Originally constructed in 1549, the castle has been heavily remodeled, expanded, and otherwise modified. Today the structure houses the official residence of the governor of Uppsala County, various businesses, and two museums.

Older royal residences in Uppsala
Nearby Gamla Uppsala was an important religious and aristocratic center from at least the 5th century up until 1273. It had been at the end of the 5th century that the Yngling dynasty is known to have established themselves in Gamla Uppsala.

Today, large royal burial mounds are extant and traces of ancient royal manors have been discovered at Gamla Uppsala.

In the Middle Ages a royal estate, known today as Föresäng, existed in an area of Uppsala called Islandet. This estate was destroyed by fire in 1543.

During the Protestant reformation, a medieval archbishop’s castle, which stood west of Uppsala Cathedral, was confiscated by the Monarchy of Sweden. Both this castle and the Föresäng estate were used as early royal residences in Uppsala.