Karlberg Castle in Stockholm is within walking distance from our houseboat in Pampa's marina. We walk or drive past there quite often, and finally we thought we had to take some photos of the castle. At the same time, we wanted to tell you why Pampas is called Pampas - it is connected to Karlberg Castle.
From manor house and castle to military college
At the beginning of the 17th century, Gustav II Adolf's half-brother, the Imperial Admiral Carl Carlsson Gyllenhielm, became the owner of an area in Solna and built a manor house called Karlberg.
After Carl's death, it was bought by Count and Marshal Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie, who had the manor remodelled into a magnificent castle. Due to financial difficulties, he eventually had to hand over the castle to Count and Marshal Johan Gabriel Stenbock, and in 1688 it became a royal property.
The palace served as a pleasure palace for the royal family until 1792, when Charles XI established the Royal War Academy at Karlberg. Since then Karlberg military college for officers and now trains 300 professional officers every year.
What does this have to do with the Pampas?
Pampas marina, where we live, is located between Huvudsta farm in Solna and Karlberg Castle in Stockholm. The marina is located in the sheltered bay where the Karlberg Canal flows into Lake Ulvsunda, with access to the waters of Lake Mälaren. The name "Pampas" probably derives from the time when the cadets at Karlberg Castle called the training field behind the castle "Pampas", after the large fertile plain in South America ...
Ama de casa says:
A magnificent castle! But I wouldn't want to wash windows there... 😉.
22 December 2015 - 10:29
nils-åke hansson says:
History is interesting and important to preserve.
22 December 2015 - 10:55
Staffan says:
Thank you for not stopping blogging! Always interesting to check the site!
Have a nice weekend in the boat!????
22 December 2015 - 12:56
admin says:
Ama de casa, haha, but some window cleaning company might be very happy 😉.
Nils-Åke, almost everything you look at and visit becomes a bit more interesting when you hear the story, I think 😉.
Staffan, great to hear! And we certainly won't stop blogging 😉 We wish you a very merry Christmas!
22 December 2015 - 14:15
Mr Steve says:
Interesting. Imperial Admiral Carl Carlsson Gyllenhielm obviously liked to build big. He also had Sundbyholm Castle built in 1639-1648. I got that knowledge when we were shopping for this year's Christmas presents.
When I look at the map, I now also know where KI is located.
The blogging world is a constant source of knowledge.
22 December 2015 - 14:23
Ruth in Virginia says:
Nice to read about Karlberg. My former fiancé was a cadet there;
so was naturally invited to the Karlberg Ball (1949). Very formal
where the cavalier escorted you up the grand staircase and..,
you were presented with the top brass - long dress and
long gloves it would be. Never heard of the Pampas;
maybe it came later.
22 December 2015 - 15:29
admin says:
Steve, see there, then I also got to learn something new! 😉 Yes, and as you can see, I don't have far to work at KI!
Ruth in Virginia, how exciting! Karlbergsbal sounds much worse! I have no idea if that with Pampas was earlier or later (may have been much earlier!), I have only read that it should have been like that ...
BP, it's always more interesting when you get some of the background story!
22 December 2015 - 16:29
BP says:
We walked around there last summer, so now I even know the story behind it. It's always nice to have some background facts.
Also, congratulations on the first picture - the complete castle. I managed to "cut it up" in my pictures;-)
22 December 2015 - 16:22
joy says:
It is a nice castle both outside and inside I have been there 2 times at the cadet ball Then the cadets stood on both sides of the stairs and "hissed" while you were led up the stairs by your cadet and presented to the heights. It was fun.
Pampas also had many more allotments around it than there are today.
Hugs
22 December 2015 - 19:31
Ditte says:
Nice again with a visit here and nice pictures as well.
Karlberg Castle, the park, and Pampas are some of my childhood and youth home areas. I have spent a lot of time here and Karlberg has always been a bit like home for me. (My father worked here for over 30 years and we lived here for a while).
We have had christenings, student parties, Christmas parties, weddings, balls and funerals (my father's memorial service) here and I still feel at home at Karlberg. Will probably always do so. And if you get the opportunity to go on a tour inside the castle, it is really recommended.
22 December 2015 - 20:51
Alexandra says:
You can't see Pampas marina from the e4, can you? Or is it just me who is blind? 😉 Must get there sometime anyway to look at it 🙂 .
22 December 2015 - 21:33
admin says:
JoY, oh how exciting that you too (like Ruth in Virginia) have been there at the cadet ball! Sounds as cool as ever! 🙂 Interesting that there were more allotments before, we also go past them from time to time.
Ditte, yes, of course it's a bit like home for you!!! How does it work with viewing? Is it organised sometimes or?
Alexandra, you can see Pampas marina from Essingeleden if you look diagonally downwards. 😉
22 December 2015 - 23:33
solan says:
That's interesting. I had no idea where the name Pampas came from. We lived on Tomtebogatan for a while, then it was the castle park that applied. However, not the cadets' tough obstacle course, oops 😉.
23 December 2015 - 0:29
admin says:
Solan, hehe, it might have been great training with their obstacle course!? 😉 We had to read up on the name Pampas, as some people wonder from time to time... 😉.
23 December 2015 - 8:52
Inga M says:
Nice to read about the history of Karlberg. I only knew that they were training officers there now, as we have a good friend who is a major. His family lives close by. Tomtebogatan is not exposed but is straight down from the left side of Karlbergsgatan. My mother was born at Karlbergsgatan 65 in September 1917! I sometimes wonder if the grandmothers attract us. ;- ) Have a good continuation of the weekends!
25 December 2015 - 18:37
admin says:
Inga M, I know Tomtebogatan, it is not so far from here. Tomteboda postal terminal is also located here in the neighbourhood. Then you write Karlbergsgatan, but maybe you mean Karlbergsvägen? Wish you also a nice continuation of the weekends!
25 December 2015 - 22:48