Otherworldly

Northern light

You can’t get much farther away from the conceptual here and now in Sweden than by taking your party to Biby Gård. Set in the middle of 1,100 protected hectares an hour west of Stockholm, the historic wood pre-Gustavian manor house dates to 1606, surrounded by forests, lakes and agricultural landscapes. Many of its late Renaissance details were lovingly preserved during a 2015 renovation. You could host a major event in nostalgic splendour: the main house has 10 en suite bedrooms, while some very comfy outer buildings offer more isolation and another four en suites. Dinner, anyone? The heroic table seats up to 35 in the main dining room, up to 50 in the Turkish salon, with the possibility of full catering. Gustavian re-creations can occur, and loaner costumes on hand allow opulent dress-up from many eras. Some groups visit Biby for hunting parties, in search of roebuck, wild boar, birds, water fowl. But it’s a space ideal for corporate retreats as well, fully wired for internet, with a light and airy meeting room which seats up to 25. There’s a lofty spaciousness and the memory of the aristocratic life present here, dream-like intimations of heroic and heraldic days long past. •