# Alnarp Castle

- **Country:** Sweden
- **Condition:** Private residence
- **Year Built:** 1862
- **Location Text:** Scania

Alnarp Castle is situated in Alnarp within Lomma Municipality, Scania, approximately ten kilometers north of Malmö in southern Sweden. While the original fortress on this historic site dates back to the twelfth century, the current structure was erected in 1862. This prominent building showcases a distinctive French Renaissance architectural style, replacing earlier medieval constructions that had served the region for centuries. The estate stands as a significant landmark in Skåne County, reflecting a long lineage of architectural evolution from its early fortifications to its nineteenth-century renewal.

The castle possesses a rich historical narrative involving many notable figures and shifts in sovereignty. First mentioned in the twelfth century, it passed through several influential Scanian noble families, including the Ulfeldt, Thott, and Krummedige clans. In 1536, King Christian III of Denmark seized the property for the Danish state. Following the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658, which transferred Scania to Sweden, the castle was granted to various Swedish commanders and nobles by Kings Charles X Gustav and Charles XI. By 1694, it had become the official residence for the Governors-General of Sweden in Scania, cementing its role as an administrative center during the region's integration into the Swedish kingdom.

In its modern incarnation, Alnarp Castle serves an educational purpose rather than a military or residential one. It currently houses offices and meeting rooms for the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Beyond the building itself, the surrounding castle park is renowned for containing the second greatest variety of trees in all of Sweden. This extensive arboretum remains open to the public year-round, allowing visitors to enjoy the historic grounds and diverse botanical collections that complement the grandeur of the nineteenth-century manor.

![Photo of Alnarp Castle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Jorchr_-_Alnarps_slott.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alnarp_Castle (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)