Drottningholm — Gustav III's Conspiracy

Your investigation begins at Drottningholms slott, the main palace built from 1662 by architect Nicodemus Tessin the Elder for Queen Hedvig Eleonora, and completed in 1703. With its approximately 245 rooms, the palace served as a royal residence until 1792, and Gustav III frequently stayed there. It is here, in this UNESCO-listed setting since 1991 for its architectural and landscape ensemble, that the king organized numerous theatrical parties and masked balls in the 1770s-1780s, events that sometimes concealed political tensions. Your first clue might be hidden behind the splendor of the Drottningholm court.

Upon leaving the main palace, you enter the Barockträdgården. This baroque garden, created in the 1760s by Fredrik Magnus Piper, spans 4 hectares and features 300 lead statues. It was a favorite spot for royal strolls by Gustav III in the 1770s-1780s. The geometric basins and parterres, typical of the 18th-century French style, might conceal secret messages exchanged between the king and his confidants. The majestic Neptunusfontänen, installed in 1780 and sculpted by Johan Niklas Brenny, dominates the garden. Standing 6 meters high, it depicts Neptune with sea horses cast in iron, commissioned during Gustav III's reign to embellish these historic gardens of Drottningholm. Observe the carved details closely; a code could be etched there.

Your journey then takes you to Kina slott, the Chinese Pavilion built in 1753 by Carl Hårleman. Inspired by oriental pagodas, its interior is decorated with 60 imported Chinese painted panels from the same year, covering an area of 300 m². Gustav III regularly visited this pavilion during his stays in Drottningholm in the 1770s. Was this exotic place, far from the conventions of the Stockholm court, a refuge or a discreet meeting spot for the king? The oriental motifs might hide symbols that only a keen eye could decipher.

Continue towards Drottningholmsteatern, a theater built in 1764-1766 by Carl Fredrik Adelcrantz at Gustav III's command. With its mechanical stage and 47 levers allowing for special effects, and a capacity of approximately 400 spectators, it was the setting for many performances. Gustav III even presented his own operas and ballets there, including 'Gustaf Wasa' in 1786. This theater, in continuous operation since 1766, is the only preserved example of 18th-century Swedish Rococo theater. A place where fiction and reality mingled, and where the secrets of the Drottningholm court might have been played out backstage.

Your investigation finally leads you to Eremitgrottan, an artificial grotto built in 1780-1785 by Louis Jean Desprez for Gustav III. Decorated with shells, volcanic stone, and mirror effects over 50 m², it was designed as a romantic retreat for the king, lit by candles. Perhaps it was in this intimate setting, away from prying eyes, that the king contemplated his destiny before his death on March 29, 1792. By exploring these emblematic sites of Drottningholm, from the royal residence to the theater, through the historic baroque gardens and the Chinese pavilion, you reconstruct Gustav III's final moments and uncover the behind-the-scenes of a conspiracy that marked Swedish history. Your journey through Stockholm's heritage concludes with an understanding of a bygone era.