Gripsholm Castle, Mariefred

Gripsholm Castle is a castle in the Swedish town of Mariefred, Södermanland. It is situated on the shores of Lake Mälaren in south-central Sweden, in the municipality of Strängnäs, about 60 kilometers west of Stockholm. Gripsholm has belonged to the Swedish Royal Family since Gustav Vasa and was used as one of their homes until the 18th century. It is now a museum, but it is still regarded a palace at the disposal of the King, and as such, it is one of Sweden's Crown palaces.

The edifice, which stands out in the little village of Mariefred in Sodermanland, bears an eerie similarity to castles in fairy tales. A guided tour of Gripsholm Castle allows you to stroll through rooms and corridors with almost 400 years of history and hear about how they were utilized by previous rulers, including how the castle was used as both a royal palace and a jail. As of today, the location has been renovated into a museum housing some of the most antique portraits and paintings, so prepare to feast your eyes on some pieces of art while learning more about Swedish history.

The castle is now a public museum with paintings and objects of art on display. The National Portrait Gallery, one of the world's oldest portrait collections, is housed in a section of the castle. The museum houses a stuffed lion that has grown popular in recent years.

Location: Mariefred, Sweden