Swedish Residences General Discussion

[Josefine]

Edit JessRulz:

This thread can be used as a general discussion thread for the Swedish residences which do not have a specific thread.
A list of the residences with specific threads can be found here.

[Josefine]

...........

....

-----

[hrhcp]

What about "Ottenby" ... is that a residence?

[Yennie]

I don´t know anything about Ottenby beeing a "residence". As far as I know Ottenby is a place on south Öland. I know that the royal family have visited the place though...

[hrhcp]

Thank you Yenni. Now about that "Tärnaby" place, any pictures of that? B)

[Yennie]

I haven´t seen any pictures of the house in Tärnaby... I´ll check

[Hélène]

The old Royal Palace known as "Tre Kronor" (three crowns) It's really very sad that it burnt down. How cool wouldn't it have been to have a medieval castle as a royal palace today? I think it's much more beautiful than the "new" one...

[hrhcp]

Contrary to the Norwegian Royal Family which lives in a smaller country - population wise - why is it that the Swedish Royal Family has
- no royal ship?
- way more in Royal Residences provided by the State than I believe any other country in Europe?
- correspondingly way less in the way of private residences then their Norwegian brethern?

Which is your favorite Residence?
Which room is your fave, and how come ?
Which view is your favorite?

How come most of the Royal Residences are along the edge of Lake Malaren ? That mystifies me. I would have thought to solidify the kingdom, there would be royal residences all over the country?

[GrandDuchess]

# I don't know why the Swedish Royal House has no royal ship, but I guess it's because we don't have that kind of tradition in our royal house. In stead, we have had great war ships of The King (call regal ships in Swedish), not only the Vasa, but also many great and magnificent war ships. The Royal House has done their boating in private, and has never had the traditions of other European royal houses, making long official trips by boat. Our royals go sailing or boating in their private time.

# The Royal Palaces which are today at the disposal of The King and his family are the most well-known and well linked palaces to the Royal House. In the old days, the Royal House had a lot more palaces and estates, which are today used for other things. In Sweden, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of palaces/castles. The State has its own Government Authority which has the responsibility of the hundreds of other palaces/castles that are owned by the Swedish State. Some are used by the State for regional authorities (for. ex. residences for County Governors, regional authortities) and such, some are museums, some are run by private people on a lease, and some of the palaces which are located in Stockholm are used as the Government's official houses (like the Prime Minister's official residence, ministries, authorities etc. etc.)

# Yes, they might not have as many private residences as they do in other European Royal Houses. I don't know why, but the palaces used to be owned by the Monarch - but after the modernisation of the Monarchy, the State took them over and some were previously bought. They do have some privately owned residences, and I guess they're happy with that.

Private Residences of The Royal House:
Solliden, Öland, Sweden (The King)
Villa Mirage, S:t Maxime, France (The King)
Storlien Cottage, Jämtland, Sweden (The King)
Villa Solbacken, Djurgården, Sweden (Princess Lilian)

The Residences of members of The Royal Family (those I know):
Princess Christina, Mrs Magnusson - Villa Beylon in Stockholm, Sweden, house in the archipelago in Stockholm, Sweden, and a villa in Vence, France
Princess Margareta - Tulip Cottage in Oxfordshire, the UK
Princess Birgitta - luxury apartment in Mallorca, Spain
Princess Désirée - Castle Koberg (the family castle of her husband Baron Silfverschiöld) in Trollhättan, Sweden and apartment in Mallorca, Spain

[GrandDuchess]

My favourite Royal Palaces:

Nr. 1: Drottningholm

I myself think that Drottningholm Palace is one of Europe's most beautiful palace and park together. The palace is situated so enourmously well and beautifully on Lövön in Stockholm, with water and great parks and scenery around it. It was a few years since I was inside the palace, and I don't think I have a favourite room - but Rikssalen is very nice, as is Queen Lovisa Ulrika's Libarary. The Drottningholm Theatre close to the palace is also great, a very fascinating old theatre.

Nr. 2: The Royal Palace of Stockholm

The Royal Palace of Stockholm is a fascinating place, situated in the central of Stockholm with water near it. You can really feel the wings of history at the same time as you feel its vibrance, it's full of activity. Last time I was there was a year ago or something, and I don't have one favourite room (not that I've been to all 609 rooms, but the ones I have been to) - but these are my goodies:

* The Bernadotte Aparment (13 rooms) - Pelarsalen and Oscar II's Writing Room (with heavy curtains and thick fabric on the furniture, his organ is there)
* The Bernadotte gallery is nice (there 1991 portrait of The King by Nelson Shank is there, in the background of it you can see a clock with the time of death of King Gustav VI Adolf, 20:31 pm),
* The Celebrations Division - beautiful, the Coucil Room (Konseljsalen) is situated there (it's were The King holds his meetings with the councils he's in, and other meetings)
* Karl IX's Gallery - the most splendid room of the palace, it's a copy of the Mirror Room in Versailles and is 48 meters long (&#33. This is were the great dinners are held at state visits, for the Nobel week, etc.

