Part of the Nordic region along with Finland, Norway and Sweden boast of stunning scenic beauty, stylish urban centres and a plethora of tourist attractions. Sweden and Norway are among the top countries boasting of an exceptionally high human development index and stable economy, polity, and society. Sweden and Norway enjoyed stable monarchy in the medieval ages until the advent of the modern democracy in the respective countries. This has led to the preservation of beautiful palaces and castles in Sweden and Norway.
Check out elegant castles and palaces of Norway and Sweden!
Drottningholm Palace (Sweden)
Built in 1662 and is known as the ‘Versailles of the North’, Drottningholm Palace is the current royal residence of Sweden’s Royal Family. Designed by famous Swedish architect Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, it has elements of baroque designing. Today, it’s a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sweden.
Orebro Castle (Sweden)
Orebro means ‘a bridge over a gravelled river’. Located in the city of Orebro, the castle used to a logistics center and keep a track of ships crossing the River Svarta. Commissioned by King Karl IX, this castle has four-floors including courtyards and strong defences. Today, the castle host round-the-year exhibitions, music concerts and restaurants.
Ekwtorps Fortress (Sweden)
Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ekwtorps is a scenic castle located in Oland. The entire southern Oland area is an important site that showcases some of the ancient human settlements. Today, Ekwtorps is a well-preserved ancient fortress that was built in three phases starting from the Iron Age to the Middle Ages.
Gripsholm Castle (Sweden)
Gripsholm Castle is situated on the banks of Lake Malaren in Southern Sweden and was built during the reign of King Gustav Vasa in 1537. This unique castle has architectural elements of 16th to 19th century and the interior furnishing reflects the Renaissance style. The castle now serves as a public museum and contains the National Portrait Gallery, one of the oldest portrait galleries and collections in the world.
Akershus Castle (Norway)
This amazing fortress was built in the 1290s by King Hakon V to prevent attacks and making it a critical strategic location near the sea. The fortress has survived numerous sieges and was never successfully captured till the German invasion during the Second World War. Today the fortress houses the Akershus Castle Church, the Norwegian Armed Forces Museum and a model of Christiania (Oslo’s former name) and a prison museum.
Royal Palace of Oslo (Norway)
The Royal Palace of Oslo currently serves as the official residence of Norway’s Royal Family. It was constructed in the early part of the 19th century in a very elegant architecture. The palace is also famous for its changing of the guard ceremony, a daily event that starts at 13:30 hours. The palace is one of the most popular tourist spots in Oslo, Norway.
Fredriksten Fortress (Norway)
Fredriksten Fortress was constructed between 1661 to 1701 and was developed to reinforce the Norwegian and Swedish border. The Fortress was besieged by Swedish forces which culminated in the Treaty of Moss and resulted in the unification of Norway and Sweden. The well-preserved fortress is a popular tourist attraction and offers a panoramic view of the city of Halden. It also has a museum and one can take guided tours as well during the summer months.