Charterhouse Mariefred, popularly known as the Gripsholm Charterhouse, is a Christian monastery dedicated to the Carthusian sect of Christianity. This monastery is located in Mariefred in Sodermanland and is also known as Gripsholm. This is the only Carthusian monastery in Scandinavia established before the Reformation.
The history of this monastery dates back to the efforts of Jakob Ulvsson, the Archbishop of Uppsala and Kort Rogge, the Bishop of Strangnas. The origin of the Charterhouse Mariefred is from the late 1400s and early 1500s. However, today, the monastery does not exist and in fact, the Mariefred church is built over the ruins of the monastery. After it was burned down in 1682, it was rebuilt in 1697 and is today the parish church of Marifred. Next to the church, you can find the Sten Sture which was erected in 1905 to indicate where the monastery stood.
Highlights
• Explore the Gripsholm castle and check out the different types of exhibits in the premises.
• Check out the Swedish State Portrait Collection in the Gripsholm castle which houses more than 5000 artworks which are mostly oil paintings.
• Attend any of the religious gatherings of the Charterhouse Mariefred, including the weekly Sunday Service.
• Take a guided tour of the Charterhouse Mariefred and know more about the history and architecture of the museum.
• Visit the Mariefred church located amidst the Charterhouse Mariefred premises and know more about its history.
How To Reach
- By Car: The Charterhouse Mariefred is 700 metres from the city centre, it will take 3 minutes min via the Storgatan route.
- By Foot: The Charterhouse Mariefred is 700 metres from the city centre, it will take 10 minutes min via the Gripsholmsvagen route.
Best Time To Visit
Charterhouse Mariefred is open throughout the year, so you can plan your visit to this place at any time of the year. The best season to visit Charterhouse Mariefred will be the summer season from March to May because this is the time when the climate is pleasant. Meanwhile, the best day in the week will be the weekdays due to less crowds regardless of any time of the year. Also, The best time of the day to visit Charterhouse Mariefred will be in the morning due to fewer crowds and a favourable temperature.
Other Essential Information
1. This is a religious place, so make sure you are dressed modestly by covering the shoulders and knees.
2. Do not make any sort of disturbance or noise when you are in the church, especially when the service is going on.
3. Make sure you plan your visit well in advance, especially if you are planning to attend the service in the church, as it can get crowded quickly.
4. You can click pictures, but make sure you do not disturb those who are in the church.
5. We recommend leaving a small donation in the box before you leave the church.
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Attend the service
This is one of the most popular experiences for those visiting the Charterhouse Mariefred, as this is a religious place of worship. There are regular religious gatherings, but the main religious gathering here is the service that happens every Sunday which attracts a lot of people. You can attend the service too, but make sure that you respect the religious sanctity of the place by not causing any sort of disturbance.
Visit the Gripsholm castle
The Gripsholm castle is one of the most noteworthy pieces of architecture in the city which is worth noticing. This is a landmark in the city and is also open for exploring. This castle belongs to the Royal family of Sweden and was also used as their official residence until the 18th century. Today, this castle is a museum with interesting exhibits worth having a look at.
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