The wooden manor of field marshal Carl Gustaf Wrangel

The wooden manor of field marshal Carl Gustaf Wrangel

Gripenberg Castle, built in 1663 as a hunting seat, remains one of Sweden's largest and oldest wooden manor houses.

Gripenberg Castle, located in Tranås, Sweden, was built in 1663 as a hunting seat for the field marshal Carl Gustaf Wrangel. It is considered to be the biggest wooden castle in Sweden and one of the oldest that remain today. The manor consists of a wide main length and tower buildings in the four corners. It was originally red in color with gray pilasters and shingles.

Just before 1780, the red-colored main building was fitted with a board panel that was painted yellow. The facility includes eight one-story wings that house residences, warehouses and storerooms. The west wing with a manor roof was originally the main building on Mörbylund's manor but was moved here after the west wing burned down in the early 18th century and Mörbylund became a barn under Gripenberg.

It is presumed that the castle's name is derived from the name of Wrangel's mother, Margareta Grip, and that Wrangel might have chosen it to commemorate her. By the end of the 18th century the manor was bought by Samuel von Söderling and today remains in the possession of members of his family.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

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