Ulriksdals slott, Ingegerdsleden

ULRIKSDAL CASTLE

When we walk under Bergshamraleden, we have left Brunnsviken's naiads behind us. On the way to Ulriksdal Castle there are two wooden houses on the right side with the beautiful name Väntorp. The houses were a gift from Karl XV to one of his mistresses. In the woods on the other side of Kungshamravägen is the Invalid Cemetery. Karl XIV Johan had the castle turned into a home for war invalids between 1822 and 1849. It is to be hoped that the soldiers who were laid to rest here are also the last to have participated in a war on Swedish soil. Further down the forest path, on the right, is Ulriksdals Wärdshus from 1868, and in front of us is Confidencen, Sweden's oldest palace theater. The theater was built in 1753 and was originally a stable and inn. In the meadow below the lime avenue is the castle chapel, which was designed by F W Scholander in 1865 in the Dutch neo-Renaissance style. Previously there was a chapel from the 1690s. Before we cross the bridge over Igelbäcken and into the castle park, we pass the stable buildings from the 17th century. A reconstruction of Queen Kristina's coronation carriage with the original textiles is kept here. Kristina often visited the palace and decided that her coronation journey to Stockholm would start here. On October 17, 1650, the mile-long train set off for the city. Three days later, Christina was crowned king in Storkyrkan! Yes, she was! You read that right. After receiving the regalia, a herald proclaimed: "Now Queen Christina Crönter is King of Swea and Götha Landom and its subordinate provinces, and no other." Ulriksdal Castle was built by the Marquis Jacob De la Gardie around 1640, and was named Jacobsdal. His son Magnus Gabriel sold the castle to the Dowager Queen Hedvig Eleonora, who gave the castle as a godparent gift to her grandson Ulrik in 1684. However, the prince did not enjoy his castle, which had now been named Ulriksdal, as he died the following year. At times, Ulriksdal Castle has been occupied by Swedish kings and queens, most recently Gustav VI Adolf and Queen Louise. In 1923, the people of Stockholm gave the couple a furnished apartment as a wedding gift. The furniture was designed by Carl Malmsten. Of the many sculptures in the palace park, the two moria are probably the most striking. As mentioned earlier, they were moved here from Haga Park when Ålkistan was widened and the water level in Brunnsviken fell. On either side of Igelbäcken, which here flows into Saltsjön, they stand here with a fishing net between them, in a vain attempt to catch the fish that made the stream so important for the protection of the part of Järvafältet through which Igelbäcken flows. Ulriksdal Castle The morays in Ulriksdal Castle Park. Greenling, grayling, sandpiper or seaweed. These are just some of the names of the rare fish. The greenling was considered a delicacy in the 18th century, and Fredrik I therefore had the fish planted in Igelbäcken so that it could be enjoyed at Ulriksdal Palace. The largest specimen caught by the National Museum measured 14 cm and weighed 28 grams. Not much of a food fish it seems. Maybe they used to be bigger? In 2004-05, Igelbäckens nature reserve was established in Solna and Sundbyberg municipalities. In 2006, the City of Stockholm established the Igelbäckens cultural reserve. The aim was to preserve the agricultural landscape dating back to the Bronze Age. But what about the Morians' fishing luck? Do they catch anything other than leaves and branches in their nets? In author Jan Ekström's crime novel Morianerna, Detective Durell finds a male corpse in the Morian net. But it's a completely different fishing story.

From "Ingegerdsleden: Pilgrimsled för andlighet, kultur och fred" published by the Church of Sweden. Available as PDF: https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/filer/Ingegerdsleden\_bok.pdf