We find the Palace on the northern boundary of Gamla stan, a location that has hosted royal life since the 13th century. Long before the current exterior existed, a fortress with a core tower built by Birger Jarl stood watch over Lake Mälaren. This site eventually became the Tre Kronor Castle, a medieval stronghold whose name relates to the core tower's spire decorated with three crowns.
That era of stone and timber met a definitive end in 1697 when a fire destroyed the Tre Kronor Castle. In the aftermath, Nicodemus Tessin the Younger was tasked with designing a new royal residence. Due to the costly Great Northern War which started in 1700, construction of the palace was halted in 1709, and not recommenced until 1727. After Tessin the Younger died in 1728, the palace was completed by Carl Hårleman, who also designed a large part of its Rococo interior. The palace was ready for use in 1754, when King Adolf Frederick and Queen Louisa Ulrika moved in.
There is much to discover within the 1,430 rooms of the building. It functions as the official residence for the Swedish monarch and houses the offices of the Royal Court of Sweden. Visitors can still explore the remaining cellar vaults of the former castle to visit the Tre Kronor Museum. The public is also invited to view the main courtyard and several museums.
To this day, the Palace functions as a center of state power. Although the royal family typically lives at Drottningholm Palace, this site hosts the official duties of the King as the head of state. The Royal Guards have guarded the palace and the royal family since 1523, maintaining a presence through centuries of history.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
Discuss this with the author and others
No comments yet. Be the first to start the conversation.