Location: Lake Ringsjön, Höör Municipality Map
Found: originally constructed in 1080 as a monastery by the monks from the Benedictine order
Official site
Bosjökloster Castle (also known as Bosjökloster Slott or Bosjö Abbey) is a historic castle and former Benedictine nunnery situated on a picturesque peninsula in Lake Ringsjön, near Höör in Skåne (Scania), southern Sweden. Today, it is a privately owned and lived-in residence of the Bonde family, open to the public with its gardens, park, exhibitions, and events. Its nearly 900-year history spans from a medieval convent to a noble estate, marked by religious life, the Danish Reformation, political intrigue, ownership changes across Danish and Swedish nobility, and 19th-century romantic restorations.
Medieval Origins as a Benedictine Nunnery (Early 12th Century–1530s)
Bosjökloster was founded in the early 12th century (sources cite around
1080 or the first half of the 1100s) as one of three medieval nunneries
in Skåne, alongside Börringe kloster and S:ta Maria & S:t Peders kloster
in Lund—all under the Benedictine Order. It was established on what was
then a large island in Lake Ringsjön (the water level was much higher
before 19th-century drainage), with the name deriving from "Bosiö" or
"Bo sjö" (live by the lake/island) + "kloster" (convent). A powerful
local figure, Tord Thott "the Bearded" Gaggae (a former Viking chieftain
turned Christian), is credited with the founding donation, including 31
farms and half the fishing rights in the lake.
The oldest surviving
document is a papal bull from Pope Lucius III in 1181 (or around 1182),
confirming the convent's privileges and placing it under papal
protection. It was governed by a prioress (not an abbess), indicating
subordination to a larger monastery, with a prior appointed for
financial oversight (the first was Petrus from Allhelgonaklostret in
Lund).
The nuns—typically 60–65 at its peak, including novices and
schoolgirls from noble Scanian families like the Galen, Rosensparre, and
Thott clans—lived under strict Benedictine rules of poverty, obedience,
and chastity. The convent grew extremely wealthy through donations,
entry fees (e.g., 20 marks of silver in 1402, rising to 100 marks by
1502), and tax exemptions. By 1525, it owned 216 farms in Skåne, making
it one of the richest nunneries in medieval Denmark.
Architectural remnants from this era include:
The church (with a
distinctive mid-12th-century Romanesque sandstone apse, high nave, and
15th-century fresco of St. Apollonia, patron saint of dentists, holding
tongs and a tooth—possibly linked to a relic attracting pilgrims).
Three vaulted basement rooms in the east wing (originally the nuns'
refectory).
A bricked-up high entrance on the church's south wall
(nuns accessed via a wooden balcony from the now-lost west cloister
wing).
Acoustic jars (sound pots) embedded in the west gable to
amplify choral singing.
The nuns' cemetery north of the church with
simple round sandstone gravestones.
Ruins of a penitential chapel by
the lake road.
A thousand-year-old oak tree in the park.
The
church doubled as a parish church and hosted services; parts of the
original complex have vanished or were heavily altered later.
The
Reformation and Transition to a Private Estate (1530s–1604)
During
the Danish Reformation in the 1530s, the convent was seized by the
Danish crown in 1536 along with other church properties. It was granted
as a fief to Torben Bille, the deposed Catholic archbishop of Lund, on
the condition that he care for the remaining nuns. After Bille's death
in 1551, it passed briefly to Hans Barnekow. In 1560, King Frederick II
of Denmark bartered the estate to the widowed noblewoman Thale (Tale)
Holgersdatter Ulfstand (of the powerful Ulfstand family) in exchange for
her properties on Zealand. She became the first private owner and lived
there as a widow until her death in 1604. The last nuns departed in 1560
to the former S:t Peders kloster in Lund.
Thale Ulfstand was a
dynamic figure who oversaw early adaptations: she added a storey to the
east wing and installed a grand gateway (the wooden gate bears her
initials and 1569). She redesigned the church interior with Renaissance
benches and seigneurial pews. Family memorials, epitaphs, and
gravestones in the church commemorate her, her husband Povel Laxmand (d.
