Built by the wealthy, spendthrift aristocrat Carl Gustaf Wrangel to a design by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder between 1654 and 1676, Skokloster located on the edge of Lake Mälaren between Stockholm and Uppsala, is a truly spectacular Baroque castle.
The interior of the castle and its contents are exceptionally well-preserved and have been little altered since the building's hey-day in the seventeenth century. The castle has a fantastic collection of furniture, paintings, textiles and silver and glassware. Wrangel was a wealthy cultural enthusiast who collected in the manner of a continental prince; his extensive weapon collection is housed in the castle armoury and the varied books and maps that he bought still remain in a beautiful wooden library located at the top of the building. Skokloster is one of the Europe's finest Baroque castles and arguably the most beautifully preserved (partially because of the cold Uppland climate. It is a stunning monument to a time when Sweden was one of the most powerful countries in the continent.