Hölö: Castle History and Nature
Accommodation in Hölö
Those choosing Hölö as a travel destination can focus on cultural history and nature. To the south lies the royal pleasure palace of Tullgarn Palace; there is also a historic park, churches from different periods, and walking trails and nature. When planning, the type of experience makes the main difference: guided tours and a walk in the palace park reveal history in different ways, while the migratory birds’ stopover is tied to specific seasons.
Tullgarn Palace and the development of the park
Today’s Tullgarn Palace was built in the 1720s and has been a royal pleasure palace since the 1770s. Guided tours of the palace cover its royal history, architectural history, and preserved interiors. This brings both the palace’s function and its origins and furnishings into focus.
A walk through Tullgarn Palace Park traces the garden’s development from the 17th to the 20th century. The free “Kungliga promenader” app complements a visit to the park with themed information about sculptures, buildings, and park periods. Lillhamnen is one of the stops along the walking route. While the guided tours explore the history and furnishings of the palace, the walk focuses on the garden’s long development. You can therefore focus on either the history of the palace and its architecture or the design of the park.
Churches and local history
Hölö kyrka stands on elevated ground on the eastern shore of Kyrksjön and is clearly visible in the landscape. It was built in 1793 beside a surviving medieval tower. A smaller road leads from the main road east of the area to the church; a car park is located east of the cemetery. These landmarks help you place the church in the landscape.
A different perspective on the past is offered by the Överhölö church ruins, also called S:a Lucia. Built in the 12th century, they had already been abandoned by 1575. Only parts of the masonry remain. Here, you can encounter two different examples of sacred architecture: Hölö kyrka, built in 1793 beside its medieval tower, and the partially preserved, much older ruins. Överhölö is occasionally used for outdoor services, about once a year. Check local listings if attending such a service is important to your plans.
Trails, nature reserve, and seasons
Tullgarn Nature Reserve is one of the nature reserves in the Hölö-Mörkö area of the municipality. The Sörmlandsleden trail runs through the reserve and passes Tullgarn Palace. There is also a walk in the palace park, which focuses on the garden’s development. The two routes offer different perspectives: the Sörmlandsleden passes through the nature reserve and by the palace, while the park walk focuses on the garden’s history.
The season also makes a tangible difference. In spring and autumn, many migratory birds stop on a peninsula opposite Tullgarn Palace. Observing this seasonal stopover offers a different experience from learning about the garden’s long development on a walk through the park. When planning your trip, you can take into account this contrast between the spring and autumn migrations and the historic park theme.
Cultural centre and other perspectives
Kulturcentrum Hölö Kyrkskola is located close to Hölö kyrka. The first school building at the site of today’s cultural centre was built in 1878; it served as a school for the local community until 1972. The cultural centre offers courses and study groups in art, culture, history, and crafts. Here, the history of the former school building is combined with a cultural programme spanning a range of subjects.
Grottberget, south of Hölö, offers another perspective on nature: boats can moor directly below the caves. This adds a view of the surroundings from the water to the cultural and landscape themes.
Discover more destinations: Järna, Mölnbo, Södertälje.
Back to the main travel overview: Södertälje.
