I am not sure I’ve ever seen a hotel so beautiful, so tastefully glamorous–with splendid (and equally sordid) historical stories to match. The talented husband-wife photo team, Andrew and Gemma Hart Ingalls (also behind the blog, the Epicures), sent over these photos of Häringe Slott, a stunning 17th-century baroque castle-cum-palatial hotel  40 miles outside Stockholm in a nature reserve. Historic lore suggests that Viking Sote first claimed the Häringe Peninsula as his property in the 11th century. Since then, according to the hotel’s site, “common denominators for all of the owners have been megalomania, extreme wealth, crazy investments, excessive spending, glamour, decadence, scandals and partying.” It has passed through the hands of kings, counts and a few strong-willed, unconventional lasses, who operated illegitimate bars, orphanages and other gender inappropriate endeavors. At one point, all the furnishings were sold by one owner, only to be researched and re-purchased by another one years later.

Beyond interiors spun of pure decadence and grandeur, the property is also home to Sweden’s first outdoor pool with a slide from the second floor bathroom, a bowling alley, underground tunnels, and limestone statues of Nordic gods. These days, it’s owned by the Ljungberg family and part of the exclusive c/o hotels chain.

Andrew and Gemma spent their days meandering the various labyrinths, nooks, crannies and wide-open spaces. “We would wander up to the second floor of the main building to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee (served all day) in one of the many drawing rooms, or walk out on one of the many well marked trails, past horse farms and swimming spots and fields of wildflowers. We even found ourselves sampling the ripe plums and pears from the espalier–trained fruit trees that peppered the property.”

[All photos by Andrew and Gemma Hart Ingalls]