Linköping Castle

The castle's origins date back to the early Middle Ages, when the area around Linköping was a center of the Sverker dynasty. As early as around 1100, an episcopal farm was built here, mentioned in a papal letter from 1178 as a "Mansio". Under Bengt Birgersson, Duke of Finland and later bishop, the farm was expanded into a bishopric. In the 15th century, the complex underwent initial alterations, including the demolition of parts of the towers and the construction of the west facade by Adam van Duren. After the Reformation and Gustav Vasa's victory over the Danes, the episcopal castle became royal property in 1527. King Gustav had the west wing fitted with large Renaissance glass windows, and Johann III expanded the complex in 1570 with a three-story wing. Towards the end of the 16th century, under Duke Karl, the castle was redesigned in the Renaissance style with gables and stair towers. A large city fire in 1700 spared the castle and the cathedral, but the building subsequently fell into disrepair and temporarily served as a prison. At the end of the 18th century, it was rebuilt in the classical style, before being restored in the Renaissance style in 1880.