Sofiero slott och slottsträdgård - kunglig blomsterprakt

Sofiero Castle and Castle Garden in Helsingborg offers a fantastic environment with intense greenery, splendid flower beds and a fabulous castle. Several royals have stayed here, and today both the castle and garden are open to the public.

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Sofiero castle and castle garden

Sofiero castle and castle garden is a nice destination, where you can walk around among beautiful plantings, artworks and exhibitions. We were here on a very rainy day, but it was still a very nice visit. Wow, what a beautiful park!

Sofiero Castle and Castle Garden is located 5 kilometres north of central Helsingborg.

A castle for royalty

Sofiero castle was built in 1865 for the then Prince Oscar, later Oscar II, and Princess Sofia of Nassau. When Oscar's older brother Charles XV died, Oscar became king, and now the royal couple of Sweden were living in the palace.

The royal family spent a lot of time at the palace, but when Sofia became ill over time and was prescribed 'dry forest air', there was less time at Sofiero. In 1905, the palace was given as a wedding gift to her granddaughter. Gustav Adolf and his wife, the English Princess Margaret.

Margareta had a keen interest in gardening and devoted a lot of time and energy to developing the palace garden. While expecting the couple's sixth child, she fell ill with an ear infection, which led to blood poisoning and a sudden death at the age of 38.

Gustav Adolf continued to spend time at the castle with his children, and after a few years remarried Lady Louise Mountbatten. When Gustav Adolf died in 1973, he donated Sofiero to the City of Helsingborg, and the castle and gardens opened to the public shortly afterwards.

Visiting Sofiero Castle and Castle Garden

Sofiero Castle and Gardens is located just north of central Helsingborg and can be reached by car, bike or local bus. We drove here with the motorhome and parked in the car park opposite the main entrance.

During the high season (April-September), adults pay an entrance fee of SEK 120, which gives access to the gardens, castle and various temporary exhibitions. In winter, the gardens can be visited free of charge, but the castle and exhibitions are closed.

Gardens at Sofiero castle and castle garden

The palace garden at Sofiero Castle is filled with different garden sections, plantings, flower paths and greenhouses. Here you can see exotic trees, colourful flowers and shrubs cut into imaginative shapes.

In a small charming greenhouse, we could also see bottles of vinegar and oil, made from the different plants of the garden.

The nursery for rhododendrons

Sofiero Palace Garden is famous for its rhododendrons, which flower in May and early June. The very first rhododendrons came to Sofiero in 1907 from Crown Princess Margareta's parents' home Bagshot Park in England.

In Sofiero Palace Park there is a place that Gustav Adolf used as a "nursery" for his rhododendrons. Here he sowed seeds and took cuttings. Today the site is used to preserve and rejuvenate varieties, and as a "quarantine" for newly purchased plants. There was also an exhibition here at the time, where you could read about Margareta's life and work with the castle garden.

Sofiero slott och slottsträdgård - utställning om Margareta

Dahlia neighbourhood

It's also great to walk around the Dahlia neighbourhood. The flowers here are really beautiful and colourful.

Labyrinths and art

There are two labyrinths at Sofiero. The first, Oscar Reuterswärd's labyrinth, is a beautiful maze created by green hedges. The rain clouds hung heavy over us when we were here, and we were content to look at the maze from the outside.

Another small labyrinth is the "Lion Labyrinth" by Ingegerd Lundahl.

There is also a lot of other art (and weirdness) to discover in the park. Probably one of the most surprising things we encountered was the totem pole named 'Killer Whale'. We also stepped into an intriguing hilltop 'stonework' made by sculptor Gunilla Bandolin.

Sofia's bridge - and amazing greenery

Despite all the beautiful flowerbeds and exciting art, it was probably the "wild" greenery that impressed us the most. This is of course not a forest but a constructed park, but sometimes you can almost be led to believe that you are rather in a rainforest. The greenery was, among other things, extremely intense around the beautiful "Sofia's Bridge".

If you're here in May when the rhododendrons are in bloom, we imagine it's even more beautiful!

The "wild" nature continues in several other parts of the park. The photos below were taken beyond the castle. A really lovely environment with green deciduous trees, rushing streams and nice little wooden bridges!

The castle and exhibitions

When you visit Sofiero, don't miss the highlight of the park - the castle! The building was built in 1865, with only one floor, and got its current appearance in 1876. The castle has a restaurant and during the high season you can also visit some rooms, read about the history of the castle and see various temporary exhibitions.

For the 2021 summer season, there is an exhibition on fashion. This was really beautiful and makes you think about things like sustainability and how the perception of fashion has changed over time.

Café and shop

It was raining heavily at times when we visited Sofiero Castle and Gardens, so it was perfect to pop into the Orangery for a coffee and some mobile phone surfing!

There is also a castle shop in the old court stables, selling homeware, books and garden accessories.

Sofiero slott och slottsträdgård - slottsbutik

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

In summary, we can say that Sofiero Castle and Castle Garden is a very nice place to visit! The castle is located in Helsingborg with 20 attractions, which is also a nice city to discover. Here you can experience, for example, the city centre, the beach, Fredriksdal Open Air Museum, Tropicaria, Ramlösa Brunnspark and the the picturesque little neighbourhood of Råå. Another nice town nearby is Landskrona and here with 12 experiences. In addition, we can advise you to make an excursion to the famous the scenic island of Ven with our 10 tips.

Bästa i Skåne — All our top tips for holidays in Skåne

Facts about Sofiero Castle and Castle Garden

Landscape: Skåne
County: Skåne County:
Municipality: Helsingborg
Address: Sofierovägen 131
Developer: Oscar II
Start of construction: 1865
Completion: 1876
Owners: Helsingborg municipality
Read more: You can find more information at the castle's website.

