EverySundaymorning，ateighto\'clock，alittlesteamerleavesStockholmforthiscastle；thedistanceisaboutforty-fivemiles，andispassedinfourhours；fourhoursmoreareallowedforthestay，andintheeveningthesteamerreturnstoStockholm。Thisexcursionisveryinteresting，althoughwepassthegreaterpartofthetimeonthatportionofthelakewhichwehadseenonourarrival，butforthelastfewmilestheshipturnedintoaprettybay，atwhoseapexthecastleissituated。Itisdistinguishedforitssize，itsarchitecture，anditscolossalturrets。Itisunfortunately，however，paintedwiththefavouritebrick-redcolouroftheSwedes。
Twoimmensecannons，whichtheSwedesoncegainedinbattlefromtheRussians，standinthecourtyard。Theapartmentsinthecastle，whicharekeptingoodcondition，displayneithersplendournorprofusionofappointments，indeedalmostthecontrary。Theprettytheatreis，however，anexception:foritswallsareinlaidfromtoptobottomwithmirrors，itspillarsaregilt，andtheroyalboxtapestriedwithrichredvelvet。TherehasbeennoperformanceheresincethedeathofGustavusIII。
Theimmenselymassivewallsarearemarkablefeatureofthispalace，andmustmeasureaboutthreeyardsinthicknessinthelowerstories。
Theupperapartmentsarealllargeandhigh，andaffordasplendidviewofthelakefromtheirwindows。Butitisimpossibletoenjoythesebeautifulsceneswhenonethinksofthesadeventswhichhavetakenplacehere。
Twokings，JohnIII。andEricXIV。，thelatterwithfourofhisministers，whoweresubsequentlybeheaded，wereimprisonedhereformanyyears。ThecaptivityofJohnIII。wouldnothavebeensobad，ifcaptivitywerenotbadenoughinitself。Hewasconfinedinalargesplendidsaloon，butwhichhewasnotpermittedtoquit，andwhichhewouldthereforeprobablyhavegladlyexchangedforthepooresthutandliberty。Hiswifeinhabitedtwosmallerapartmentsadjoining；shewasnottreatedasaprisoner，andcouldleavethecastleatwill。HissonSigismundwasbornhereintheyear1566，andtheroomandbedinwhichhewasbornarestillshewnascuriosities。