Nyköping Castle


Nyköping Castle in Nyköping, Sweden, is a Medieval castle from the Birger Jarl era, partly in ruins. The castle is mostly known for the Nyköping Banquet which took place here in 1317.

Construction

Construction on the castle is thought to have begun at the end of the 12th century, when it was built as a sort of castellum. It is thought Birger Jarl expanded the building to a larger castle. During the reign of Albert of Sweden the castle was held as a fief by the German knight Raven van Barnekow, who made important improvements on the building, and later by Bo Jonsson Grip. Further reconstructions and expansions were done during the late Middle Ages. Gustav Vasa strengthened the castle further for defensive purposes and a round gun tower from that time remains today.
The medieval castle was rebuilt in the end of the 16th century by Duke Charles into a renaissance palace. The palace burned down with the rest of the city in 1665. It wasn't reerected; in fact some of its bricks were used in the construction of Stockholm Palace. However, parts of the castle were sound enough to be used as county residence until the 1760s.
Parts of the castle were refurbished in the 20th century. Kungstornet and Gamla residenset currently house the permanent exhibits of Sörmlands museum. A restaurant is located in the banquet hall and Drottningkällaren.

Important events