Malmö Castle, Malmö, Sweden

Malmö Castle (Malmöhus) was founded in 1434 by King Eric of Pomerania. This structure was demolished in early 16th century. The castle acquired its present appearance following major reconstruction in the 1530’s, when King Christian III ordered the building of a modern fortress, splendid Renaissance castle and county governor´s residence, all on the one site. Historically, this fortress was one of the most important strongholds of Denmark.

Denmark´s coins were minted there in the Middle Ages. Crown Prince Frederick held wild parties in the 16th century. Prisoners were beheaded in the courtyard in the 19th century. Malmöhus has now been restored in the spirit of the 16th century and is part of the Malmö Museums, the largest museum in southern Sweden. The castle is part of Sweden´s cultural heritage and is managed by the National Property Board.

The castle was for five years (1568-1573) the prison of James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, third husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. The earl was taken into custody on the orders of the Protestant Danish king Frederick II of Denmark when his ship ran aground in Bergen, Norway during a storm. He was sent to Malmö Castle to be imprisoned, although he had previously been released from Tower of London for lack of evidence in the murder of Mary's second husband, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. As a bachelor, Frederick II courted Elizabeth I of England and was made a Knight of the Garter. Some sources suggest a second reason for the involvement in this matter by the Danish king; he is thought to have held hopes of collecting a ransom from Scotland. However, the Earl of Bothwell died in 1578 in Dragsholm Castle, Zealand, where he had been moved after the first five years in Danish captivity, without ever being the subject of Danish-Scottish negotiations for his release.

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User Reviews

Yuriy Kuts (5 months ago)
Malmöhus Castle in Malmö, Sweden, is a truly charming and historic site that you will definitely enjoy. The castle itself is well-preserved, offering a fascinating glimpse into the region’s past. The surrounding area is just as beautiful, with lovely gardens and peaceful walking paths that make it a perfect place to relax and take in the scenery. Inside, the museum showcases interesting exhibitions that range from art to natural history, so there’s something for everyone. The combination of history, culture, and natural beauty makes Malmöhus Slot a must-visit if you’re ever in the area. It’s a place where you can easily spend hours exploring and learning.

Seah Jia Hui (7 months ago)
Can’t complain too much because we didn’t enter the museum. There’s an entrance fee so we just stayed outside to take pictures. Nothing special about the architecture here if you compare to other castles. There are swans here and they are the main attraction.

Sunder (7 months ago)
Amazing experience. The castle complex has several sections. 1. Castle - We get to see the entrance hall where king meets ambassador and also his bedchamber. Castle later became prison. The history of the prison period can also be seen. 2. Art Museum- It has wide collections of art works from different centuries. 3. Temporary exhibition -When we visited ,There was a photo exhibition on Children. It documented the history of Swedish children and education system.

Indra Fajar (8 months ago)
quite a wonderful place to visit. there are historical photos and informations about sweden and their independence from Denmark. There also art museum, both modern and classic art. It's like a good place to go for those craving for realist paintings. Many paintings comes from 18 and 19 century with most of them are Landscape paintings. Moreover, there is a modest fashion museum dedicated for those interested in modern Modest Fashion

Ellie (9 months ago)
This Castle has so much to do. You want history? They got it. You want an aquarium? They got it. You want art? They got it. You want to see the inside of a castle? They got it. You can easily spend 3/4 hours there. Worth the price and anyone under 19 is free! Highly recommended the restaurant inside. Good prices and a cute garden you can eat inside!

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