Kållandsö - Läckö Castle

To the north of Lidköping the peninsula of Kållandshalvö reaches out into Lake Vänern. Off its northern tip is the island of Kållandsö, on the shores of which is Läckö Castle, built in 1298 by Bishop Brynolt Algotsson. Excavations have shown that the original fortified castle, much altered in later centuries, had broadly the same ground-plan as the present castle. After the Reformation, in 1557, the castle became Crown property, but soon afterwards passed into the hands of Sven Sture and in 1571 to the Hogenskild Bielke family, who carried out a thorough restoration. In 1615 General Jacob de la Gardie, husband of Ebba Brahe, was granted possession of Läckö Castle, together with the title of count. His son considerably altered and enlarged the castle, bringing in two German architects, Elias Holl and Franz Stiemer, who added a fourth floor, new kitchen premises and outer works. In 1746 Frederick I had the portrait of Jacob de la Gardie in the Knights' Hall (which was richly decorated with murals depicting scenes from the Thirty Years War) removed to Stockholm, where it can now be seen in the Military Academy on the Karlsberg. In 1810 Lackö Castle was granted to General Carl Johan Adlercreutz, victor in the battle of Siikajoki, and renamed Siikajoki. In 1920 it was thoroughly restored, and since 1965 it has belonged to the Västergötland Tourist Association, which puts on exhibitions in the castle in summer.