Tidö Castle

Tidö Castle
Sweden
Tidö castle seen from south, towards the main entrance in the south wing
Type	Castle
Coordinates	Coordinates: 59°30′20″N 16°28′42″E / 59.50556°N 16.47833°E / 59.50556; 16.47833 See above
Built	1625-1645
Built by	Axel Oxenstierna
Construction materials	Sand stone etc.
Current owner	von Schinkel family
Open to the public	Yes

Tidö Castle is a castle outside Västerås in Sweden.^[1][2]

History

The former castle

The first building on the site was a medieval house built by the Gren family in the 15th century. In 1537, the Gren family sold the castle to the Queen consort, Margaret Leijonhufvud. In 1540, her husband, king Gustav Vasa, traded the castle to Ekolsund Castle and Tidö came to the Tott family.

Today, minor ruins of the former house can be found next to the present building.

The present castle

The present castle at Tidö was built by the Lord High Chancellor of Sweden Axel Oxenstierna in 1625–1645. The castle was built around a rectangular court yard with the main building to the north and the three linked wings to the east, west and south. The main entrance is through a vault in the south wing.

In 1889, the von Schinkel family bought Tidö and they still own it today. Today visitors may see the Toy Museum.^[1] Tidö is one of Sweden's best preserved Baroque palaces, in the Dutch Renaissance style.^[1]

See also

• List of castles in Sweden

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Västerås - Tidö Castle". Planet Ware. http://www.planetware.com/vasteras/tido-castle-s-vsm-tid.htm. Retrieved June 11, 2011. 
2. ^ "Museum in Tido Castle, Sweden". Corbis. http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/KE001413/museum-in-tido-castle-sweden/?ext=1. Retrieved June 11, 2011. 

External links

• Official website

Coordinates: 59°30′20″N 16°28′42″E / 59.50556°N 16.47833°E / 59.50556; 16.47833