Maltesholm Castle

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maltesholm Castle

Maltesholm Castle is a large Mansion located in Kristianstad Municipality, Scania, Sweden. The Palace has been passed down for generations and is now the private residence of the Baron Palmstierna. The beautiful garden is open to the public.

[edit] History

The Castle was originally constructed 1635-1638 by the high constable of Kristianstad Malte Juel during the Danish rule of Scania but the history of the estate goes back to the Middle ages and was owned the Brahe family. Typical for its time, the Castle was a Renaissance mansion built in brick with three floors, a staircase tower with an elaborate Spire, two Crow-stepped gables and surrounded by a large Moat.

During Lord Malte Ramel (d. 1752) one of the richest man in Sweden of the time, the domians where greatly expanded. His son Hans Ramel began reconstructing the Castle according to the flavor of the late 18th century. It was complete in 1780 in the style of Swedish classical Palace, the only remains of the Renaissance Castle is the moat and the year "1680" marked on the facade. Hans Ramel also constructed a 1,3 km long and wide stone road leading up to the Manison through the undulating landscape. The road had to be even and it took almost 50 years to complete. The labourers had to bring a rock everyday to the Manor for the construction and there was a grateful saying amongst the workers: If it wasn't for the Folly of a Rich man there wouldn't be bread for the Poor,

[edit] Trivia

In the garden you can find an enormous Douglasfur which mesures 35 m tall and is more than a 100 years old , there is allso a pavilion by the great classical Swedish architect Carl Hårleman.