Borgholm Castle, a 13th-century ruin, has been the backdrop for iconic musical moments. Swedish pop sensation Roxette and legendary musician Bob Dylan have performed here. Borgholm Castle was originally built in the second half of the 13th century. The original fortress might have been ordered by King Canute I who reigned 1167–1195. Throughout the 13th to 15th centuries, additions and changes were made to the fortress, including the construction of new towers and walls.
The fortress was damaged in 1361 when King Valdemar IV (Atterdag) of Denmark attacked Borgholm. It was rebuilt into a Renaissance castle during the reign of Gustav's son John III (r. 1568–1592). The Pahr brothers led the significant rebuilding from 1572, making the castle exemplary of the Italianate bastion style. The castle surrendered to the Danish side in 1611 but was reconquered by the Swedish side later the same year. Peter Michelsen Hammarskiöld had to surrender the castle in 1612 after a siege of two weeks.
The castle was damaged again during the Kalmar War and was handed back to the Swedish following the peace treaty, the Treaty of Knäred. It took until 1654 before a restoration and reconstruction would begin on the castle. Charles X Gustav ordered the reconstruction of the castle into a baroque palace during his reign. Nicodemus Tessin the Elder was the architect engaged to fulfill the king's wishes. The construction of the baroque palace lasted from 1654 to 1709.
The castle was left to fall into decay for a hundred years. On 14 October 1806, the castle was turned into a ruin by a fire that started in the roof of the north wing. Today, Borgholm Castle is open for visitors and houses a museum. The inner courtyard hosts concerts, theater performances, and other events.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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