Finspång Castle was on our bucket list because it is so beautiful. The castle offers a fantastic environment with an English garden, but also an interesting history of use. Welcome to Finspång!
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Finspång Castle
Finspång Castle is beautifully situated on an island and is surrounded by the castle garden, orangery and gazebo. Today, the castle is owned by the Siemens company, but it also has an interesting history of use.
Although the castle itself is not open, the castle garden is welcoming. Under normal circumstances, there are also several open museums, and the site has sometimes been referred to as the 'Drottningholm of the mill sites'.
Finspång Castle is located in Finspång, in Östergötland. The castle is just over 20 miles north-west of Norrköping.
A castle - and a mill
Finspång Castle was originally built by Louis De Geer the younger, and was completed in 1685. There are absolutely nothing Chinese over Finspång, but as we both pronounce the place with different intonation, we have started to experience the other's pronunciation as Finnish Pong (try it yourself with Chinese intonation!).
Despite our pronunciation problems (not sure who is right), we have to admit that there is a lot of Swedish history here. Even before Louis De Geer, there was a crown mill on the site. The wings of the castle were built in the 18th century and an orangery was built in the 19th century.
The Orangery
In the palace garden there is an orangery from the 1830s, which is unusually beautiful. This is now home to the Turbine Museum, where you can follow the inventions of Gustaf De Laval, the Ljungström brothers and Curt Nicolin and where you can see Sweden's oldest vine. However, the museum was currently closed due to the pandemic.
On the outer long wall of the Orangery you can see two interesting paintings made by the artist Per Berggren around 1830-1840. Both paintings are copies of Italian paintings, one depicting the goddess Aurora and the other called Galathea.
Castle Park with the Temple of Aurora and the Royal Tablets
The palace park was built in various stages between 1690 and 1820, and in the 1790s an English park was created, which was popular at the time.
The park contains both the Aurora Temple from 1791 and the Lugnet gazebo from 1821. The Aurora Temple is a memorial to the legendary castle wife Aurora Taube (1753-1806), and from here you have a view both of the castle and of the so-called king paintings.
Royal plaques commemorate royal visits throughout history, and that's a lot! Here you can see some of them:
- Crown Prince Carl Johan and Oscar I, 1812
- Karl XV, 1851
- Gustav V, 1907
- Gustaf VI Adolf, 1936 and 1953
- Prince Bertil, 1948
The mill and the mill museum
Finspång's mill was Sweden's largest gun foundry for more than three centuries. In the 16th century, the mill was first operated on behalf of the Crown, then leased to the Dutchman Wellam De Wijk, and returned to the Crown in 1599.
Along Bruksgatan, you'll find the Finspångs Bruksmuseum, which showcases various artificially cast objects, in the form of cast iron ornaments in the Gothic style, made under the direction of the German artist Carl Mertens. However, the museum was closed when we were here.
Visiting Finspång Castle
Finspång Castle is a very beautiful castle. We thought it was worth making a stop just to walk in the castle garden and learn a bit about the history. Of course, when the museums are open, it is even more worthwhile to make a visit here.
The restaurant Castle fairs is located in one of the wings of the castle, and under normal circumstances welcomes everyone who wants to celebrate large dinners such as weddings, birthdays and other festivities.
More to see and do in the neighbourhood
From Finspång Castle, Norrköping is not far away. Other places worth discovering nearby are Linköping, Bergs slussar and Vreta kloster. If you head north instead, you can visit Boo Castle and Brevens Bruk.
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Have you visited Finspång Castle?
Have you visited Finspång Castle? Have you also visited any of the museums? Please tell us about your experience!
Facts about Finspång Castle
- Landscape: Östergötland
- Municipality: Finspång
- Architect: Adriaan Dortsman
- Developer: Louis De Geer the younger
- Owners: Siemens AG
- Start of construction: 1668
- Completion: 1685
- Read more: You can find more information at Destination Finspång.
History at Finspång Castle
- 1668-1685: The castle was built by Louis De Geer the younger.
- 1742: The palace wings were built by Louis De Geer's grandson.
- 1790s: The smaller castle wings were built.
- 1791: The Temple of Aurora was built, in the monopteros building type.
- 1821: The Lugnet gazebo was built.
- 1832: The orangery was built. The architect was L.J. von Röök.
- 1850s: The Iron Temple and the bridges over the park's waterways were built.
- 1890: The castle chapel was given its current appearance.
- Today: The castle is now owned by Siemens and serves as an office for the turbine industry.
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Anki says:
A lovely post with a high recognition factor! I feel at home here ... have lived in Finspång for a few years and soon we will be back there again and the visits to the castle park will certainly be many more.
- The last time I wrote about it was probably in February... https://ankisbildblogg.wordpress.com/2021/02/06/frostigt/
06 May 2021 - 9:48
Helena says:
What fun! Nice wintry pictures on your blog! Nice to see them now that we have been there 🙂 .
06 May 2021 - 18:52
BP says:
I was just going to write about Anki who often visits Finspång as one of her sons lives there. But then I saw that she had already commented. Then we can probably expect some "complementary" posts about this magnificent castle in the future. How well maintained the castle is. Most places you have visited are really well maintained. Nice to see!
06 May 2021 - 18:51
Helena says:
What good control you have! 🙂 It was fun to see Anki's wintry pictures from the castle now that we have been there. Yes, many castles we have seen have been nicely maintained. Some have also been worn, but they have been the exception.
06 May 2021 - 18:54
Lena - good for the soul says:
How many castles are there in our country? I've never heard of that one, as I recall. Very nice!
Hug Lena
07 May 2021 - 5:57
Helena says:
Good question, but there are many! (And it's probably not always clear which ones should be counted as castles or mansions.)
07 May 2021 - 7:26
Lena+in+Wales+and+Spain says:
Another interesting castle, please.
Also fascinating with the mill environment and its history.
I have never been to Finspång, but I have met a lot of people from there who have told me a lot.
07 May 2021 - 10:12
Helena says:
We had not been there before either! But the castle attracted, really nice! 🙂
07 May 2021 - 21:46