Teleborg Castle is a beautiful fairytale castle just outside Växjö. Here you can enjoy the fantastic surroundings, or why not have lunch or dinner in the castle restaurant? Follow us up the stairs ...
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Teleborg Castle
Teleborg Castle is a magical, beautiful and inviting castle. You are welcome to stay at the hotel, eat at the restaurant or café, or just stroll in the park.
Teleborg Castle is located about 4-5 kilometres south of Växjö city centre, in the middle of Småland.
"What does a farmer do for his cow?"
Count Fredrik Bonde of Björnö built Teleborg Castle at the end of the 19th century, and the impressive building was completed in 1900. The castle was a morning gift to his young wife Anna Koskull, and the count had spared no expense.
Two Scanian architects, Harald Boklund and August Lindvall, were hired to realise the Count's dream. They also hired the country's most skilled stucco artists and decorative painters, ordered tiled stoves from Gothenburg and imported wrought ironwork from Denmark. The final bill came to a considerable sum, but "What does a farmer not do for his cow's litter?" as the people of Växjö said at the time.
When the castle was completed, the Count and his Anna moved in, but their happiness was relatively short-lived. Just nine years later, the Count died, and Anna lived another eight years. As the couple had no children, the Count's nephew Christer inherited the castle.
Christer Bonde ran Teleborg Castle for a period as a girls' boarding house and castle boarding house, but eventually moved into the castle himself. In the 1960s, the Bonde family sold the castle to Växjö municipality, and today it is owned by a company and operated as a hotel and restaurant, as well as for conference activities.
Lunch at Teleborg Castle
We arrived at Teleborg Castle at lunchtime, and when we saw that they were serving lunch today, we took the opportunity. We walked up the mighty stairs to the castle's entrance.
You could have lunch inside the castle's beautiful rooms, but these tables were booked so we sat outside instead. Not bad in the nice weather!
At lunchtime, the "lunch of the day" is served in the form of meat, fish or vegetarian dishes. If you want, you can also order a starter and dessert. We settled for the main course, which for Peter was herring with mashed potatoes and for Helena chickpea steak.
The main course was preceded by a small salad with bread and followed by coffee and chocolate. It was almost so that it felt like a three-course meal even though it wasn't. Very good and well cooked!
Guided tour of the castle
You can see some of the castle's rooms just by eating at the restaurant, which is located in the centre of the castle. Of course, if you stay at the castle's hotel, you can see even more. There are also occasional guided tours of the castle, and if you're in a group, it's a good idea to book.
We told them we have a blog and asked if there was a chance to see more of the castle? Well, even though they were stressed, they gave us a quick tour. And we can only conclude that the castle is fantastic with beautiful furniture, paintings and decorated ceilings.
We got to look into some rooms where there were currently no guests. We are certainly happy in our motorhome, but we could imagine a night or a weekend in a place like this. So beautiful rooms!
Castle park and café Brygghuset
There is a castle park around Teleborg Castle, and right now the rhododendron bushes are in beautiful bloom.
By Lake Trummen is the castle's café Brygghuset, where you can enjoy light meals or pastries.
On our walk around the area, we also passed Slottstallarna, which today seems to serve as a student pub for Växjö's student union.
Nature reserve
Teleborg is not only a castle but also a nature reserve with open fields, flowered pastures, deciduous and coniferous forests. At Skirviken there is also a wetland area that is a bird sanctuary, and where there are two bird towers.
See more in the neighbourhood
If you want to see more in the neighbourhood, you can visit Växjö, where you can see Växjö Cathedral, Småland Museum, and the Kronoberg castle ruins. In the neighbourhood, it is also interesting to visit Huseby mill and the beautiful old churches Granhult church and Dädesjö Old Church.
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Have you visited Teleborg Castle? How was your experience? Do you have any other tips for things to see and do in the area?
Facts about Teleborg Castle
- Address: Slottsallén, Växjö
- Municipality: Växjö
- County: Kronoberg County
- Landscape: Småland
- Developer: Count Fredrik Bonde
- Architect: Lindvall & Boklund
- Start of construction: 1897
- Completion: 1900
- Owners: Videum AB
- Read more: You can find more information at the castle's website
Services and practical information
- Accommodation: There are several different rooms to choose from including suites and dog rooms.