1557), and children. One son, Holger Laxmand, drowned in the lake on
Midsummer's Eve 1562.
The Beck Family, Ulfeldt Intrigue, and
Swedish Annexation (1600s–1735)
After Thale's death, the estate
passed through marriage to the Beck family. In 1628–1629, wealthy Danish
nobleman Jochum Beck (1602–1682) took ownership; he was one of Denmark's
richest men and father to the ancestor of the Beck-Friis line. Beck
inscribed his and his wife's names, coat of arms, and the year 1629
above the gateway. However, failed business ventures (including the
Andrarum alum works) bankrupted him, forcing the sale to Corfitz Ulfeldt
(1606–1664), a powerful Danish aristocrat married to Leonora Christina
(1621–1698), the favorite daughter of King Christian IV of Denmark.
Ulfeldt's ownership coincided with turbulent times. During the
Dano-Swedish War of 1657–1658, he switched sides to serve Swedish King
Charles X Gustav after Sweden annexed Skåne. His subsequent treason
against both crowns led to exile and disgrace. Leonora Christina was
imprisoned for 22 years in Copenhagen's Blue Tower in his stead. The
Swedish crown sequestered Bosjökloster, and the property fell into
decay.
In 1735, after a long lawsuit, Ulfeldt's grandson Corfitz
Ludvig Beck-Friis (of the Danish ancient noble Beck line, which also
owned other Scanian estates like Gladsax hus) regained the property. The
Beck-Friis family held it for about 280 years total, restoring it during
this period.
19th-Century Romantic Restorations and the Bonde Era
(1735–Present)
The 18th–19th centuries saw further agricultural
investments and building changes, including 1760s wings and farm
structures. In the 1850s–1870s, under owners like Baron Lave Gustaf
Beck-Friis (1834–1904, the last of his line), major romantic
restorations transformed the complex into the whitewashed "medieval
castle" ideal:
Architect Carl Georg Brunius restored the church
in the 1850s (adding the west tower; some original high windows were
altered).
Helgo Zettervall oversaw 1875–1879 work on the wings,
adding a spire-crowned staircase tower, stepped gables, unified facades,
and connecting structures.
The last Beck-Friis owner died in
1904; the estate was sold in 1908 to Count Philip Bonde of the Bonde
family. Philip established a model farm. His descendants, including son
Carl-Philip Bonde and wife Ellen, opened parts of the castle, gardens,
and park to the public in the early 1960s (around 1962). Today, Count
Tord Bonde and his family continue to own and manage it as a lived-in
private residence while welcoming visitors.
The site features
terraced rose gardens, a romantic park with animals, a herb garden,
exhibitions in the castle and farm buildings, a café, and events like
concerts (Musik på Bosjökloster since 2009), fairs, and weddings. The
church remains a parish church (Ringsjö Parish) with ongoing services.
In summary, Bosjökloster evolved from a wealthy, secluded nunnery to
a symbol of noble resilience through wars, reformations, and family
dramas. Its preserved medieval vaults, ancient church elements, and
scenic setting on Lake Ringsjön make it a living testament to nearly a
millennium of Skåne history—blending continuity, beauty, and cultural
heritage.
Medieval Origins (12th–16th Centuries): The Nunnery Foundation
The
complex dates to the early 12th century (likely late 11th or early 12th,
with the oldest papal confirmation in 1181). It was built as a
cloistered monastery for Benedictine nuns, centered around a courtyard
(borggård) with integrated wings and the church. The site was
strategically placed on what was then an island, surrounded by water on
three sides, emphasizing seclusion and defensibility.
Key
surviving medieval architectural features include:
The Church
(Bosjöklosters kyrka): A Romanesque monastery church dedicated to the
Virgin Mary and Saint Nicholas. It features a distinctive sandstone apse
(absid) from the mid-12th century with vertical lesenes (pilaster
strips) and a low external mural niche—rare details shared with nearby
Fulltofta Church. The structure includes a relatively small chancel, an
exceptionally tall nave (långhus), and later additions. Inside, the west
gable has embedded "sound pots" (ljudkrukor) to acoustically amplify the
nuns' singing during services (the chancel was too small for the full
community). A high, now-walled-up doorway in the south nave wall once
led to a wooden balcony in the vanished western cloister wing, allowing
nuns direct access without entering the main floor. 15th-century
frescoes (e.g., of Saint Apollonia) adorn the chancel, and Renaissance
interior fittings (benches and pews) were added in the late 1500s.
