Brahehus

Explore one of the country's most visited historical buildings. Just off the E4 motorway, located on the edge of Grännaberget, you will find the ruins of the 17th century castle Brahehus. With a mile-wide view of lake Vättern, it’s an excellent place to stop and stretch your legs or to head for on a family outing.

Brahehus

Many people have probably noticed the square-shaped ruins when driving along on the E4 motorway just a few kilometres north of Gränna. This is where Brahehus is located, high up on the side of Grännaberget.

To get to Brahehus, you can stop at the Brahehus E4 motorway rest area and walk a few hundred metres to reach the castle ruin. Once there, you have a fantastic view of Gränna and Visingsö and can also see over into Västergötland. Brahehus is accessible all year round, day and night.

A castle created for hosting events

There are many legends surrounding the castle, or fortress, as Per Brahe the Younger called it. One of them says that Per Brahe and his guests were carried in sedan chairs up the steep mountainside to get to the castle.

It was Count Per Brahe the Younger who took the initiative to build this residence up on the ridge three kilometres north of present-day Gränna. The original idea was that Brahehus would be a dower house for the count's first wife Kristina Katarina Stenbock. The construction of Brahehus began in 1638. However, Katarina died in 1650, and the house was not completed until 1651. Building Brahehus took quite some time, the reason being that it was very difficult to transport building materials up to the construction site.

Brahehus is breathtakingly close to the ridge edge, about ninety metres above lake Vättern. When the castle was built, there was no motorway on which to transport building materials. The only way was up the mountain, which was very difficult and arduous.

After Catherine's death, the residence was used to entertain guests. The Count himself probably did not spend much time there.

A peaceful existence

Life at Brahehus was relatively peaceful compared to Visingsborg. From time to time you could hear someone firing a gun salute from the castle when foreign envoys passed by. It was a small garrison that the count kept up there. Twelve men dressed in the unbecoming blue and white guards’ uniforms. Twelve men guarding an empty pleasure palace located in an inaccessible spot.

The castle consisted of a tall main building which was connected to two square corner towers by a wall. The main building was almost square in shape and made of grey stone. Brahehus’ exterior was painted by Johan Werner in grey hues and had beautiful decorations around the windows and along the corner stones. The decorative motifs were taken from Roman mythology. The interior, on the other hand, is said to have been quite simple, at least for the house of a nobleman.

Per Brahe's showpiece

When Per Brahe the Younger was at home in his county, he lived in his seat of Visingsborg on the island of Visingsö. The location of Brahehus may have been a way for the count to demonstrate his power, a showpiece. The inhabitants of his town of Brahe-Grenna could not fail to see the stately residence. When you visit Gränna today and look to the north, you'll immediately see how Brahehus reaches a little higher up there among the clouds than its surroundings. Note also how the roads of Sjögatan, Brahegatan and Bergsgatan all point towards Brahehus. The road network in Gränna was carefully planned by its founder Per Brahe the Younger.

Fire breaks out!

Just as with Visingsborg, Brahehus was ravaged by fire. On St Michael's Day, 29 September 1708, a fire broke out in the village of Uppgränna, which lies just below Brahehus. The fire was probably caused by embers blown over from a farm, and, due to the strong wind on the day, it did not take long before eight out of eleven farms were in flames and burned to the ground. The fire also travelled up the mountainside and ignited Brahehus, which was completely destroyed.

Restaurant and peppermint candy canes

At the roadside restaurant Restaurang Brahehus you can enjoy good food and drink with a fantastic view of lake Vättern. Under the same roof you will find Brahehus Polkagriskokeri, which makes authentic Gränna peppermint candy canes.

Hiking

If you want a real challenge, you can hike up to Brahehus from Uppgränna. From the car park at Toragården in Uppgränna, follow directions up along the ridge. The path is steep with a fantastic view of the area and lake Vättern.

How to get here