The palace was built for Gustav Vasa in the mid 16th century. Subsequently, on several occasions, it came into the possession of dowager queens, including Gustav Vasa’s widow, Katarina Stenbock, Gustav II Adolf’s widow, Maria Eleonora, and Queen Dowager Hedvig Eleonora, widow of Karl X Gustav.
Nicodemus Tessin the Elder and Carl Hårleman
PIn the 1660s, Hedvig Eleonora commissioned Nicodemus Tessin the Elder to replace the old palace with the building we see today. Visitors to Strömsholm can see a chapel built by Carl Hårleman for Ulrika Eleonora the Younger and Fredrik I, and examples of rooms designed for Sofia Magdalena, Gustav III’s consort.
The Caroline and Gustavian eras
The reconstructed interiors are based largely on a later inventory dated 1816. They feature Caroline and Gustavian era furniture and textiles from the Royal Collections.
Equestrian links
As far back as the days of Gustav Vasa, Strömsholm had equestrian links, since the King had established a stud near by. The artworks in the state hall depict several of Karl XI’s horses, painted by his court painter, David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl. There are multiple examples of animal paintings from the Caroline period, ranging from the lapdogs of queens to exotic parrots, some of which once inhabited the palace.
Portraits
Nationalmuseum’s collection of fine art at Strömsholm also includes some older portraits, several of which are associated with the kings and queens who lived in the palace.
Information for visitors
See The Royal Court web site.