The Royal Court

History, Ulriksdal Palace Chapel

Ulriksdal Palace. Copperplate, Erik Dahlberg's "Suecia antiqua et hodierna". Original: The National Library of Sweden, The Royal Library.
Ulriksdal Palace Chapel was built between 1863-65 on the same location as the former Trinity Chapel from the 1690s.

The first palace chapel at Ulriksdal (called Jakobsdal at the time) was incorporated in 1662 into the palace´s north wing by Chancellor of the Realm Magnus Gabriel Dela Gardie's architect Jean de la Vallée.

The chapel was extremely elegant, decorated in white and gold. In conjunction with Gustav III's palace renovations the chapel was demolished in 1774.

Fredrik Wilhelm Scholander


The present chapel was designed by architect Fredrik Wilhelm Scholander, who was responsible for Karl XV's renovation of Ulriksdal.
 
Ulriksdal Palace Chapel was inaugurated on August 25, 1865 on Lovisa's name day and was earlier named Queen Lovisa's Chapel.

Karl XV and Queen Lovisa, who took over Ulriksdal in the 1850s, personally participated in the design of the chapel, as well as the new interiors of the palace state rooms.

The façades


The palace exterior is designed in New Dutch Renais-sance style and inspired to some degree by Venice. The façades are playful - coloured in pink and grey - like a jewel box guarding the treasures of art inside.

The chapel has three naves, a higher centre nave and two lower side naves. The ceiling is richly decorated with stencil paintings.

The interiors


The chapel's interiors and fixtures bear witness to Karl XV's great interest in art and craftsmanship.

The mid-1600s alter retable is of particular interest from an art history perspective with relic recesses in the crown and beams. 

The pulpit chair from the 1500s is decorated with reliefs such as Jesus in front of  Pontius Pilate and Petrus cutting off the ear of the high priest's servant.