Mariefred is a small historic town at the bank of Lake Mälaren.

Founded around 1370 as Gripsholm the name later changed to Mariefred, after the nearby Pax Mariae Carthusian monastery.

After the Reformation hte monastery was demolished and  the Mariefred Church was build on the remains.

 

Mariefred is best known for Gripsholm Castle, a residence of the Royal Swedish Family ever since King Gustav 1 took posession in 1530.  Nowadays it is a museum housing the National Portrait Gallery of Sweden.

 

Near the castle there are two Viking Age runestones from the 11th century.

 

The town has a nice center with many wooden houses and a white church.

 

The Mariefred Museijärnväg station is part of a 600 meters long narrow gauge railway track sporting a steam locomotive and carriages from the 19th century.

 

We visited Mariefred in July 2016.