LEGO castles, both official sets and fan creations, tend to focus on medieval fortresses, but most of the royal palaces still standing in Europe are built around gardens, not garrisons. Palaces like this one from Swedish builder Mikael Norling. While the builder doesn’t list a specific inspiration, the design, with the mix of light nougat and white, captures the aesthetics of 17th and 18th-century palaces inspired by the grandeur of Versailles. The Baroque touches use boomerangs, forks, ferns, flowers, and more to provide texture and detail.

As impressive as the palace facade is, the garden truly shines.

Hedges, statuary, a rose-covered arch and an Asian-inspired pavilion capture the grandeur of palace life in its heyday.

Up close, we can also glimpse the royal family and servants behind the brick wall. And what a magnificent wall it is with the brilliant color paths along the top.

Mikael brings out beauty in symmetry with the landscaping and mosaic tilework around the fountain.

Scandinavian luxury for a land with long summer days. It’s a beautiful MOC and a style that I love seeing in LEGO.