our courses
The Attingham Study Programme: Sweden: Stockholm and its hinterland
The Hall of Mirrors, Gustav III’s Pavilion at Haga Park. The Royal Palaces, Sweden. Photography Credit: © Jens Markus Lindhe
The Attingham Study Programme 2026
Sweden: Stockholm and its hinterland
8 – 14 June 2026
This intensive seven-day course will study the patronage of successive Swedish royal dynasties and that of the nobility and wealthy merchant class, in Stockholm’s palaces and the castles and country houses of its hinterland – Svealand, the nation’s historic core. With earlier outliers, it will focus on the arts and architecture of the mid 17th to early 19th centuries, encompassing the Baroque, Rococo, neo-Classical and ‘Empire’ styles. For more than a hundred years, from the accession of Gustavus Adolphus in 1611 to its loss of territory at the end of the Great Northern War in 1721, Sweden was a European military superpower and enjoyed an ‘Age of Greatness’, its fortunes reflected in the richness of buildings, interiors and collections of fine and decorative arts, particularly those of the monarchy. A new political compact with power-sharing between government and parliament – the so-called ‘Age of Liberty’ – subsequently encouraged a flowering of the arts and sciences and the further influence of all things French. During the following ‘Gustavian Age’, led by the energetic but latterly autocratic, Gustav III, Sweden’s elegant interpretation of neo-Classicism reached its apogee.
In Stockholm, visits will be made to the Riddarhuset, Riddarholmskyrkan, the Royal Palace, and Gustav III’s Museum of Antiquities. Outside Stockholm, in addition to a number of private houses, visits will include, Tullgarns Palace, Drottningholm Palace, Svartsjö Palace, the English landscape park at Haga, Rosersberg Palace, Svindersvik a summer residence, Gripsholm Castle, the manor house at Grönsöo and Skokloster Castle. For the last two nights we will be staying in the town of Mariefred on the south-west tip of Lake Mälaren.
As with all Attingham courses, owners, local scholars and curators, not least from the Royal Collection, Gustavianum, Nationalmuseum and Nordic museum, will welcome and guide us in our privileged access to buildings, private and public.
Course Director
Course Coordinator
ENROLMENT AND FEES
NB. Much of the information below is applicable to non-US applicants only. US-based applicants for the Study Programme must apply and enquire about scholarships through the course page on the American Friends of Attingham website.
The cost of the course is £3,950. This includes standard accommodation, breakfast, most lunches and dinners. Tuition, admissions and travel by private coach during the course are also included. All bedrooms are for single occupancy and have en-suite facilities. The cost of flights to and from Sweden is not included.
Applications
The deadline for applications is Friday 30 January 2026. All candidates will be notified by the end of February 2026 if they have been awarded a place. Payment of fees in full will be due by Thursday 30 April 2026, and should be made by bank transfer.
Participants are strongly advised to insure against cancellation, as no refunds will be made following payment unless the place can be filled by another suitable candidate. In such a case, an administrative fee of £200 will be applied.
Scholarships for applicants from countries other than the USA or Australia
Applicants who are unable to meet the fees are first encouraged to approach their institutions for full or partial financial assistance before applying for the course. Some scholarship funding through The Attingham Trust is available thanks to the generous support of various individuals and charitable foundations. Any candidate wishing to apply for a scholarship must complete the scholarship application at the bottom of the application form and provide details of their current salary. Anyone awarded full scholarship funding by either their institution, or The Attingham Trust, or a combination thereof, will be required to make a personal contribution of £200 to The Attingham Society Scholarship Fund.
Any queries can be directed to Beatrice Goddard,
Scholarships for applicants from the USA
US Applicants seeking scholarship support should apply directly to the American Friends of Attingham using the specific scholarship form, available online at: AFA Scholarship Form.
Scholarships for applicants from Australia
For applicants from Australia seeking scholarships, please refer to: www.coplandfoundation.com.au by Friday 28 November 2025
Please note that The Attingham Trust is a registered educational charity. Our courses are provided occasionally, on a not-for-profit basis and to a limited group of participants. This trip does not, therefore, constitute a ‘package holiday’ for the purpose of the Package Travel Regulations
The Attingham Trust reserves the right to adjust fees if there is a substantial change in the exchange rate, as these were assessed on the basis of assumptions made in October 2024. Should this prove to be necessary, members will be informed by April 2025.
Image: The Hall of Mirrors, Gustav III’s Pavilion at Haga Park. The Royal Palaces, Sweden. Photography Credit: © Jens Markus Lindhe