[hrhcp]

Originally Posted by GrandDuchess

In the old days, the Royal House had a lot more palaces and estates, which are today used for other things. In Sweden, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of palaces/castles. The State has its own Government Authority which has the responsibility of the hundreds of other palaces/castles that are owned by the Swedish State. Some are used by the State for regional authorities (for. ex. residences for County Governors, regional authortities) and such, some are museums, some are run by private people on a lease, and some of the palaces which are located in Stockholm are used as the Government's official houses (like the Prime Minister's official residence, ministries, authorities etc. etc.)

Thank you, GrandDuchess for your contribution. I love it !!!

Sweden comes alive in a way that has so far escaped me.

With these "hundreds of other palaces/castles ... owned by the Swedish State", is there perchance a link where I can look - at my leisure - at the other arrangements of magnificient stone? :)

[Dennism]

Originally Posted by hrhcp

I came across an old fortress near Gothenburg
Bohus Fortress

In a book that I have for this fortress it says:

"The first defensive fort here, a wooden affair, was built by the Norwegian king in the 14th century, on what was then Norway´s southern border. This was replaced by a solid stone building, surrounded by deep natural moats, a complex which came to be known in Sweden for its impregnability. After withstanding six Swedish attacks in the 1560s, the colossal stronghold was rebuilt, this time enclosing a Renaissance palace. When the area finally became Swedish in 1658, Bohus didn´t enjoy much of a respite: during the next 20 years, a further 14(!) sieges here saw some spectacular bombardment by the Danes: records show that 15,000 men fired 30,000 red-hot cannonballs at the unfortunate fortress, which somehow managed not to fall. Where attack failed, Swedish weather has succeeded, however, and today the building is very much a ruin-albeit a well-kept, grassy one."

It is in the village of Kungälv or King´s river. There are concerts and opera performances there in the summer.

[loving silvia and carl gustaf]

my favourite castle is "Drottningholms slot..." It's beautiful. After that "Kungliga slottet" in Stockholm comes...I think they are both wonderful castles. I also like Solliden a lot...it's great... all of them are ...

[hrhcp]

What's the name of this castle, and where is it located?
This is my favourite picture of Sweden, because
a.) it shows the old and the new of Sweden off to perfection.
b.) its a good day.
c.) it shows dirty water and clean water.

[hrhcp]

Engsö Slott

links to further exploring

[Philippos]

»Slott» means castle, or palace, nothing else. Many Swedish castles are today hotels and not private residences (), but »slott» means castle and not hotel.

[hrhcp]

Originally Posted by Philippos

Many Swedish castles are today hotels and not private residences (), but »slott» means castle and not hotel.

Thanks for the clarification, Philippos.

[GrandDuchess]

Here's my updated list for private residences...

Private Residences of The Royal House:
Solliden, Öland, Sweden (The King)
Villa Mirage, S:t Maxime, France (The King)
Storlien Cottage, Jämtland, Sweden (The King)
Villa Solbacken, Djurgården, Sweden (Prince Carl Philip, but with life-long right of usage for Princess Lilian)
Apartment, London, the United Kingdom (Princess Lilian)
Country house, Värmland, Sweden (Prince Carl Philip)

The Private Residences of members of The Royal Family (those I know):
Princess Christina, Mrs Magnusson - Villa Beylon in Stockholm, Sweden, house in the archipelago in Stockholm, Sweden, and a villa in Vence, France
Princess Margareta - Tulip Cottage in Oxfordshire, the United Kingdom
Princess Birgitta - luxury apartment in Mallorca, Spain
Princess Désirée - Castle Koberg (the family castle of her husband Baron Silfverschiöld) in Trollhättan, Sweden and apartment in Mallorca, Spain

[Josefine]

the country house of carl philip was it given to him as he is duke of Värnland?

[GrandDuchess]

Originally Posted by Josefine

the country house of carl philip was it given to him as he is duke of Värnland?

Yes, the country house of Prince Carl Philip was given to him by the people of Värmland County to him as their Duke, after a fundraising among the people in the county.