Kalmar Castle
Kalmar Castle, rising on a small island in the Swedish city of Kalmar, is one of Scandinavia's finest surviving Renaissance fortresses. A round defensive tower was first raised here in the late 12th century; successive Swedish kings — Eric XIV and Johan III in particular — transformed it into an elegant royal palace from 1557 into the early 17th century. It was here in 1397 that Queen Margaret I convened the Kalmar Union, joining Denmark, Norway, and Sweden under a single crown. The fortress withstood 22 sieges over nearly four centuries without ever being taken by storm.
After serving as a distillery and prison, it was carefully restored from the 1850s through the early 20th century and today houses a museum dedicated to Sweden's Renaissance heritage.
Visitor information
- Location
- Kalmar
- Country
- Sweden
- Tier
- B (Great castles)
- Coordinates
- 56.658, 16.355
- Official site
- http://www.kalmarslott.se/
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Kalmar Castle?
- Kalmar Castle is in Kalmar, Sweden (approximately 56.658, 16.355).
- Can you visit Kalmar Castle?
- Yes — Kalmar Castle is open to visitors; see the official site at http://www.kalmarslott.se/ for hours and tickets.
- What tier is Kalmar Castle on the Castle Atlas?
- Kalmar Castle is rated B tier on the Castle Atlas — Great castles.
- What can you see at Kalmar Castle?
- Kalmar Castle, rising on a small island in the Swedish city of Kalmar, is one of Scandinavia's finest surviving Renaissance fortresses. A round defensive tower was first raised here in the late 12th century; successive Swedish kings — Eric XIV and Johan III in particular — transformed it into an elegant royal palace from 1557 into the early 17th century. It was here in 1397 that Queen Margaret I convened the Kalmar Union, joining Denmark, Norway, and Sweden under a single crown. The fortress withstood 22 sieges over nearly four centuries without ever being taken by storm.