#lovon

Drottningholm Slott, Lövon Island, Stockholm, Sweden

Drottningholm Palace is located in Drottningholm, Sweden. The royal castle was built on Lovön Island in the 1600s upon an earlier stone palace. Queen Hedvig Eleonora purchased the castle a year after her role as queen ended, but it burnt to the ground the year she purchased it. She commissioned the palace to be built, and work began in 1662. The palace has a long history and was abandoned in the 19th century as it served as a symbol of the old dynasty. King Oscar I, took an interest in the palace and began repairs to preserve the structure. However, Oscar I and II were criticized for modernizing the palace instead of restoring it to its original state. It was King Gustav V who reconstructed the palace to its 18th century appearance. The palace has French Baroque and Italian Classical elements and a Nordic sateri roof. The 1,400-acre property has a church, a 1766 theater, formal gardens with water features, and a Chinese Pavilion. The palace is the private residence of the Swedish royal family, who live in the southern wing of the palace. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Swedish Military guards the palace. Drottningholm Palace is open to the public. 

via "COAM Arquitectura" 341 (2005)