STOCKHOLM.- From Tuesday 15 May until the end of summer, Gripsholm Castle will be open daily from 10 am – 4 pm. The castle, which is celebrating its 475th anniversary, offers something for everyone – from a floor dedicated to a princess, an 18th-century theatre, an armoury and a prison tower to one of the world’s biggest portrait collections. This year the family tours will start at 1 pm.

Celebrating its 475th anniversary this year, GripsholmCastlestarted life in 1537 and still retains typical rooms from the Vasa Renaissance. Since the 16th century, the castle has undergone several renovations in various styles. The interiors therefore offer an intriguing mix from different eras. Duke Karl’s chamber from the 16th century and King Gustav III’s theatre from the 18th century are among the unique rooms on show. One of Gripsholm’s greatest treasures is the National Portrait Gallery, which contains portraits of leading figures from the time of King Gustav Vasa to the present day. Royalty hangs alongside other illustrious Swedes such as Carl Michael Bellman, August Strindberg, Greta Garbo, Dag Hammarskjöld, Birgit Nilsson, Benny Andersson and Magnus Uggla.

The family tours of the castle will fire the imagination of young and old alike. View portraits of princes and princesses as children and discover the big halls and little nooks of the castle. The armoury introduces children to a stuffed lion and armour from the time of Gustav III. New for this year, the family tours start at 1 pm, leaving plenty of time to see more of the castle afterwards. The family tours are on Saturdays and Sundays from 15 May – 15 September and daily from 15 June – 15 August.

From 15 May and throughout the summer, the castle will be open daily from 10 am – 4 pm for you to explore on your own or as part of a guided tour. The tours are held in Swedish at 12 noon and 2 pm, with a tour in English at 3 pm. The last day of the season is 15 September, after which the castle will remain open on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 noon to 3 pm until 30 November.