Örebro Things to Do Tips by Karl_Kaviar

In the Middle Ages the castle was involved in warfare repeatedly, and up to 1568 it was besieged in all nine times. However, there was no question of any major alterations until the latter part of the 16th century.

In 1560, King Gustav Vasa’s youngest son, Karl (later King Karl IX of Sweden) began an ambitious extension- and rebuilding programme of the castle. The old stone stronghold was transformed into a magnificent Renaissance castle.
Even before the castle was finished, it was often used by both Karl IX and his son Gustav II Adolf. When the buiding work was finally completed in 1627, the state did not have any real use for it. The new monarchs preferred other residences, and slowly but surely Örebro Castle began to fall into disrepair.

It was not until 1758 that it was finally decided to begin repairs on the much decayed and almost uninhabitable castle.
Since an attack against the castle was no longer to be feared, all of the defences were removed. Instead, courtyards and terraces were laid out, and new stone bridges replaced the old wooden ones. Finally, the old caps on the towers were replaced with almost completely flat tin roofs. Inside, a beautiful apartment was fitted out which has ever since been the official residence of the County Governor of Örebro.

In 1897-1900 the castle was again renovated. Historical romanticism held sway in Sweden and the architect strove to create a synthesis of all the epochs of the castle. Here would indeed be recreated a castle worthy of having been the residence of such great men in Swedish history as Engelbrekt, Gustav Vasa and Gustav II Adolf.
Örebro Castle is one of several Vasa castles in Sweden. In a number of them the interiors have been better preserved, while Örebro was continually renovated to suit the times, which has been both good and bad. The successive rebuildings mean of course that there are few interiors preserved from bygone days, but on the other hand, Duke Karl’s old stone castle in the heart of Örebro is today a truly living and open castle.

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