The Attingham Study Programme 2026

‘Sweden: Stockholm and its hinterland’

June 8 – 14, 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.

The course will directed by David Adshead FSA and and course coordinator Beatrice Goddard.

Enrollment and fees

The USD course fee for this residential course is $5,440. This fee includes standard accommodation, breakfast, most lunches and dinners. All bedrooms are for single occupancy and have en-suite facilities. Participants are strongly advised to ensure against cancellation, as no refunds will be made following payment, unless the place can be filled by another suitable candidate.

Applications

The deadline for applications is January 30, 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, April 30, 2026. 

Scholarships

In addition to general enrollment, some scholarship assistance is available for qualifying candidates thanks to the generosity of various individuals and charitable organizations.

Any candidate wishing to apply for a scholarship must complete the scholarship application form below. Please follow the instructions on the form to apply for financial assistance. Anyone awarded full scholarship funding from The American Friends of Attingham will be strongly encouraged to make a personal contribution of $250. 

Scholarship Application From

Applications Now Open

Deadline: January 30, 2026

Image Credit: The Hall of Mirrors, Gustav III’s Pavilion at Haga Park. The Royal Palaces, Sweden. Credit: © Jens Markus Lindhe.