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Kronovalls castle - a beautiful wine castle in Skåne

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Kronovall Castle is a stunningly beautiful baroque castle in Österlen, Skåne. Today, the castle serves as a wine castle, which means a great focus on wine. We had scouted this castle in advance, and couldn't help but turn in on our way south towards Ystad.

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Kronovall Castle

Kronovall Castle, or Kronovall Wine Castle as it is often referred to, is a castle where you can come to enjoy and explore different wines. You can also enjoy the amazingly beautiful environment and nature.

Kronovall Castle is located in Tomelilla municipality, on Österlen in eastern Skåne. The castle is just over 5 kilometres south of Kristianstad and about 4 kilometres north of Ystad.

History of the castle

Kronovall Castle has had many different owners over the years, but has been owned by the Sparre family since the end of the 19th century. It was also Count Carl Gustaf Sparre of Sövdeborg who had the castle rebuilt to give it the appearance it has today. The architect was Isak Gustaf Clason, who is also responsible for works such as Nordic Museum and Hallwylska Palace.

Today, the castle is owned by a foundation with ties to the House of Knights, and Åkesson vin AB leases the castle as a wine castle. Part of the castle still serves as a residence for members of the Sparre family.

Kronovalls slott
One short side, which is blocked off and inhabited.

Sweden's only wine castle

According to several sources, Kronovall Castle is said to be Sweden's only wine castle. Tens of thousands of bottles of Swedish sparkling wine are stored in the castle's cellar, eight metres below ground level. Many different wine-related activities are organised here, such as wine tastings, summer parties, castle weekends with wine packages and Italian wine weekends. The hotel rooms are also named after different wine varieties such as NegroAmaro, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Peter vid Kronovalls slott

Is Kronovall Castle haunted?

Many castles are inhabited by ghosts, and Kronovall Castle seems no worse for the wear. We have read that some visitors have seen shadows in the long corridor on the second floor, and that this is believed to be the 16-year-old Isabell appearing. According to the stories, one winter she drowned in one of the moats while secretly meeting the forester's son.

Kronovalls slott

Baroque garden

At the back of the castle is a stunningly beautiful baroque garden, with neat rows of shrubs and well-manicured large 'bush balls'. A real castle garden indeed!

Kronovalls slott
Slottsträdgård vid Kronovalls slott

English Park

If you continue behind the castle park, according to the map at the car park, you should come to an English park. We came to a certainly beautiful and intensely green wooded area, but it didn't really look like an English park? We don't know if we might have missed something, or if this is what is called the English Park. Do you know?

Visiting Kronovall Castle

For those who wish, it is possible to visit Kronovall Castle in connection with a castle weekend or a wine tasting. Sometimes the Spannstall restaurant is also open, and there is a home furnishing shop called UddaUnikt.

Butik vid Kronovalls slott

It is also well worth stopping to admire the castle and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Also nearby is the Kronovalls Store Vång nature reserve.

Med husbilen vid Kronovalls slott

St Olav's Church

If you continue a bit further from the castle, you can take the opportunity to visit the old medieval church of St Olav. The road between the castle and the church is, at least at this time of the year, wonderfully green and beautiful.

The church is a popular pilgrimage church among various Christian communities. The Skåne Blekinge pilgrimage trail passes through here, and is part of the long trail that connects the pilgrimage centres of Santiago de Compostela in Spain with Vadstena and Nidaros in Norway.

The church is beautiful on the outside and is also said to be nice inside with several old saints' images preserved, but was closed when we were here.

See more in the neighbourhood

From Kronovall castle it is not far to charming Ystad. It is also not far to Kristianstad and cosy Åhus. Another castle to visit is the beautiful Bäckaskog Castle.

All our top tips for holidays in Skåne

Have you visited Kronovall Castle? Perhaps you've even tasted wine, stayed on the final weekend or met a ghost? Feel free to tell us!

Facts about Kronovall Castle

  • Address: Kronovall Långahuset 101, Tomelilla
  • Municipality: Tomelilla
  • County: Skåne County
  • Landscape: Skåne
  • Architect: Isaac Gustaf Clason
  • Start of construction: 1760
  • Completion: 1890s
  • Style: French Baroque
  • Owners: Foundation
  • Read more: You can find more information at the castle's website.

Services and practical information

  • Food service: The castle restaurant is open all year round for bookings, and on certain dates according to the castle's website. The Granary Restaurant is open on weekends during certain summer months.
  • Weekend package: Castle Weekend or Castle Weekend Deluxe with 4- or 5-course menu, overnight stay and more.
  • Conference: Several different conference packages are available.
  • Weddings: Castle weddings can be organised, with two different churches nearby.
  • Events: Various activities are organised at the castle such as wine tasting, wood-fired pizzas, summer parties and more.
  • Shop: The UddaUnikt home furnishing shop sells recycled and new items.

History at Kronovall Castle

  • 17th century: Not much is known about the early history of the Kronoval estate, but the Danish counsellor Anders Sinclair is mentioned as the owner. Then Falk Lykke and his wife Kirsten Rantzau are mentioned. The castle then went to Kirsten's nephew Henrik Rantzau.
  • 1658: Skåne became Swedish.
  • 1668: Kronovall was sold to the Governor General of Skåne, Gustaf Persson Banér.
  • 1692: Kronovall Castle was annexed to the Crown.

18th to 19th century

  • 1709: The castle was returned to Banér's daughter Ebba, who soon sold it to Peter Malmberg (later ennobled Palmcreutz).
  • 1764: Palmcreutz's line died out with his grandson and Kronovall passed to his granddaughter Christina, married to Lieutenant Colonel Georg Johan von Essen af Zellie. Her daughter Beata then took over.
  • 1818: Axel Hugo Raoul Hamilton became the owner of the castle.
  • Late 19th century: The castle came to belong to a branch of the Sparre family.
  • 1896: Count Carl Gustaf Sparre of Sövdeborg had Kronovall rebuilt and the castle was given the appearance it has today. The architect was Isak Gustaf Clason.

20th century to present

  • 1991: The castle was donated to a foundation linked to the House of Knights.
  • 1996: The Åkesson family and Åkesson vin AB began leasing the castle as a wine castle, with a cellar containing thousands of bottles of wine, wine festivals and wine tastings. The Sparre family still lives in part of the castle.

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