Real 16th Century Ruins for Joy and Thrill

Vasaborgen is the remains of the original Uppsala castle. In the old 16th century ruins we can offer unforgettable stories about kings, queens, princes princesses and evil, horrible, sudden death. 

The Museum is open June to August. Guide yourself around or ask at the checkout for a brief in English.

Year round we offer PRE BOOKED guided historical tours in English  for school classes, groups, companies, and organizations. Also pre booked GHOST WALKS in English and WEDDINGS in the historical environment. 

Entrance fee

Adults: 120 SEK. 

Children/Students/Retired: 60 SEK.

Please pay with credit card.

Vasaborgen is a ruin, unfortunately not adapted for people with disabilities. 

Opening hours 2023

1st of  June to  1st of September
ALMOST every day   11 am – 5 pm.

Guided tours
At 2 pm in Swedish  almost every day. Please feel free to ask at the checkout if you have any questions, and guide yourself around with the help of the signs.

Deviating opening hours

Saturday 8th of June CLOSED
Saturday 15th of June open 11 am – 13 pm
Midsummer nights eve 21st of June CLOSED
Saturday 20th of July Open 11 am - 13 pm
Saturday 3rd of August Open 11 am - 14 pm
Saturday 17th of August Open 11 am - 13 pm
Saturday 24rth of August Open 11 am - 15pm
Saturday 7th of September Open 11 am - 13 pm
Sunday 8th of Sptember Open 11 am - 17 pm
CULTURAN NIGHT Saturday 14 september open kl 11 am - 17 pm
Sunday 15th of September Oppet  at 11  pm - 17 am.
TICKETS GUIDED TOURS >> 

GATE SOMETIMES CLOSES DURING GUIDINGS. PLEASE, BE IN TIME.
VASABORGEN IS A RUIN AND UNFORUNATELY NOT SUITET FOR PERSONS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. 

Guide folders to download
ENGLISH 
GERMAN
РУССКИЙ

GHOST WALKS

You can book your own Ghost walk in English. 
PRICE 6000 SEK + VAT for companies, Incl VAT for FITs.

THRILL, POWER  AND HORRIBLE DEATHS 

Are you afraid of ghosts? Then book a ghost walk in the Vasaborgen 16th century ruins at Uppsala Castle. Truths are blended with sayings about kings,princes and princesses who have not really found peace. If you have an open mind, you will learn how to become friends with the ghosts. Within an hour, you will join the castle wife Maria in the catacombs and the royal apartments of Vasaborgen, which in the 16th century was the most modern defense fortress in Scandinavia and the original Uppsala castle. There is no heating, no carpets or other amenities. Just exciting ruins with a roof and wings of  history from ancient times whizzing in the ruin. The Castle wife takes you on a story with history, power and evil, sudden death. Only pre booking at least one week in advance. From 7 years. Children only in company with an adult.
SEND A REQUEST >> 

Events when museum is closed

Even if the museum is closed during winter, you can book your own guided tour in English all year round. 
E-MAIL YOUR REQUEST >> 
Foto: Clarion Hotel Gillet

Weddings in historical environments

You can have your wedding ceremony in the Vasaborgen Tower room. 
SEND A  REQUEST >> 

Early Castle History: The Vasa family

Over five hundred years ago, Uppsala was an important center of power. Here battles took place between the king and the church, between the Vasa and Sture families and between Swedes and Danes.  None of Sweden's regents have lived permanently at Uppsala Castle, they lived att the Royal Palace Three Crowns in Stockholm, but they stayed here for shorter or longer periods for meetings, coronations or when the plague ravaged the capital. In the ruins, the stories of the Vasa family and their fascinating lives come alive.

Gustav Vasa
In 1549, King Gustav Vasa began building a fortification in Uppsala, which at the time was the most modern in northern Europe. 

