Halmstad Castle, Renaissance castle in Halmstad, Sweden

Halmstad Castle is a Renaissance castle on the bank of the Nissan river in the city of Halmstad, Sweden. It has four wings arranged around an enclosed courtyard and serves today as the official residence and office of the Halland County governor.

The castle was built between 1609 and 1615 under Danish King Christian IV, at a time when the Halland region was part of Denmark. After the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658, the territory passed to Sweden and the castle changed hands.

In 1920–1935 Stellan Mörner, son of governor Axel Mörner, and Esaias Thorén of the Halmstad Group painted ten 1700s-style wall murals in the great salon. They depict goddesses symbolising Roman virtues such as hope, fidelity and justice. Wallpapered over in the 1960s, the murals were rediscovered and restored by 2001.

The castle works mainly as a government building and is not open to the public on a daily basis. Guided tours are available during special events and cultural occasions, so checking what is planned before your visit is a good idea.

The full-rigged ship Najaden was moored at the quay on the Nissan in front of the castle from 1946 until 2014. Since 1997 the Hallarnas skådespelarlag theatre company has staged summer plays in the 36-by-36-metre courtyard.