- Sofiero Palace
Sofiero Palace in
Helsingborg Municipality ,Scania , was one of the Swedish royal family's country mansions, located 5 km north ofHelsingborg . It was originally a Scanian farm called Skabelycke, bought in 1864 by Crown Prince Oscar of Sweden and his wifeSophia of Nassau . [Helsingborgs stad. [http://www.sofiero.helsingborg.se/templates/StandardPage.aspx?id=9047 Sofieros historia] . "Sofieros slott och slottsträdgård". 9 February 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2007.] The first one-story palace was completed in 1865. It was expanded to its current size between 1874 and 1876, after crown prince Oscar had been crowned king Oscar II of Sweden and Norway.History
In 1905, Oscar II's grandchild Prince Gustaf Adolf, future King
Gustaf VI Adolf , and his wife, crown princess Margaret received the palace as a wedding gift. They renovated the palace and started the largeRhododendron garden for which the palace is known today. Prince Gustaf Adolf become king in 1950 and until1973 Sofiero was his and his second wife LadyLouise Mountbatten 's official summer residence. It was supposedly the King's favorite place and upon his death, which occurred in Helsingborg, he left Sofiero to the city of Helsingborg so that the general public could enjoy it as much as he did.Today
A bus connection leaves several times an hour during peak hours from Helsingborg. The main attraction today is the very large gardens with a wide range of local (and other) plantlife, stretching to the shore of
Oresund . The Rhododendrons are especially noteworthy, consisting of almost 500 different varieties. [Helsingborgs stad. [http://www.sofiero.helsingborg.se/templates/StandardPage.aspx?id=9152 Sofieros Rhododendron] . "Sofieros slott och slottsträdgård". 18 April 2007. In Swedish. Retrieved 30 August 2007.] The park also hold a small collection of modern art.During the summer the large grass areas are sometimes used for large outdoor concerts with national as well as international stars such as
Bob Dylan andBryan Adams .The palace itself is today used as restaurant, cafe and at times as a gallery.
A brand of
beer owned byKopparbergs Brewery is named "Sofiero".References
See also
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