View source for Sofiero Palace

{{Short description|Swedish royal palace in Scania}}
{{Infobox military structure
|name = Sofiero Palace
|native_name = Sofiero slott
|partof = 
|location = [[Helsingborg Municipality]]
|image = Sofiero Fassade.JPG
|caption = Sofiero Palace 
|map_type = Sweden Skåne
|coordinates = {{coord|56.0839|12.6597|type:landmark|display=inline}}
|map_size = 220
|map_caption = [[Scania]], Sweden
|type = Former royal palace
|code = 
|built = {{Start date and age|1865}}
|builder = 
|materials = 
|height = 
|used = 
|demolished = 
|condition = 
|ownership = 
|open_to_public = Yes
|controlledby = 
|garrison = 
|current_commander = 
|commanders = 
|occupants = 
|battles = 
|events = 
}}
[[Image:Sofiero slott 2.jpg|thumb|Gardens of Sofiero Palace]]

'''Sofiero Palace''', or just '''Sofiero''' ({{langx|sv|"Sofiero slott", or just "Sofiero"}}), in [[Helsingborg Municipality]], [[Scania]], was one of the [[Sweden|Swedish]] royal family's country mansions, located {{convert|5|km}} north of [[Helsingborg]]. It was originally a Scanian farm called Skabelycke, bought in 1864 by Prince [[Oscar II|Oscar of Sweden]] and his wife [[Sophia of Nassau]].<ref>Helsingborgs stad. [http://www.sofiero.helsingborg.se/templates/StandardPage.aspx?id=9047 Sofieros historia]. ''Sofieros slott och slottsträdgård''. 9 February 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2007.</ref> The first one-story palace was completed in 1865. It was expanded to its current size between 1874 and 1876, after Prince Oscar had been crowned King Oscar II of Sweden and Norway.

== History ==
In 1905, Oscar II's grandson Prince Gustaf Adolf, future King [[Gustaf VI Adolf]], and his wife, Crown Princess [[Princess Margaret of Connaught|Margaret]], received the palace as a wedding gift. They renovated the palace and started the large [[Rhododendron]] garden for which the palace is known today. Prince Gustaf Adolf become king in 1950, and until 1973 Sofiero was his and his second wife Lady [[Louise Mountbatten]]'s official summer residence. It was supposedly the King's favorite place and upon his death, which occurred in Helsingborg, he left Sofiero to the city of Helsingborg so that the general public could enjoy it as much as he had.

== Today ==
A bus connection leaves several times an hour during peak hours from Helsingborg. The main attraction today is the very large gardens with a wide range of local (and other) plant life, stretching to the shore of [[Öresund]]. The Rhododendrons are especially noteworthy, consisting of almost 500 different varieties.<ref>Helsingborgs stad. [http://www.sofiero.helsingborg.se/templates/StandardPage.aspx?id=9152 Sofieros Rhododendron]. ''Sofieros slott och slottsträdgård''. 18 April 2007. In Swedish. Retrieved 30 August 2007.</ref> The park also holds a small collection of modern art.

During the summer the large grass areas are sometimes used for large outdoor concerts with national as well as international stars such as [[Bob Dylan]], [[Bryan Adams]], [[James Brown]] and [[Norah Jones]].

The former royal palace itself is today used as restaurant, cafe and at times as a gallery.

A brand of [[beer]] owned by [[Kopparbergs Brewery]] is named "Sofiero".

== See also ==
* [[Helsingborg]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sofiero.se/ Sofiero] - official site
*{{commonscat-inline|Sofiero}}

{{Crown palaces in Sweden}}
{{Castles in Scania}}

[[Category:Helsingborg Municipality]]
[[Category:Castles in Skåne County]]
[[Category:Gardens in Sweden]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Skåne County]]
[[Category:Museums in Skåne County]]
[[Category:Historic house museums in Sweden]]
[[Category:Royal residences in Sweden]]
[[Category:19th-century establishments in Malmöhus County]]