Svaneholm

The province of Skåne is known for its castles, but this is the best one to visit while based in Malmö. Lying 40km (25 miles) to the east of Malmö by E65, this impressive Renaissance fortress dates from 1530. Many aristocratic families have lived here, but the castle's most colorful character was Baron Rutger Macklean (1742-1816), who introduced crop rotation to Sweden, an unheard-of concept. The castle was partially converted into an Italian-style palace. Today it houses a museum of paintings, furnishings, and tools dating primarily from the 18th and 19th centuries. The establishment is owned by the Svaneholm Castle Cooperative Society Ltd. For information, write Svaneholm Museum, S-274 00 Skurup (tel. [phone]). An on-site restaurant (tel. [phone]) serves regional specialties, costing 155SEK to 265SEK ($31-$53/£16-£27) for main courses.

Details

• Phone: [phone]
• Website: https://www.svaneholms-slott.se
• Hours: May-June and Aug Tues-Sun 11am-5pm; July daily 10am-5pm; Sept Wed-Sun 11am-4pm. The castle is open other times upon request
• Prices: Admission 25SEK ($5/£2.50) for adults, 5SEK ($1/50p) children 6-14
• Transportation: Reaching Svaneholm is difficult by public transportation; a train from Malmö stops at Skurup, but it's a walk of about 3km (1 3/4 miles) from there. Therefore, many visitors opt to go by taxi the rest of the way. During the summer, the castle offers free transportation from Skurup, but you must call 1 hr. in advance