Bjärka-Säby's History

In 1632, Per Nilsson Natt och Dag began to build the manor house on Rengen's shore, which today is called the Old Castle. When he himself participated in the 30-year war, his wife Sofia Christina Stenbock had to complete the construction. Their coat of arms is above the gate of the Old Castle. The Natt and Dag family held the property for five generations.

Towards the end of the 17th century, during Karl XI's reduction, son Carl Persson Night and Day ran into financial difficulties and was forced to hand over the estate to Germund Cederhielm, whose son was married to Carl Persson's daughter. Germund Cederhielm built around 1704 the timbered Carolingian wings that still flank the Old Castle today. The southern one became a residence and still is, the northern one became an economic building and has housed, among other things, the farm's office. The castle itself had to serve as a guest house in the future!

After the Cederhielm family, the property was inherited in 1841 by the Sparre and von Salza families. In 1868, Bjärka-Säby was bought by consul Oscar Ekman and is still in the family's possession. In 1882, an agricultural school was established in Bjärka-Säby. About 25 agricultural students, about 10 barn students and 6-8 dairy cows were trained annually at the Old Castle.

In 1932 the castle burned down and during the restoration the dairy was demolished. In 1955, the school was closed and the Domain Authority rented the Old Castle for the next ten years when they conducted forest ranger training. From 1976 until 2000, Gamla Slottet has had a Christmas exhibition every November - when it is darkest - with upwards of 25,000 visitors from all over the country. Many people remember "Christmas in Bjärka-Säby" as a very atmospheric, different Christmas market. Thanks to its renovation, Gamla Slottet appears more beautiful than ever as a proud example of Swedish 17th-century architecture.