The Silver Vault

As its name suggests, the Silver Vault has been the place to store the castle's valuables. Weapons, ammunition, money collected as taxes intended for the crown, and furs were not allowed to fall into the wrong hands. Located on the second-highest floor of the West Tower, the chamber was well protected, as it could only be reached via a spiral staircase from the floor below.

Only a few of the castle's rooms have preserved their original medieval vaulting. The Silver Vault is one of these rare areas. The room was completed high up in the West Tower in the 14th century. Nevertheless, the room was elevated at the end of the 15th century in the building work carried out during the period of Sten Sture the Elder. At that time, the room's current five-pointed cross-vaulted ceiling, preserved in its original condition, was finished. At the same time, a new defensive floor with embrasures was built above the room.

A vault was constructed in the room particularly for fire safety reasons. The defence floor above was subjected to fire and gunpowder when cannons were fired, so fire hazard potential always existed. The openings visible in the ceiling of the room are remnants of medieval heating ducts, i.e. calefactors.