait Gallery of Sweden - a unique collection of portraits of all prominent figures in the country since the time of Gustav Vas. Not far from the Gripsholm Castle, there is the Yurthagen (Deer Pasture) park-reserve, where you can take a walk, and at the same time admire the view of prancing fallow deer in the former pasture of the royal stockyard, which existed from the 17th century to the middle of the 19th century. In the western part of the park is the Spice Pavilion, where various spices are grown on a specially fenced area. And from the apple trees of the orchard, a drink is produced, which can be bought at the castle. The castle with an adjacent territory of 60 hectares is open to the public during the warmer months. Blooming gardens and a long history of the castle, reflected in the diversity of architecture and interiors, attract many tourists to this historic corner of Sweden.