Kalmar castle - a piece of Swedish history
If you have been following my blog about Swedish language and culture you might know that I grew up in Kalmar, a medieval town on the Baltic Sea. With its rich history, beaches, nightlife and proximity to the island of Öland the city is a popular summer destination for visitors both domestic and foreign. The guest harbor in Kalmar is one of the most popular on the east coast of the country and brings hoards of boating enthusiasts every summer. Kalmar boasts a well-preserved city wall and countless historical buildings in the old town as well as the relatively newer (seventeenth century) city center. But arguably the most famous and recognizable site is the beautiful castle on the Kalmar strait, which is almost perfectly preserved and open to visitors year-around.
The history of the castle goes back to the mid-twelfth century when a defensive tower was constructed on the Kalmar strait together with a harbor. At the end of the 13th century a fortress and more towers were added to the original construction. Because of its location and importance of the harbor as a trading post during medieval times the castle has played an important role in Swedish history. The most significant political events taking place at the fortress was the formation of the Kalmar Union in 1397, which was a union between Sweden, Denmark and Norway. While there were a few interruptions to the union, it essentially lasted until 1523 when Sweden claimed independence from Denmark and the reign of Gustav Vasa started (more about that here).
Gustav Vasa, widely considered the “father of the nation” in Sweden, together with his sons, turned the fortress into a renaissance castle, which is how we know it today. However, during the 1611-1613 war between Sweden and Denmark/Norway, known as the “Kalmar War”, the city was under siege and the castle sustained heavy damage. Furthermore, the castle sustained additional damage during an unrelated fire in 1640. Some repairs were initiated but never completed, and over time the castle was left to fall into despair. It was not until the mid-nineteenth century that restorations began in earnest, initiated by the architect Fredrik Wilhelm Scholander in 1856. By 1891 the castle structure had been essentially fully restored, but work continued with restoring the moat, bridge and drawbridge until 1941 when the castle was once more surrounded by water. Today it is one of the best preserved renaissance castles in Sweden.
If you ever visit Kalmar and its beautiful castle you can take a guided tour of its inner structure, learn fascinating stories about Swedish royalty that spend time there, and get a feeling of life in the castle over the centuries. In the summer you might be able to catch a medieval reenactment, participate in games and activities in the inner bailey, or have a picnic on the grass covered wall around the outer bailey. One of my favorite activities is to rent a canoe and paddle along the moat and watch the castle rise up next to you. Inside the castle is a beautifully decorated church that is still used to this day for weddings and baptisms. It is one of the most highly sought after location for weddings in Sweden, and where I tied the knot with my husband! So obviously it has a special place in my heart.
If you want to learn more about Swedish history, culture and language you can always sign up for one of my free trial lessons or consultations. I offer the best option for learning Swedish with one-on–one lessons on Zoom. As a native speaker I will have you practicing your Swedish skills in no time, and you will be amazed at how fast you can learn with my customized lessons. Sign up below!
