Torup Castle

A happy belated Mother's Day to all you moms!


On May 13 we had a great morning outing to Torups Slott, or Torup Castle, one of Sweden's medieval castles. It's a 15-minute drive south of Staffanstorp. The existing castle foundation was built in the mid-1500s (the estate likely dates even further back, but it seems this earlier history is foggy) when Skåne (Sweden's southernmost province) was under Danish rule. In the centuries that followed it had many owners and a colorful history which includes a tragic boating and drowning incident on the lake, an infamous Danish traitor, a castle fire and being the site of a farmers' riot against an unfair conscription policy.


In 1970, the city of Malmö purchased the property and runs it as a public recreation area, with running and nature trails in the surrounding beech forest, two historical museums, educational areas, and more. It's been nicely thought out, and seems popular with the locals and I'm guessing tourists as well. The castle itself is private and leased to the estate's heir until 2035. Unfortunately for me there are no public castle tours scheduled for 2012. Our morning there we visited the café's picnic area, and ran about the castle gardens which were picturesque and serene. 


We went back the following Sunday as well, to take advantage of the great weather. We walked along one of the forest paths, and although we didn't make it as far as the museum, Ruby and I ended up being fascinated with the snails and slugs of epic proportions. 


At some point I'll have to get my running shoes on and go exploring further.

At the entrance to the castle's gardens.

Ruby being forced to pose like a tourist.

A view out of one of my
childhood storybooks.

These stakes are for growing hops. I'm unsure if the hops are being 
grown for purely exhibition and education purposes, or if there 
is a nearby brewery benefitting from the harvest.

West view of the castle. The glass sculpture by Danny Lane didn't 
quite do it for me, but there are some stunning
sculptures on his website.

Small door for small people.

Running through the woods: the idyllic childhood experience!

Wood sculpture on the trail path, to mark the spot where two kids 
picking berries had a fairy siting.

It's charming ... in a goofy kind of way.

Snail/snigel. And a hefty one at that.

Slug/skogsnigel. This one is just freakish by my standards.

Billie the Brave