Kalmar Castle

Kalmar Castle

A fortress by the Baltic

On the south-eastern coast of Sweden, beside the waters of the Baltic Sea, stands the proud Kalmar Castle, with its round corner towers, its moat and its strong gatehouse. For much of its history Kalmar lay close to the frontier between Sweden and Denmark, two kingdoms that were often at war, and so its castle was one of the most important strongholds in the whole country — the great lock guarding Sweden's southern gateway.

The Kalmar Union

Kalmar's most famous moment in history came in 1397, in the Middle Ages. At that time the three Nordic kingdoms — Denmark, Norway and Sweden — agreed to join together under a single ruler, Queen Margaret, in what became known as the Kalmar Union. This great agreement, which united much of Scandinavia under one crown, was sealed here at Kalmar, giving the castle and town a special place in the history of all the Nordic lands.

The union lasted, on and off, for more than a hundred years, though it was often troubled by quarrels and rebellions, and Sweden eventually broke away to go its own way.

A Renaissance palace

The castle we see today is not only a medieval fortress. In the 1500s, the kings of the powerful Vasa family — especially King Gustav Vasa, who made Sweden strong and independent, and his sons — rebuilt Kalmar in the elegant new style of the Renaissance. They turned the old stronghold into a magnificent royal palace, with beautiful halls, fine ceilings and richly decorated rooms, while keeping the strong round towers and walls that made it safe.

This blending of medieval fortress and Renaissance palace gives Kalmar its special character: powerful on the outside, splendid within.

Guarding the frontier

Because Kalmar lay so close to Danish territory, the castle saw plenty of fighting over the centuries, besieged and battered in the many wars between Sweden and Denmark. Its strong defences, with the moat and the round bastion towers built to resist cannon, helped it withstand these attacks and hold the frontier for Sweden.

Once Sweden's borders expanded and the frontier moved away, Kalmar lost its military importance, and the castle was used for humbler purposes, even as a store and a prison, before its value as a historic treasure was recognised.

Restored to glory

In modern times Kalmar Castle has been carefully restored to show both its strength and its Renaissance splendour. Today it is one of the best-preserved Renaissance castles in northern Europe and a much-loved monument, hosting exhibitions, events and festivals.

Visiting today

Visitors can cross the moat and explore the round towers, the grand Renaissance halls with their fine ceilings, the chapel, and the dungeons below. Displays tell the story of the Kalmar Union and of the Vasa kings who made the castle a palace. From the walls there are views over the Baltic and across to the long island of Öland. Strong, splendid and rich in Nordic history, Kalmar Castle is one of the great fortresses of Sweden.