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The first time I came across the name Sten Sture was when we visited Strängnäs back in 2021. He then popped up when we were living on Ekerö, back in 2023. It’s probably not surprising given what an important figure he is in Swedish history. Even so, I was a bit surprised to find him mentioned in regard to Tureholm slott, the castle not far from us.
Actually, it would be more correct to say that he was associated with the first slott that was built there. It was called Gäddeholm and he inherited it through his mother, Iliana Gädda. Sten gave it to his wife, Kristina Gyllenstierna, as a wedding gift when they married. As you do.
It was rebuilt sometime in the 17th century before being burned down by the Russians in the pillage of 1719.
Then, a while later, it was once more rebuilt when it was passed on to Ture Gabriel Bielke. Then, finally, it was renamed Tureholm in 1761, clearly after Bielke. It then remained in the Bielke family until 1915 when it was purchased by one Knut Tillberg.
In 1935, the place was bought by Christer Bonde and it is his descendants who own it today. One of them showed us around the slott today. Well, not just Mirinda and me. There were about 30 of us, wandering from room to room while one of the Bondes showed us around.
Nicoline had let us know it was going to be open today and we should book to see it. Which we quickly did, it being a rare thing. And we were not disappointed.
While somewhat dilapidated, Tureholm contains some interesting rooms and history though, unfortunately, I have no idea what that is given the whole tour was in Swedish. The only words I could garner were ‘grandmother’, ‘mother’ and ‘sister’. And that was over 90 minutes of chat.
Still, the interiors were something to behold.
Still, understand it or not, it was an enjoyable way to spend a bit of a really hot day which proved the point that tapestry keeps rooms very warm, even in summer. In the car, on the way home afterwards, the temperature outside was 27°. I didn’t like that.
People often ask me if I miss Australia. Okay, 27° is not particularly hot given where I grew up, but I think I’ve been so long away that it’s almost unbearable now. If this is the way things are going, I am so glad I’m old.
Anyway, after our historic romp through Tureholm’s past and present, we went home and did very little, given the heat. Of course, I then made dinner but the biggest excitement was reserved for my homework from the art class yesterday.
We had to create a triptych, showing the progress of an image from normal to abstract. Of course, I can’t draw for toffee (as my mother used to say), so I grabbed a photo from a magazine and started attempting to be creative.
I call this Abstraction by the sea.
Mirinda claims that it proves her point that anyone can create modern art. I laughed and said nothing.
Of course, I disagree with her.