Originally, bells hung in a free-standing bell tower (klockstapel) north
of the church.
Cloister Wings and Vaults: Three main wings (east,
south, west) enclosed the courtyard in typical monastic fashion. The
western wing disappeared by the late 17th century (shown as a ruin in
1680s engravings). The eastern wing preserves medieval basement rooms
with cross-vaulted ceilings—originally the nuns' refectory. Ruins of a
small penitential chapel and the adjacent nunnery graveyard (with simple
round sandstone gravestones) lie north of the church.
Materials
were local stone and brick, with sandstone reserved for decorative
elements like the apse. The complex grew wealthy through donations (over
250 farms by the Reformation), supporting expansion before dissolution
in 1536.
16th–18th Centuries: Transition to Private Castle and
Renaissance Touches
After the Reformation, the crown seized the
nunnery. In 1560, noblewoman Thale (Tale) Holgersdatter Ulfstand
acquired it and began its conversion to a secular estate. She extended
the eastern wing by one storey, adding a wooden porch and gate to the
courtyard (dated 1569, with her carved initials—still visible on the oak
doors).
In the 17th century under owner Jochum Beck, the wings
received curved Renaissance gables in the prevailing Danish style, along
with inscriptions and coats of arms. The 1760s (under the Beck-Friis
family) added two small gatehouse wings at the new western approach and
updated farm buildings (e.g., a barn). The economic yard to the east
features late-18th-century stone wings replacing older timber
structures, plus 19th-century red-brick outbuildings (barn, smithy,
warehouse) with characteristic gables.
These changes shifted the site
from monastic austerity to a noble residence while retaining the core
medieval footprint.
19th-Century Romantic Restoration: The
Defining Transformation
The current architectural character largely
results from extensive 19th-century work, reflecting the era's
fascination with medieval romance:
Church Restoration
(mid-1850s): Led by architect and art historian Carl Georg Brunius. He
added a west tower (replacing the old bell staple), installed tall
windows along both nave walls (replacing small high ones), and refined
interiors.
Main Castle Wings (1875–1879): Directed by prominent
Swedish architect Helgo Zettervall (known for cathedral restorations).
He unified the disparate buildings into a cohesive ensemble: the
southern side was extended with a new connecting wing featuring a
prominent spire-crowned stair tower. Roofs were redesigned with stepped
gables and corbels for a fortified, picturesque effect. The eastern and
southern wings were heavily remodeled, creating the whitewashed walls
and red roofs that evoke an idealized medieval castle.
This
"medieval romantic" style coordinated the complex while preserving
select medieval elements like the vaults and church. Internal
remodelings continued into the 20th century (e.g., late 1940s by Leon
Nilson).
Current Layout and Features
Today, the castle forms a
compact courtyard complex:
Core Buildings: Eastern wing (with
preserved medieval vaults and 16th-century porch/gate), unified southern
wing (with stair tower), church integrated on the north, and western
gatehouses.
Materials and Style: Predominantly whitewashed exteriors
(over brick/stone), red clay-tile roofs, sandstone accents in the
church, and timber/beamed interiors in exhibition spaces. The overall
effect is harmonious yet layered—Romanesque foundations with Renaissance
gables and Romantic overlays.
Surroundings as Architectural
Extension: Terraced gardens, rose gardens, herb garden, and romantic
park with a 1,000-year-old oak enhance the setting. Outbuildings in the
economic yard maintain 18th–19th-century farm architecture.
The
site remains privately owned and inhabited by the Bonde family (since
1908), open to visitors with exhibitions in the vaults and wings. It is
protected as a listed building complex.
Best Time to Visit
Peak season (May–September): The main visiting
window when the castle interiors, exhibitions, café, and full facilities
are open. Gardens peak in summer with thousands of roses blooming (Rose
Day in early July is special).
