Ostergotland is packed with opportunities for a wonderful and active holiday: stay in fantastic nature, enjoy the silence and collect unforgettable holiday memories to take home. Paddle a kayak in an unspoilt archipelago, hike along marked trails or cycle along winding roads with a map and picnic in the rucksack. In Östergötland several older churches are still standing and many castles and palaces are open to the public. Ekenäs Castle, one of the best preserved renaissance castles in Sweden, has belonged to the families Sture and Banér. Löfstad Castle has its origin in the early 17th century, having belonged to the von Fersen family. Vadstena Castle, built by the Royal Vasa dynasty 1545–1620, is a combined fortress and renaissance castle.