A power-hungry Gustav challenged the highest of the church by aiming its cannons at the cathedral tower. In Vasaborgen you get to know more about Gustav's plans and visits in Uppsala, at this time regarded as the second capital of the kingdom.

Erik XIV
On May 24, 1567, Gustav Vasa's eldest son Erik XIV, who may have had a beginning mental illness, gave order to comitt the horrific Sture murders. It is believed that the murders took place here in the oldest parts of the castle. Erik was sent to prison by his brother Johan and died at the castle of Örbyhus. The ledgend sais he was killed of arsenik in pea soup.

Johan III
Erik XIV may have been murdered by order of his brother Johan III, who was also called Duke Johan of Finland. He had the castle restored after a fire, and then built, among other things, King John's gate as is outside the entrance to Vasaborgen. Johan married a Polish princess, Katarina Jagellonica, and converted to Catholicism.

Cecilia Vasa
One of Gustav's daughters, Cecilia Vasa, is said to have lived a wild and sinful life. According to the legend, she came into disfavor with the court, and it is said that her spirit is still wandering in the castle ruins. Many now living can testify to strange events and lost furniture, swaying chandeliers and a feeling of discomfort when staying in certain parts of the castle.

The Sture murders 1567 

The so called Sture murders are where the murders of three noblemen of the prominent Sture family and three more persons, where killed by the direct orders of King Erik XIV. The terrible event took place in Vasaborgen Uppsala Castle on May 24th 1567. Unbridled rage and mental illness has been cited as an explanation for the king's decisions and actions around the murders. This painting hangs in the original at Uppsala Castle, painted by Gustaf Cederström.

Queen Kristina

Queen Kristina (1626–1689) ruled the years 1632–1654. She is one of three reigning queens in Sweden's history and became the last regent of the Vasa family. Queen Kristina abdicated in the State Hall at Uppsala Castle in 1654 and then converted to Catholicism. Kristina's choices and motives have been discussed for centuries. It has been speculated whether she preferred men or women. She often wore men's clothes and was raised to be a king. She was clear that she never wanted to get married but didn't want to tell why. An exchange of letters with one of the pope's cardinals, however, shows that she was deeply in love with him. No one knows, except Kristina, what she really felt or thought. What is clear is that she is one of history's most obstinate and freedom-loving women. Kristina is buried in St. Peter's Church in Rome. Here portrayed by Sébastien Bourdon shortly before the abdication.

Place of important historical events

Uppsala Castle began to be built as a defense facility by Gustav Vasa in 1549. Here the King began his Eriksgata, important decisions were made here and Queen Kristina abdicated here. At the time of the great city fire of 1702, the biggest disaster in Uppsala's history, Uppsala Castle was a beautiful white Renaissance castle. In 1744 it was rebuilt, except for the original parts which became a ruin. Today there are two different museums, a café, tower rooms for weddings, two banquet halls and several businesses.

An engraving of Uppsala Castle. Shows the castle before the Uppsala fire in 1702. The engraving was made in Stockholm in 1690 and was based on studies (drawings) from the 1660s. The engraving was published in volume one of Suecia antiqua et hodierna. This image is cropped from the full size panoramic image (I-56) of Uppsala.

After the fire, large parts of Uppsala Castle's southwest tower were demolished to be used as building material for Stockholm Castle. The remains lay in ruins and eventually became a grassy hill, called Gröna kullen. Not until the 1940s was Gröna  kullen excavated, the ruin restored and eventually given a roof. Green Hill. Photo Henri Osti, year unknown. UUB.

The southeast tower was used as the city jail from the end of the 18th century until 1862. A high plank at the foot of the tower created a prison yard where the inmates could go out and get a breath of fresh air.

Vasaborgen Uppsala slott. Besöksadress: Kung Jans port, Uppsala slott. Postadress: c/o Apostel, Slätbaksvägen 40 S-120 51 Årsta, Sweden. Tel: +46 703 90 79 89. info@vasaborgen.se