Öster Malma Castle was built in the 1660s by the Swedish Board of Customs administrator Wilhelm Drakenhjelm. Today the Baroque style castle still retains its original façade. The 18th century was the heyday of castle and beautiful parks and flowery terraces towards the lake and orchards were built a century later. Through actions taken by the chairman of the Svenska Jägareförbundet (Swedish association for hunting and wildlife management) Prince Gustav Adolf, the organisation was able to rent the facility for hunting and game education in 1947.
Today the castle is characterised by the history of hunting, modern nature art and reception halls with furniture typical of the period. The environment, steeped in fine old traditions, is a colourful contribution to a conference or wedding.
References:Visby Cathedral (also known as St. Mary’s Church) is the only survived medieval church in Visby. It was originally built for German merchants and inaugurated in 1225. Around the year 1350 the church was enlarged and converted into a basilica. The two-storey magazine was also added then above the nave as a warehouse for merchants.
Following the Reformation, the church was transformed into a parish church for the town of Visby. All other churches were abandoned. Shortly after the Reformation, in 1572, Gotland was made into its own Diocese, and the church designated its cathedral.
There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.