Vadstena castle moats, 23 June 2020

Vadstena castle is one of the best preserved baroque castle in Northern Scandinavia. It was built by Gustav Vasa in 1545 to protect Stockholm from the Danish invasions. The castle is located on the east bank of the Vättern lake and surrounded by moats that are used now to accommodate visitors in the guest harbour.

Belisama in the moats of the Vadstena castle.

The castle was built as a fortification by Gustav Vasa in the 1500s' to protect Stockholm from Danish invasions. In 1555 his son inherited the castle and transformed it into a palace.
On 17 December 1559, the 19 year old daughter of Gustav Vasa, princess Cecillia Vasa, was caught with Johan of East Frisia in her bedroom in the castle. Johan was thrown into prison and the stories are saying that he was castrated upon orders of Duke Erik, the first born son of Gustav Vasa. This event is called the "Vadstena buzz" (Vadstena bullret) as the royal family could not keep the event private and it became a notorius scandal that spread in the population.
The International Vadstena Academy, the Sweden's smallest opera house, commissioning new operas and reviving lost operas from archival scores is located in the castle. During the summer season, concerts are organised.

Vadstena castle seen from our drone. 

Belisama in the moats of the castle.

Vadstena castle, from the back

Vadstena castle, from inside the yard

The Vadstena castle drawbridge

Inside the canon tower

Portrait of Gustav Vasa.

Venus,; goddess of love, painted by an unknown Flemish artist

Venus blindfolding cupid, XVII century replica of a painting by Titian in the XVth century. 

The Vadstena castle organ

Note the two  steps on the left of the organ and the bar on which someone was hanging to operate the organ.

Painted ceiling, Vadstena castle, June 2020 

The Saint Birgitta kloster, from above...

Entrance of the guest harbour at Vadstena castle, June 2020

And a video of the flight over the castle by Karma Belisama's drone...