The Queen’s Hall

The Queen's Hall, which in the 16th century was called the Duchess's Hall, and the chamber next to it were the living quarters of Princess Catherine Jagiellon when she resided in Turku Castle during the years 1562–63. Princess of Poland Catherine Jagiellon ended up in Turku Castle when Swedish prince Duke John of Finland was selected to be her spouse. The marriage, concluded in Vilnius in October 1562, consolidated both Sweden's and Poland's power around the Baltic Sea. On Christmas Eve of the same year, Catherine arrived in Turku with a large court entourage and a substantial dowry.

The preserved dowry list provides a comprehensive picture of the princess’s luxurious life. Her property consisted of, for example, jewellery, clothing and textiles, as well as dining and cooking utensils. In addition, the names and duties of all staff members who arrived with her were included in the list. They included 15 maids of honour, three Catholic priests, kitchen staff, a barber and a pharmacist – a total of 59 people plus stable boys and coachmen, the number of which remains unknown. This hall was in fact particularly at the disposal of the duchess and her Polish court.

Social life was vibrant at the Castle. Delicious food was enjoyed at the festivities, and Duke John's own musicians performed, for instance. The facilities for both everyday events and celebrations were impressive. The room was spacious and the large windows opened on both sides of the hall. Additional lighting was obtained by burning candles in precious candelabras, and in the 15- and 12-point chandeliers placed on the Renaissance-style floor. The walls of the hall were covered with an oak panel that reached a height of about two metres. Woven tapestries were hung above the panelling. The flat ceiling of the hall was also panelled with wood and covered with multi-coloured textiles, especially during festivities. Bench covers as well as both velvet and silk pillows were placed on the benches. The comfort of the living conditions was increased by an open fireplace situated in the corner of the hall and a wooden privy built into the outer wall. The doorway that led to the privy can still be seen as a recess in the outer wall of the Queen's Hall.

The original interior of the Queen’s Hall was destroyed by a fire that occurred in 1614. The room has been restored to its current appearance in accordance with examples from Swedish castles. As in the King’s Hall, portraits of former Swedish royalty have been hung on the walls of the Queen’s Hall. Some of the paintings belong to the Art Collection of the City of Turku, and others to the Art Collection of the Finnish National Gallery.