The oldest preserved Renaissance castle in the Nordic region

Malmö Castle, rising on Slottsholmen in Malmö, Sweden, is the oldest preserved Renaissance castle in the Nordic region. Built between 1526 and 1539, it is now part of The Malmö Museum and is owned by the Swedish state. The castle is managed by the National Property Board and houses the Malmö Art Museum.

In 1429, King Eric of Pomerania introduced the Øresund toll, requiring any foreign ship passing between Helsingør and Helsingborg to pay a tax. To strengthen his power over the Sound, he built the Malmö fortress, which began construction in 1434. It was a rectangular structure surrounded by high walls with a gate tower, known as Møntergaarden.

In 1525, Frederick I ordered the lord of Malmö Fortress, Albert Jepsen Ravensberg, to build a new castle. He was paid 5690 marks for four years of construction work, during which the current main building was erected. The inner courtyard was framed by a three-storey gateway, and the entrance was moved with the addition of the western bailey. Traces in the existing walls identify these oldest building phases.

During the years 1554–1559, the heir to the throne, later King Frederick II, resided at Malmö Castle. The Earl of Bothwell, Mary Stuart's third consort, was imprisoned there from 1567 to 1573. In 1822, the buildings were handed over to the Prison Board, and the Malmö Correctionella Arbetshus opened in 1828 as Sweden's largest and most modern prison.

The castle building was restored in 1928, providing a glimpse of its appearance in the 16th and 17th centuries. Today, it stands as a historical site where the Commandant's House and the Castle Mill are also located nearby.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons