Skarhult castle - one of the best preserved renaissance castles in Sweden

Skarhult in Eslöv is one of the best preserved renaissance castles in Sweden. This summer the castle is for the first time open for visitors:

Skarhult castle seen from the southern side.

The owner's family flag (von Schwerin) flying on top of the roof.



The main entrance to the castle.



The medieval castle church.

From the castle park.

The first tulips at the Sofiero Palace garden:

The first tulips are in full bloom at the Sofiero Palace garden:

There were some other nice flowers, too:

 

 

Trolle-Ljungby - A Magnificent Renaissance Castle in Scania

Trolle-Ljungby, close to the city of Kristianstad in north-eastern Scania, is one of the most magnificent Renaissance castles in Sweden. In the Middle Ages it was a fortified manor house, owned by the Danish Bille family (Scania was at the time part of Denmark). The present castle was erected in 1629. The west wing was added four years later, and the east wing was built in 1787.

The current owners of the castle are count Hans-Gabriel Trolle-Wachtmeister and his wife, countess Alice Trolle-Wachtmeister, the Swedish Mistress of the Robes.

Two remarkable items at the castle are the “Ljungby horn and pipe” which are on display on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the summertime in a window facing the castle courtyard . Legend tells how these remarkable items found their way to Trolle-Ljungby castle.

The Troll Stone (in the last picture) lies a couple of kilometres away from the castle.
 Legend has it that the large stone, which lies right up next to a building, is connected with the “Ljungby horn and pipe”. It was here, at the site of the Troll Stone, that the horn and pipe were stolen from the troll who lived under the stone.

A beautiful medieval church is located in the immediate vicinity of the castle.

 

 

 

The Dutch cargo vessel Dongeborg and Kronborg

Dutch cargo vessel Dongeborg and Kronborg castle.

If today would be April Fool's Day, I might have written this caption to accompany the photo of cargo vessel Dongeborg: 

"The Government of Denmark has, due to severe financial problems, had to sell the Kronborg castle to a private buyer. Here the Dutch cargo ship Dongeborg is carrying the northern facade of the historic castle towards its new home in the Cayman Islands. The name of the buyer has not yet been disclosed, but it is understood that he is a Russian oligarch in need of a residence with lots of space."

Or alternatively, this one:

"The financially troubled Danish government has been forced to find private sponsors for the renovation of the historic castle Kronborg. The main sponsor, German Volkswagen,  insisted that the castle be renamed."

The Landskrona Citadel - One of Europe's largest and best preserved historic fortifications

The city of Landskrona is this year celebrating its 600th anniversary. The city was founded at the location of Scania's (at the time part of Denmark) best natural harbor, as a means of King Erik of Pomerania's anti-Hanseatic policy. 

From a visitor's point of view, the Landskrona Citadel, initially built in 1549-1559 as a purely defensive fortification, is the most interesting sight. The Citadel, with three moats, is one of Europe's largest and best preserved. 

During the first decades of the 20th century, the Citadel was used as a women's prison. It now serves as a museum, and can also be rented for conferences and other occasions. 

Krapperup Caste Park and Gardens - A Gem in Scania

This time of the year the rhododendrons are glowing in the Krapperup castle park - one of the finest in Scandinavia. The rhodos in the nearby Sofiero palace gardens may be more well known, but the beautifully landscaped historic Krapperup park and gardens make them my personal favorite. The pictures are from last night (between 8.30 and 9.30 PM). 

Early spring flowers in Sofiero

It will take a while before the famous rhododendrons in the Sofiero Palace gardens in Helsingborg are in bloom. However, there are already now plenty of colorful early spring flowers - early orange tulips, wood and blue anemones and others - for visitors to enjoy: 

Marienlyst - a beautiful Danish palace in search of a new future

Denmark is a country of castles and manors. As a matter of fact, there are more than 600 of them, with the royal winter residence Amalienborg and Hamlet's castle, Kronborg as the probably best known internationally. 

Marienlyst, originally founded as a royal pavilion of the Kronborg castle in the late 16th century, is one of the less known Danish palacial residences, but this small pearl of a building is well worth exploring.

The Marienlyst that we see today is the work of Nicolas-Henri Jardin, a French architect, who between 1754 and 1771 worked as an architect of the Danish royal court. Jardin rebuilt and and enlarged the old pavilion in neoclassical style, a popular style at the time that he was the first to introduce in Denmark. 

Marienlyst was a royal residence until 1850, when King Frederik 7. donated it to be used as a home for disabled soldiers. However, that project did not turn out very well, which is why the castle and its gardens were sold to the city of Helsingør already the following year. 

The city of Helsingør, which still owns the Marienlyst, has used the palace for different purposes, lately mostly for various cultural activities. As you can see from the pictures shown here, the exterior of Jardin's palace is in good shape, but a few years ago experts found out that the building is in need of extensive structural renovation. That was thought to be so costly that the city authorities were about to sell the property to a private buyer. 

However, a group of influential friends of the culturally important palace was able to stop the privatisation plans. Recently a society called Marienlyst Slots Venner (Friends of the Marienlyst castle) was established in order to secure the financing of the renovation work. The city of Helsingør will continue to be the owner, but a foundation will be in charge of the future operation of the palace after the renovation work is done. 

One can only hope that there are enough friends of the Marienlyst palace in order to preserve it for future generations to enjoy!