Gripsholm Castle, Renaissance castle and portrait gallery in Mariefred, Sweden.
Gripsholm Castle is a Renaissance fortress on the shore of Lake Mälaren, combining four round towers with walls and bastions. Inside are exhibition halls filled with furniture, crafts, and paintings spanning multiple centuries.
King Gustav Vasa built the castle in 1537, replacing an older fortress from the 14th century. Over decades it grew and changed to serve royal needs and display royal power.
The castle houses Sweden's National Portrait Gallery, established in 1822, displaying paintings of royalty and notable figures across centuries. Visitors see how clothing and artistic styles changed over time through the faces on the walls.
The castle sits west of Stockholm and is easy to reach during warm months. Guided tours are available in multiple languages, and the displays spread across several levels inside.
One of the round towers holds a Renaissance theater that King Gustav III installed in the 18th century. The original stage machinery still works and reveals how theater was produced centuries ago.
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