Nyköpingshus

It was originally built in the 11th century as a defensive structure to guard an upcoming settlement known as ‘Ny'(new)köping as opposed to the existing Köping further up north by the river.

The castle was a witness to several brutal events:

– In 1317, the then Duke of Södermanland invited his brothers for dinner, then imprisoned them, and starved them to death.

– In 1665, a large fire occurred that destroyed almost all of Nyköping, including the castle. After the fire, the stately Renaissance castle was never rebuilt, but instead building stone was taken from there for the castle building in Stockholm.

– In July 1719, the Russian fleet came and ravaged and burned Nyköping and not much was left, neither of the city nor the castle, when they left.

– In the 19th century, part of the fortress ramparts were demolished so that the jackals could have their potato field up close. The old residence was also used as an orphanage, poorhouse, forced labor facility and lunatic asylum, that is for mentally ill people. When a new prison was built in town in 1862, the Gatehouse became vacant and then widows and fatherless children moved in there.