Tours and activities

Guided tours: Guided tours are given several times a day during the high season. The tour costs 100 kr for adults and 50 kr for children (2021).
Guidance on mobile phones: With the app Guide Helsingborg you can discover Sofiero on your own.
Children's Sofiero: The park has a playground, Prince Oscar's Fairy Tale Forest and a children's map to find places that are fun for children.
Events: Various exhibitions, concerts and other events are organised at Sofiero. The concerts are organised by external actors.

Services and practical information

Opening hours: In the high season April-September, the castle, park and exhibitions are open daily 10-18. In the low season September-April, the park is open daily 10-16. Please note that restaurants and shops have separate opening hours.
Prices: During the high season, an entrance fee is charged. Adults 120 SEK and children under 18 years free. The culture card gives free entry.
Food service: Sofiero Castle restaurant and café in the Orangery. You are also allowed to bring your own picnic, but you are not allowed to grill.
Shop: Sofiero flower & garden shop and the Castle shop
Parking: There is a large car park opposite the entrance. The car park is usually free of charge, but a fee may be charged for events.
Rules: Dogs are welcome in the park, but not in the castle, and must be kept on a lead. Bicycles are not allowed in the park.

Accessibility

Parking: Four parking spaces for people with disabilities are available in front of the entrance.
Outdoor environment: Many of the walkways are wheelchair accessible. Some parts of the park may include slopes and unevenness. In high season, an accessibility map is available at the entrance.
Indoor environment: The castle is old and lacks some accessibility adaptations. The castle has a (somewhat cramped) lift to all floors. The corridors are narrow and there are thresholds between rooms.
Toilets: There are three accessible toilets. In low season, only the toilet at the entrance is open.
Companions: Companions and personal assistants have free entry on presentation of a companion licence, together with paying users. Guide dogs are welcome.

How to get to Sofiero Castle and Gardens

Car: It takes less than 15 minutes by car from the centre of Helsingborg to reach Sofiero. Parking is available outside, and it is also possible to charge an electric car.
Municipal: Get to Helsingborg by SJ train or, if travelling within Skåne, Öresundståg or Pågatåg. In Helsingborg, take city bus no. 8 in the direction of Domsten and Hittarp. Get off at stop Laröd Sofiero main entrance.
Bicycle: The Kattegattleden cycle path runs all the way from Gothenburg to Helsingborg, and from here you can easily turn off towards Sofiero Castle and Castle Garden.

History at Sofiero castle and garden

1865: Sofie Ro was built for the then Prince Oscar and Princess Sofia of Nassau. At the time, the building was only one storey in addition to the attic and basement.
1872: Oscar's older brother Charles XV died and Oscar became King Oscar II. The royal family of Sweden now resided at the palace.
1876: The second floor of the castle was completed, giving the castle the appearance it has today. It hosted political meetings and international visitors.
1890s: Sofia had health problems and was prescribed dry forest air, so her visits to Sofiero became increasingly sparse.

20th century to present

1905: The King and Queen gave Sofiero as a wedding gift to their grandson Gustav Adolf and his new wife, the English Princess Margaret.
1907: Oscar II died and Gustav Adolf and Margareta became Crown Prince and Crown Princess. During Crown Princess Margareta's time, the interior of the palace was modernised and much work was done to develop the palace garden.
1920: Margareta fell ill with an ear infection when she was expecting the couple's sixth child. The infection unexpectedly developed into blood poisoning and she died on 1 May at the age of 38.
1923: Gustav Adolf married for the second time, to the English woman Lady Louise Mountbatten.
1950: Gustav Adolf and Louise became king and queen when Gustav Adolf's father, King Gustav V, died.
1973: Gustav Adolf died and donated Sofiero Castle and Gardens to the City of Helsingborg. The castle and garden opened to the public shortly afterwards.

READ MORE: Castles in Sweden - 30 very beautiful Swedish castles
READ MORE: Things to do in Skåne - attractions and experiences
READ MORE: Holidays in Sweden - your guide to Sweden's best destinations

3 Comments

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bmlarstravellingblog says:

We visited Sofiero a couple of years ago. Nice garden and good exhibitions. Then there was one about Carl Milles.
We also want to visit the castle when the rhododendrons are in bloom, must be magical!

19 August 2021 - 12:02

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad the exhibitions were good then too! And I agree, it must be fantastic when the rhododendron blooms!!!
  
  19 August 2021 - 19:13
  
BP says:

Fun, then you visited Sofiero in any case. I follow a blogger who lives in Helsingborg and has shown the flower splendour there, but she has never been inside the castle. How nice it is. Liked the labyrinths, I had not seen them.
Then I saw that The Grand Garden Festival takes place the last weekend of August, so you and I both missed it;-)

19 August 2021 - 19:54

Sofiero castle and gardens - royal floral splendour!

Sofiero castle and castle garden

A castle for royalty

Visiting Sofiero Castle and Castle Garden

Gardens at Sofiero castle and castle garden

The nursery for rhododendrons

Dahlia neighbourhood

Labyrinths and art

Sofia's bridge - and amazing greenery

The castle and exhibitions

Café and shop

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

Facts about Sofiero Castle and Castle Garden

Tours and activities

Services and practical information

Accessibility

How to get to Sofiero Castle and Gardens

History at Sofiero castle and garden

20th century to present

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3 Comments

bmlarstravellingblog says:

Helena says:

BP says:

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