Situated on a headland in the bay of Edsviken, Ulriksdal’s attractive buildings and leafy surroundings are well worth a visit. At the entrance to the grounds is one of Stockholm’s best-known restaurants, Ulriksdals Wardshus.

The original palace was built in the 1640s and designed by Hans Jakob Kristler in GermanDutch Renaissance style. The owner, Marshal of the Realm Jakob de la Gardie, named the palace Jakobsdal. It was bought in 1669 by the Dowager Queen Hedvig Eleonora. Fifteen years later, she donated the palace to her grandson Ulrik as a christening gift, and it was renamed Ulriksdal.

Around this time the architect Tessin the Elder suggested some rebuilding work, but only a few of his proposals saw the light of day. However, the stucco work by Carlo Caronve in the southern wing can be seen. In the eighteenth century the palace acquired its Baroque exterior.