Kalmar Castle, Medieval fortress in Kalmar, Sweden
Kalmar Castle stands on the island of Slottsholmen, a rectangular tan-brick main building with four green copper-domed corner towers and a taller copper spire. A low stone wall with two round, flat-roofed turrets rings the island. The medieval core was rebuilt in the 16th century into a Renaissance palace.
A round defensive tower was built on Slottsholmen around 1180, and a harbour was constructed at Kalmarsund. At the end of the 13th century Magnus Ladulås had a fortress with a curtain wall, round corner towers and two square gatehouses built around the tower. In 1397 the castle was the site of the formation of the Kalmar Union under Queen Margaret I.
The castle church was added in 1589–92, and its prayer stools date to 1619. Johan III had the facade painted white and the roof red, and the New Throne Hall was decorated with 2,200 gold-painted leaves. Since 2023 the castle has hosted SVT's Luciamorgon broadcast in December.
The castle is easily reached from the city center and offers a clear walking route through multiple levels of the complex. Plan for about two hours to explore the rooms and view the exhibitions throughout the space.
Anna Eriksdotter (Bielke), widow of Johan Månsson Natt och Dag, took command of Kalmar Castle during the 1520 rebellion against Denmark and defended it after her husband's death. The Swedish Wikipedia notes that journalist Herman Lindqvist disputes the often-told story that she warmly received Gustav Vasa there that year.
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