Originally a Scanian farm called Skabelycke, Sofiero Palace in Helsingborg, Sweden, was purchased in 1864 by Prince Oscar of Sweden and his wife Sophia of Nassau. The palace was expanded to its current size between 1874 and 1876, after Prince Oscar had been crowned King Oscar II of Sweden and Norway. Today, the former royal palace serves as a restaurant, café, and exhibition space. In 1905, King Oscar II's grandson, Prince Gustaf Adolf, and his wife, Crown Princess Margaret, received the palace as a wedding gift. They renovated the palace and started the large rhododendron garden for which the palace is known today.
Prince Gustaf Adolf became king in 1950, and until 1973, Sofiero was his and his second wife Lady Louise Mountbatten's official summer residence. Upon his death, he left the palace to the city of Helsingborg so that the general public could enjoy it. The main attraction today is the very large gardens with a wide range of local and other plant life, stretching to the shore of Öresund. The Rhododendrons are especially noteworthy, consisting of almost 500 different varieties.
The park also holds a small collection of modern art. During the summer, large outdoor concerts are held at Sofiero Palace with national and international stars. A brand of beer owned by Kopparbergs Brewery is also named "Sofiero".
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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