Erstavik slott

Was Erstavik always a grand manor? Absolutely not. Let me transport you back to 1356, when Erstavik slott was first mentioned in historical records. It wasn’t a magnificent manor back then, but the humble seat of nobleman Bengt Larsson. The name itself has evolved, originally written as “Ærnastewik.” Erstavik slott witnessed centuries of history unfold, changing hands from noble families to powerful figures. King Albrekt even pawned Erstavik slott to the Pope in 1364 to settle his debts. Can you imagine such a transaction? In the 15th century, Katarina Henningsdotter (Kőnigsmark) and her daughter Anna Markvardsdotter (Stolpe) owned Erstavik slott. Later, it passed through marriage to the Kyle family, where it remained for 144 years. Fast forward to 1717, when Olof Törnflycht, a privy councillor, acquired Erstavik. He held several estates in Södertörn. During the Russian invasion of 1719, Erstavik was attacked. Several farm buildings were burned, but thankfully, the main house survived. In 1763, the Törnflycht heirs sold Erstavik to Herman Petersen, a wealthy director of the Swedish East India Company. He commissioned the renowned architect Jean Eric Rehn to rebuild Erstavik from the ground up. The new manor, designed in the fashionable Rococo style, was completed in 1765. Tragically, Petersen died the same year. He established Erstavik as a fideikommiss, an entailed estate, ensuring it remained within his family. His eldest son, Johan Abraham, became the first beneficiary. The Petersen family continued to own Erstavik until 2015, when the fideikommiss was dissolved. Even today, the estate maintains its agricultural and forestry activities. The buildings are carefully preserved, and Erstavik’s natural beauty is a protected area.