Finspång Castle was built by Louis de Geer the younger between the years 1668 and 1685 and is today used as offices for Finspång’s turbine industry. The surrounding park, laid out in the 1700s, is decorated with follies like the Aurora temple, the iron temple and the Lugnet summerhouse and is open to the public all year round. Through the windows of the orangery built in 1831, you may steal a glimpse at Sweden’s oldest grapevine.
The two annex wings, built by Louis de Geer’s grandson in 1742, are used as a hotel and restaurant for company guests. All the rooms are furnished according to milestones in the history of Finspång.
References:The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.
In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians.