Nyköping Castle

Nyköping Castle is the town's defining landmark — a medieval fortress whose round keep, Kungstornet (the King's Tower), still looms over the Nyköpingsån river. The castle dates from the early 13th century and was developed over generations as a royal residence and administrative centre. Most of the original buildings were destroyed in a fire in 1665, leaving the tower largely isolated among later reconstructions, but the ruin has a quiet authority that a fully intact castle might not.

The tower and adjoining buildings now house the Sörmland Museum. You can climb the tower for views over the river estuary and the town's wooden houses. The surrounding grounds are open freely, and the riverbank walks on either side of the castle make for a pleasant circuit even if you skip the museum interior.

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A story
In December 1317, King Birger of Sweden invited his two brothers, Duke Erik and Duke Valdemar, to a Christmas feast at the castle. During the night he had them seized, thrown into the dungeon, and the key thrown into the Nyköpingsån river. Both dukes starved to death within weeks. The event, known as the Nyköping Banquet, triggered a rebellion that forced Birger into permanent exile in Denmark. The key was reportedly fished from the river in the 17th century and is displayed in the Sörmland Museum nearby.

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