Vadstena Castle

Defence against Danish attack

Meeting at Västerås in 1544, the Swedish parliament approved a major strengthening of the nation's permanent defences. This included the construction of Vadstena Castle, primarily to guard against Danish attacks from the south. Building work commenced the following year, 1545.

A rectangular structure was created, with a courtyard surrounded on three sides by 30-metre-wide, 3-metre-high earthwork ramparts, outside of which was a wide moat. On the side facing Lake Vättern, instead of ramparts there was a strong stone-built wall formed by three separate buildings, the central one being a gatehouse. This was approached via a bridge over the moat from a narrow road running between the lake and the moat. Round two-storey gun turrets were sited at the four corners, covering all directions.

Residence of Duke Magnus

Just five years after the fortress was built, Gustav Vasa decided to convert it into a residence for his son Magnus. The additions included two tall towers in the south corners of the courtyard. Construction of what was to become the palace block commenced in 1554 by extending the three stone buildings facing the lake. Over time, the height of the gun turrets and ramparts was raised.

Magnus' brother King Johan III, who had a strong interest in architecture, had the castle remodelled, transforming the relatively simple building into an elegant Renaissance castle in Continental style with the aid of architect Arendt de Roy. He was influenced by the Four Books on Architecture, a seminal work published in 1570 by the Italian architect and theorist Andrea Palladio. This early Palladian influence, unique in northern Europe, underlines Vadstena's position as the most significant surviving Renaissance castle in Scandinavia.

The castle ceased to be a royal residence in 1716. The building subsequently served as a granary among other uses, and in the late 18th century it housed textile mills producing cambric and damask.

The towers in the south corners of the courtyard were demolished during the 19th century. The ramparts were dismantled in the mid 19th century.

Major reconstruction

1997 saw the start of a major project to rebuild the ramparts and reinstate the two towers in the south corners of the courtyard. These works were the most extensive changes to any historic monument in Sweden in the 20th century.

In brief

• Address: Slottsvägen, Vadstena
• Built: 1545 (commenced)
• For: King Gustav Vasa and his sons
• Tenanats: Visit Vadstena, Vadstena Akademien,
  The Regional Archives in Vadstena
• Manager: Gillis Åström, National Property Board, Phone +46 8 696 74 31/+46 70 515 22 61, E-mail gillis.astrom@sfv.se