Shoulder periods: Late spring or early
autumn for fewer crowds and lower prices.
Off-season: Park and
gardens open year-round (9 am–6 pm or similar), but interiors and café
are limited. Voluntary contribution (~40 SEK) or annual pass
recommended. Events like Christmas Market (late November) or Midsummer
are atmospheric.
Check the official calendar for temporary closures
of exhibitions.
Opening Hours (2026 Season)
Main
buildings/exhibitions/café (varies slightly):
May 1–June 15: Weekdays
11 am–4 pm; weekends 11 am–5 pm.
June 16–30 & Aug 3–16: Daily 11 am–5
pm.
July 1–Aug 2: Daily 10 am–5 pm.
Aug 17–Sep 30: Weekdays 11
am–4 pm; weekends 11 am–5 pm.
Park & gardens: Open every day of
the year from ~9 am–6 pm. Castle grounds are stroller- and
wheelchair-accessible in most areas.
Lunch is typically served until
3 pm. Last entry is usually 45–60 minutes before closing.
Tickets
& Prices (May–Sep)
Adults: 120 SEK.
Seniors: 100 SEK.
Students
(16+): 80 SEK.
Children under 18: Free.
Swedish Cultural Heritage
card: 60 SEK.
Discounts: 25% off with tickets from TT-Line, Øresund
Bridge, etc. (max 5 people).
Annual pass: 200 SEK for unlimited
entry all year + many events—great value for repeat or local visitors.
Entrance fee covers the entire area (including café access). Parking is
free (except major events). Pay with card, Swish, or cash (no Amex).
What to See & Do
Gardens & Park: Terraced rose gardens, perennial
beds, herb garden, ancient trees (including the massive Millennium Oak),
and romantic pathways. Borrow rowing boats (included in ticket, ~1 hour,
deposit ID) for lake views or swim at the pier (at own risk, no
lifeguard).
Animals: Goats, llamas, alpacas, ponies, rabbits—visitors
can enter enclosures (spring–autumn). Great for kids.
Castle &
Exhibitions: Medieval vaults, stone halls, changing art/cultural
exhibits (e.g., photography or quilts). Boutique shop with local crafts.
Church & Cemetery: Free access outside the paid area—peaceful and
historic.
Family-Friendly: Playgrounds, boule, picnic areas. Drop-in
kids’ tours in summer.
Guided Tours: Free drop-in adult tours (~30
min, Thursdays) and themed ones start in the Rose Garden—request
English. Private/group tours available year-round. Exhibition staff are
helpful.
Allow 2–3 hours for a relaxed visit; longer if boating or
picnicking.
Food & Practical Tips
Garden Café/Restaurant:
Homemade local/Swedish dishes, vegan/kids options, cakes, and coffee.
Outdoor seating with views. You must pay entrance even for just eating.
Picnic: Welcome—bring your own (tables available); grills OK in
designated spots (no fire ban, clean up). No outside food in café areas.
Accessibility: Mostly good for wheelchairs/strollers (park yes; some old
buildings have adaptations). Designated parking near entrance.
Accessible toilets.
Dogs: Leashed welcome in park; larger dogs better
outside exhibitions.
Photography: Allowed everywhere (professional
use needs permission).
Getting There
By car: ~25 min from
Lund, 45 min from Malmö/Öresund Bridge. Address: Bosjökloster 111, 243
95 Höör. Free parking.
Public transport: Train to Höör station, then
bus 444 (“ring bus”) to Bosjökloster. Check Skånetrafiken for schedules.
Combine with nearby attractions like Skånes Djurpark (zoo) or other
Skåne castles.
Visiting Tips
Wear comfortable shoes — gravel
paths and some uneven historic areas.
Bring cash/Swish for ease,
though cards accepted.
Check weather — much is outdoors; pack
layers/rain gear. Boats may not go out in wind.
Crowds — quieter
weekdays; summer weekends busier.
Events — Midsummer, Rose Day,
Christmas Market, or exhibitions add value—book or check ahead.
Overnight — Guesthouse on site or nearby options (campers can park for a
fee including tickets).
Respect — Privately owned/lived-in; stay on
paths, don’t disturb animals.