Årsta Castle - Fredrika Bremer’s childhood home

In the early 1800’s, Fredrika Bremer spent her childhood summers at Årsta Castle in Österhaninge. She returned here throughout her life and died here on New Year’s Eve 1865. Årsta embraces her life history, as well as the history of many others – not least many interesting women.

The history of what we today name as Årsta, starts in the middle ages, when the estate was a base for Tyska orden in Sweden. This was a Knights’ Order with the aim of bringing Christianity to the Baltics and from here men and materials could easily be shipped across the Baltic Sea. The ruins of a medieval estate are still visible here.

The castle as we see it today was built in the 17th century. The estate was then owned by admiral Claes Hansson Bielkenstierna, who was continuously fighting battles against European great powers, in the Baltic Sea. Whilst the admiral was at sea, his wife, Barbro Åkesdotter Natt och Dag, supervised the building of the castle and gave birth to thirteen children. She had also had a hand in the building of Åkeshovs Castle in Bromma and thereby already had useful experience.

The castle was completed in 1667; a high and impressive building with the baroque characteristics of symmetry. A castle for a powerful family, whose social status was to be seen from afar. Therefore, the castle is built on the highest point in the area, with an unusually high roof and an advanced double staircases made out of marble.  The 17th century interiors remain largely intact, which is very unusual.

It remains a mystery who the architect behind Årsta is, but it could be Erik Dahlbergh, who describes the castle in detail in his works Suecia antiqua et hodierna.

Årsta Castle was built to represent the success of the Bielkenstierna family. However, after several tragic deaths, the castle had no male heir and the family lost its position. During the entire 18th century, the castle was instead inherited by the women of the family, until it was bought in 1804 by Carl Fredric Bremer from Åbo, who turned it into the summer residence of his family.

Fredrika Bremer was then three years old and came to spend a large part of her childhood here – a childhood she herself describes as ”if in a gilded cage”. The strict upbringing of that time and the restrictive ideals for fine young girls did not suit Fredrika at all. She continuously wanted to learn more about the surrounding world.

During the summer at Årsta she was, however, more free, than when residing in Stockholm. She was allowed to go for walks and as a girl she even ran up and down the double staircases of Årsta Castle.

Eventually, Fredrikas’ life developed into something that suited her better. She became a famous author, feminist and renowned philanthropist.

She often returned to Årsta Castle as an adult, even after the Bremer family had sold the castle. She was then the guest of the Saxenberg family, who invited her to stay in the rooms which are now the castle museum. This is also where she spent the last days of her life. She died in her writer’s room on New Year’s Eve 1865. Her heritage at Årsta Castle lived and lives on. Fredrika was a dear friend and a role model for the daughters of the Saxenberg family who were inspired to become more than just girl of high society. Theresia Saxenberg became an opera singer at The Royal Opera in Stockholm and  Emma and Sophia Saxenberg opened a school in Skeppsholmen in Stockholm, to teach swimming to girls and women.

In the early 1900’s, the castle was bought by Gustaf Cedergren, who had earned a fortune in the telephone business. He too renovated Årsta Castle, in order to live there in summer, with his Mexican wife,  Angela Gonzales. It is the interior design of Cedergren which can still be seen in Årsta Castle today – from the bedroom in gilded baroque style to the modern Art Nouveau bathroom.

After Gustaf Cedergren passed away at an early age in 1919, the castle had several different owners until it was finally purchased by the Municipality of Haninge. The museum is open during summer with artifacts donated by Årstasällskapet för Fredrika Bremer-studier.