Borgholms Slott is a castle ruin on the outskirts of the town of Borgholm on the island of Öland. This is one of the main tourist attractions on the island. Öland is the second largest island in Sweden and it is in the southeastern part of the country. It is a region that has seen many wars over the centuries and Borgholms Slott and its predecessors have played a role in many of these.
A Short History of Borgholms Slott
The construction of a tower and adjacent fortifications began in the 12th century. It is believed that this early fort was completed in 1281. The fort was plundered and destroyed many times during the wars of the 16th and 17th centuries. The medieval fortifications were finally destroyed in 1653 to make room for a new baroque palace.
It was on order from Duke Karl Gustav, the heir to the throne and later King Karl X Gustav, that the construction of the new palace began. It turned out to be a palace that was never really completed. King Karl X Gustav died in 1660 and even though the construction continued up until 1709 it was without a sustainable plan for the future. The castle was left mostly untouched up until the last tenant arrived in 1803. This was just a few years prior to the fire of 1806 that resulted in turning the castle into a ruin.
Restoration works were carried out in the 19th century. At the end of the century, these were mostly meant to keep the castle ruins safe for visitors. The work to preserve the ruins and keep them open to the public has continued to this day.
Things to Do and See
This is in many ways royal grounds. The Royal Family are still frequent visitors to their summer residence, Soliden Palace, which is a short distance to the southwest. It is, however, the castle ruin of Borgholms Slott that is the most prominent attraction in the area. The castle might not have its original grandness, but it is still a very impressive sight.
Borgholms Slott
The castle ruin is in itself the main attraction here. Walking on its grounds, climbing the stairs, and enjoying the impressive view? There is plenty to explore and even more to learn. The onsite museums have exhibitions about the castle, the royals, and the geopolitical situations of the past.
Jaktstenen
Jaktstenen, or the “Hunt Stone”, stands to the east of the castle ruins. It was raised in 1873 in memory of King Karl XV who had died the year before. It was in memory of the three hunts the king had arranged on the island that his hunting companions wanted to honor him.
Borga Hage
Borga Hage is a nature reserve between the castle ruins and the sea. It was established already in 1932 and covers an area of 163 hectares. Here you will find more than only hiking trails. In 1942 an unknown aircraft bombed the area around the castle and a crater from one of the eight explosives can still be seen today.
How to Get to Borgholms Slott
- Flights: The nearest airport is Kalmar Öland Airport (KLR), which is 41 kilometers to the southwest.
- Car: Borgholms Slott lies along Road 136 north of Färjestaden and just on the outskirts of Borgholm.
- Bus: Buses from Kalmar Länstrafik connect Borgholms Slott with the surrounding area.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 446 kilometers (5 h)
- Gothenburg – 374 kilometers (4 h 20 min)
- Malmö – 311 kilometers (3 h 30 min)
- Linköping – 261 kilometers (3 h 30 min)
- Kiruna – 1677 kilometers (17 h 30 min)
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