Kastelholm Castle

Kastelholm Fortress, often spelled Kastelholms Slott or Kastelholman Linna, is a medieval castle on the Swedish island of Gotland. Built on a cool space, fresh air, this castle is classified as one of the most beautiful historical sites in Finland.

Kastelholm Castle was built in the 1380s as a military and administrative center for the region, which was then part of the Swedish Empire. Over the next two hundred years, successive Swedish and Danish rulers continued to preserve and enhance Kastelholm Castle, and the castle was briefly home to Swedish King Gustav I before he became monarch.

The fortress, which was built on a small island surrounded by moats filled with water and planted with many rows of poles, has played a key role in establishing Swedish dominance over the Baltic over the years.

Kastelholm Castle's power began to fade in the late 16th and early 17th century. After being damaged by Charles IX's (aka Karl IX's) armies in 1599, Kastelholm Castle lost its status as the region's administrative seat, and a fire destroyed the castle in 1745.

The site was turned into a museum in the early twentieth century, and there was a restoration program in the 1980s. Today, visitors can see the ruins of Kastelholm Castle, as well as the Jan Karlsgrden Open-Air Museum, which recreates 19th-century life in the region. Kastelholm is also one of favorite tourist destinations in Finland.

Location: Åland, Finland.