MARTIN RANDALL TRAVEL
ART • ARCHITECTURE • GASTRONOMY • ARCHAEOLOGY • HISTORY • MUSIC • LITERATURE
Great Swedish Houses Royal residences, country estates and provincial palaces
14–20 June 2021 (mh 794) 7 days • £3,390 Lecturer: Ulrica Häller
The finest of Sweden’s great houses, palaces and retreats – and the history of their occupants. Picturesque landscapes around Lake Mälaren, in Södermanland, just outside Stockholm. Private visits to 17th- and 18th-century noble residences, hosted by the owners. Two nights in the spectacular Baroque grounds of Ericsberg – and one in Sweden’s oldest inn, mere metres from Gripsholm Castle.
Fondly described as the Cotswolds of Sweden, the province of Södermanland lies southwest of Stockholm, bordering Lake Mälaren. A bucolic landscape is enhanced by a plethora of well- preserved houses, estates, and palaces, most of which date from the 17th and 18th centuries. Many are still inhabited by members of the Swedish royal family or by aristocratic families, Harbour view of the Royal Palace, Stocklholm. who have dwelled on the estates for centuries. Over the course of seven days, and by special arrangement, we meet the young in the sensitively preserved Elghammar castle. Day 2: Stockholm. Travel by boat from nobles residing in the splendid homes of their Its current owner, the eighth Duc d’Otrante, the centre of Stockholm to Drottningholm ancestors. The current generation of aristocratic whose title was awarded his ancestor by Palace, summer residence of the Swedish families now faces the challenges of balancing Napoleon in 1809, shows us this captivating royal family; splendid interiors, wonderful modern reality with responsible custodianship dwelling. Sweden’s best example of French gardens, landscaped park, exquisite Chinoiserie of their cultural heritage. Other houses, such Empire style has still stronger Napoleonic links, pavilion and theatre museum. After lunch, visit as Gripsholm – a former defensive fortress now having belonged to Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, Bernadotte’s summer house on Djurgården. A housing a magnificent state portrait gallery and the French general, elected heir-presumptive late afternoon tour of the Royal Palace (1754); Gustav III’s spectacular theatre – have been to the childless Gustav III and who became a masterpiece in the Roman Baroque style by converted into carefully curated museums. the first king in Sweden’s current dynasty. As Nicodemus Tessin the Younger. Charles XIV John, Bernadotte created a maison Journeying on picturesque country roads and Day 3: Stockholm, Mariefred. After a de plaisance that remains almost intact – by boat, we travel the avenues and waterways morning lecture, there is time for independent Rosendal Palace. that link the likes of regal Drottningholm with exploration; perhaps the Nationalmuseum, the Presenting an enticing contrast between charming country estates. city’s National Museum of Fine Arts, recently Sweden’s lavish royal residences and the The modern history of Sweden begins in reopened after extensive renovations. The drive serenity of its refined provincial retreats, this the early 16th century with the coronation to Mariefred, on the shores of Lake Mälaren, delightful tour places in context Sweden’s of Gustav Vasa; the stone foundations of gives us our first appreciation of how past historic and artistic legacy, from kings to numerous properties were laid during his reign. royalty travelled from the city to their country craftsmen, all of whom have left their mark. Not quite two centuries later, Gustav III had an houses. Walk from the hotel to the medieval enormous influence on cultural tastes that is castle of Gripsholm, sitting imposingly across reflected in the properties of those who could Itinerary the water from the inn, numerous Swedish afford to share the predilections of their king. Day 1: Stockholm. Fly at c.11.15am from kings have been kept prisoner within its walls. The talents of the most skilled, French- and London Heathrow to Stockholm (British Overnight Mariefred. Italian-trained artists and craftsmen of the Airways). An afternoon visit to Gustav III’s Day 4: Norsborg, Björnlunda, Katrineholm. late 18th century were widely employed. At 18th-century pavilion at Haga, modelled on Haga and Tullgarn, the sumptuous