- Food service: Teleborg Castle's restaurant serves lunch of the day and á la carte. The castle's café Brygghuset serves light meals and pastries. The castle also offers wine tasting, catering and can arrange memorial services.
- Castle package: There are several different castle packages to choose from, such as the Little Castle Package, the Big Castle Package and the Heart Package.
- Conference: You can organise a conference at the castle, with or without accommodation.
- Weddings and parties: The castle can host weddings, birthday parties and student parties, for example.
History at Teleborg Castle
- 1819: The Tuvan estate was built in Växjö by a tanner named Björklund, and subsequently changed hands several times.
- 1840s: The farms in the village of Telestad, south of Växjö, were placed under the Tuvan estate by the landowner J. Aspelin.
- 1890s: The estate was bought by Count Gustav Fredrik Bonde of Björnö, who built the castle as a wedding gift for his second wife Anna Koskull. The architectural firm was Lindvall & Boklund, and inspiration came from the knightly castles of Rhendalen.
20th century to present
- 1900: Teleborg Castle was completed.
- 1909: Fredrik Bonde died, and eight years later his wife died. Teleborg then fell to the count's nephew Christer Bonde of Björnö, who ran the castle as a girls' boarding house and guesthouse for a few years.
- 1931: Christer Bonde moved into the castle, and created a castle park.
- 1956: Christer Bonde's son, Ambassador in Rome Count Fredrik Ulf Bonde, inherited the castle.
- 1964: The castle was sold to the city of Växjö.
- Present tense: Today the castle is owned by Videum AB and leased by Runosson & Co.
Only British says:
Yes hehe, the students are out there. You can see more of the castle on SVT, as it once hosted Stars of the Castle.
Växjö is a bit of a hub for my family as my grandfather was from the Älmhult area and worked for the county so some of us always live there (including me when I studied environment).
I really recommend Utvandrarnas Hus! We are so many Swedes with emigrants among our relatives and here you get to learn more about Swedes who became famous in America etc. A good perspective on immigration as well.
A trip to the Kronoberg Castle ruins (which need to be renovated to be kept safe, so check opening hours beforehand) is fun, as is a trip on the cute steamer Thor on Lake Helga in summer.
South of Teleborg you will eventually reach the courthouse of Inglinge hög with a large burial mound but also lots of other ancient remains. Eventually also down to Jät's beautiful little wooden church and Åsnen National Park. Along route 23 southwards is Husby Bruk, known for its forge, Christmas market and the story of the blue-eyed Miss Stephens.
North of Växjö, the area around Asa, Tolgfors and Berg is extremely beautiful and famous for the home of Elin Wägner.
20 June 2021 - 10:26
Helena says:
Wow, very good tips!!! Many thanks! I did not know about the Stars in the Castle, but have also received some comments on FB about it. We wanted to see the emigrants' house, I also like the perspective it gives on immigration, but it was closed right now for renovation. Will open relatively soon I think. We have seen the Kronoberg castle ruin and will write about it, as well as Huseby Bruk. Some of the other tips we will save for another time. Thanks again!!!
20 June 2021 - 20:15
Only British says:
Huseby Mill. Dropped an "e" on the way.
20 June 2021 - 10:27
Helena says:
Yes, understood it! 🙂
20 June 2021 - 20:15
BP says:
I didn't even know that castle existed. It's really gorgeous. Thinking of Hogwarts and the Harry Potter books there.
Today's lunch - yes, I would probably also have chosen the chickpea steak;-)
20 June 2021 - 20:31
Helena says:
There is so much to discover in Sweden! This castle was a nice acquaintance 🙂 .
22 June 2021 - 6:48
Lena+in+Wales+and+Spain says:
I have not been here, but I recognise the castle. Maybe through some blog, I don't remember.
Really looks like a fairytale castle. Interesting story.
22 June 2021 - 14:09