Örebro Castle

The exact date of the founding of the castle is currently unknown. According to the source of the XVIII century, the first medieval fortress on this site was built in the middle of the XIII century - it’s time to date the foundation of the castle. Traditionally, the laying of the oldest part of the castle and the watchtower is associated with the name of Jarl Birger , who fought with the Novgorod Republic and, according to some, personally participated in the Battle of Neva in 1240.

In the 14th century, under King Magnus Ericsson, the castle expanded and strengthened significantly. Three-story residential buildings were constructed that made up the northern and western wings of the castle. The Watchtower is still the highest point in Örebro. During the XIV-XVI centuries, the castle serves as a defensive fortification on the Swarton River, which serves as an important trade route , and is precipitated during the Swedish internecine wars at least 9 times. As a result of the last siege of 1522, which lasted 9 months, the castle passes to Gustav Vasa , the future king of Sweden . It was in this castle that King Gustav I Waza in 1540 approved the hereditary monarchy .

After the death of Gustav I Vasa, Örebro Castle is given to his third son, the future King Charles IX . The Duke Karl made great efforts and means to restore the castle, which was significantly dilapidated and damaged by military operations. For several decades, the castle was rebuilt in the Renaissance style in the image of French palaces and by 1625 acquired a modern look. Around the castle there was a fortified wall with four cannon towers, a massive gate and a wooden bridge . After taking the throne, King Charles IX lived here for a long time with the court and even convened the Riksdag in Örebro. In 1611, the son of Charles IX, King Gustav II Adolf, was crowned in the castle.

However, subsequent Swedish monarchs gradually lost interest in the castle, which had lost its strategic importance. In the XVII-XVIII centuries, a prison was located within the walls of the castle, where criminals and prisoners of war were kept; grain and weapons depots . In 1738, one of the castle towers collapsed and he again demanded restoration. Now it was rebuilt in the Rococo style under the leadership of architect Karl Horleman ; the fortress wall was dismantled, the wooden bridge was replaced by a stone one. Since the 1760s, the castle became the residence of the governor of Lena . In 1810, the castle again played a prominent role in the history of Sweden. It was here that King Charles XIII announced the transfer of the Swedish throne to Jean Baptiste Bernadotte , the future Charles XIV Johan, the founder of the modern dynasty of Swedish kings.

At the end of the 19th century, national romantic moods were strong in Sweden, and a decision was made to return the castle to its original renaissance appearance. Samples for the next restoration were the peers of Örebro Castle - Gripsholm Castle and Wadsten Castle - not undergoing significant reconstruction. The restoration of the original appearance of the castle, which still served as the residence of the governor, was completed by 1900.

Since 1935, Örebro Castle has been declared a national monument of Sweden. Currently, the premises on four floors of the castle are administrative and office premises, halls of the museum of local lore , school classes, hotel rooms, conference rooms; several historical halls are given for restaurants . The castle is open for tourists .

Orebro Castle occupies the entire island and has the shape of a quadrangle measuring 48 x 27 meters , with round towers in the corners. The height of the towers is about 30 meters, the towers are connected by two-meter-thick shafts. On the north side of the castle, part of the seven-meter-long fortress wall dismantled in the 18th century has been preserved. The castle and the city are connected by a stone bridge.

• Ancient castles. Örebro Castle
• Orebro (inaccessible link)
• Örebro Castle in Sweden
• Orebro
• Orebro ( inaccessible link)