Mariedal Castle


Mariedal Castle is a castle in Sweden.
Written accounts and the weather vane indicate the castle was built in 1666. The splendid interior of the castle provides stucco ceiling and wainscoting. A portrait collection of the Sparre family is displayed there.
This manor was called Sörbo and the valley upstream is still called Sörbo Valley. In the middle of the 17th century Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie acquired the manor. On these grounds the present castle with two wings was erected. The castle was named after Magnus Gabriel's wife Maria Euphrosyne, the sister of King Charles X of Sweden. It has been commonly assumed that Jean de la Vallée was responsible for the design. There are many obvious similarities between Mariedal and other structures designed by De la Valle, in particular the Riddarhuset in Stockholm, however, there is yet no proof of any connection between the buildings.
From 1740 to 1786, it was the home of the famous scientist Eva Ekeblad.
Mariedal is now owned by the Virgin family and is counted as one of Västergötland's finest castles.