Brahehus Castle Ruins

Driving along the lake Wettern on the E6 highway 40 kilometers north of Jönköping, you can stop at the Brahehus castle, or rather, at the remaining walls of it. The castle belonged to Count Per Brahe the younger (Per Brahe den yngre), the brother of a famous Swedish politician and educator, which he built for his wife Kristina Katarina Stenbock. Construction began in 1638, but was very slow as the castle stands 180 meters above the lake level and Sandstone blocks were delivered by water and climbed up a steep slope.

The Countess never had a chance to live in her residence, she died in 1650, and the construction was completed a year after her death. In the future, the owner used the castle as a country house, and arranged receptions for his guests. After the death of Brahe in 1680, the castle was abandoned, as the heirs did not show interest in it, in the 90s of the 17th century, King Charles XI confiscated it, and the furniture of the castle was gradually sold at auctions. The point in the history of the castle was put by the fire of 1708, which left only the walls of it.

Attempts to make the castle a tourist attraction have been made since the end of the 19th century, but the ruins were put in order only in 2012. Now the ruins of the castle are accessible to the public, its walls offer a spectacular panorama of lake Wettern, on the other side of the road built a large bus stop.