interiors Morning visit to the 18th-century manor the Petit Trianon at Versailles and set in an of Sturehov, best known for its beautiful display marvellous detail created by les frères expansive English landscaped park. Designed Masreliez. Marieberg tiled stoves. Continue to by Louis Masreliez in a Pompeiian style, the Elghammar, a secluded early 19th-century The Gustavian period shifted into Regency highlight is undeniably The Hall of Mirrors. and Empire styles, a transition clearly apparent castle, whose many delights include a collection First of two nights in Stockholm. of ceremonial Napoleonic dress. Arrive in the book online at www.martinrandall.com Telephone 020 8742 3355 MARTIN RANDALL TRAVEL
Great Swedish Houses continued
late afternoon at Ericsberg, one of Sweden’s Practicalities largest private estates, where two nights are spent. A tour of the grounds before dinner. Price, per person. Two sharing: £3,390 or £3,190 without flights.Single occupancy: Day 5: Julita, Katrineholm. Guided tour of £3,770 or £3,570 without flights. Julita Manor, built on the site of a 12th-century Cistercian monastery. Its surrounding orchards Included: flights with British Airways are part of the national gene bank for apples (economy class, Airbus A319 & 320); travel and hops. Time for independent exploration by private coach for airport transfers and before continuing to the romantic, neo-Gothic excursions; boat travel as indicated in the castle of Stora Sundby (1840s, Peter Frederick itinerary; hotel accommodation; breakfasts, 2 Robinson). Here we are met by a member of lunches, 1 fika (coffee and cake) and 5 dinners the Klingspor family for a private tour and with a glass or two of wine, water and coffee; all traditional fika. admissions; all tips; all taxes; the services of the lecturer and tour manager. Day 6: Tystberga, Trosa. Drive along the Baltic coastline to Nynäs Manor, which offers an Accommodation. Hotel Kungsträdgården, insight into the country lifestyle of the Swedish Stockholm (hotelkungstradgarden.se): a aristocracy from the late 1600s to the early 4-star centrally located hotel in a historic 20th century. After lunch, Tullgarn Palace, building in the Gustavian style. Rooms its reflection mirrored in the lake below, has are bright and comfortable. Gripsholms exquisite late 18th-century interiors. Just Värdshus, Mariefred (gripsholms-vardshus. outside Trosa stands Tureholm Castle, rebuilt se): Sweden’s oldest inn with magnificent views after a fire by Carl Hårleman in the 1700s. The of Gripsholm Castle. Rooms are charming owner guides us through his ancestral home, and individually decorated. Ericsbergs Slott, including the blue and white 18th-century Katrineholm (ericsberg.se): Located in the kitchen. Overnight Trosa. castle grounds, rooms are stylishly decorated. The eighth generation of the Bonde family runs Day 7: Trosa, Stockholm. Return to Stockholm the estate. Trosa Stadshotell and Spa, Trosa for some free time before visiting Rosersberg, (trosastadshotell.se): a quaint 4-star hotel with a 17th-century manor gifted to Charles XIII. a good restaurant. Rooms are modern and The décor, including fine silk wall hangings, comfortable. Single rooms are doubles for sole are surprisingly untouched and unaltered by use. restoration. Continue to the airport and fly from Stockholm to London Heathrow, arriving How strenuous? There is a lot of walking and c. 7.45pm. standing on this tour, and it would not be suitable for anyone who has difficulties with Some of these houses can only be visited everyday walking or stair-climbing. There is a by special arrangement and are subject to fair amount of driving. confirmation. Average coach travel per day: 60 miles. Lecturer Group size: between 10 and 22 participants. Ulrica Häller. Art historian specialising in the decorative arts, antiques and cultural history in Sweden in the 17th and 18th centuries. She has over twenty years experience as a Museum Educator at the Royal Palaces in Stockholm and also lectures at the Stockholms Auktionsverk, the oldest auction house in Northern Europe. She has lectured internationally and contributed to several French publications and television emissions on the topics of Bernadotte, Rosendal, and the French empire style in Sweden.
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