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Sweden

Cultural sightseeing in Sweden. What to visit - museums, temples, castles and palaces

winter sunset in goteborg In Sweden, there are a huge number of different museums, many of which are devoted to the science and history of the state since ancient times. Most of the museums are concentrated in the capital of the country - Stockholm. The city is known throughout Europe as a museum center. It has more than 80 different museums. Interesting exhibitions are also held in museums in other major cities like Malmo, Kalmar and Uppsala. Despite its vivid pagan past, the country is religious enough. In its territory, there were a huge number of unique churches and cathedrals built in different years up to the time of the adoption of Christianity. Most of them are decorated in a spectacular Gothic style.
Monuments and architectural objects, notable for the history and culture of the country. …
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Every year, more than 9 million tourists from all over the world visit Stockholm's museums. The largest museum of the city and country is the National Museum of Sweden, founded in the 18th century. It stores more than 16,000 paintings and sculptures, a huge number of art objects (more than 30 thousand) and masterpieces of graphic art. Among the paintings in the museum's collection are paintings by El Greco, Rembrandt, Perugino, Rubens, Grunewald, Boucher, Goya, Degas, Manet, and Van Gogh. The building which houses the exhibition today was built in the middle of the 19th century. The very first collection was collected by the Swedish King Gustav Vasa in the 16th century. The museum is the center of preservation of the cultural heritage of Sweden and all world art.
Many museums in Stockholm are devoted to the history of the country. The Nordic Museum (Scandinavian Museum) will tell its visitors about the amazing history of Scandinavia, about Vikings, their culture, battles and conquests. The building of the museum has a very beautiful design and rich appearance. It was built in the 19th century. Its main hall is decorated with the sculpture of Gustav Vasa, the legendary Swedish king. In the Museum of the middle ages, tourists can get acquainted with the ruins of the city wall, the house of charity and other relics of the past. The museum is mostly underground. In the Royal Palace of Stockholm is the Royal Treasury, where visitors can see objects of royal life and real treasures. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
This is a popular tourist destination that is widely known as one of the most frequently visited places in Europe. In Sweden it’s possible to find …
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The main temple of Stockholm and all Sweden is the Church of St. Nicholas, located in the historic center of the city. It was founded presumably in the 12th-13th century. For a long history of its existence, its appearance was changed many times. Today the building has a pronounced decoration in the Gothic style with the preservation of the traditional Swedish Neo-Gothic architecture. Inside the church is decorated with real masterpieces of sculpture and fine arts, among them the statue of Sweden reformer Olaus Petri and the sculpture "Saint George and the Dragon". Another unique religious structure preserved in its original form from the middle ages, is located on the island of Riddarholmen. The church of Riddarholmen was built in the 12th century and is the tomb of Swedish kings.
Stockholms Stadshus Uppsala is one of the oldest cities in Sweden. The first buildings in the city date back to the 5th century. The cathedral of the city was built in the 13th century and is a work of architectural art of that time. The temple is decorated in a traditional Neo-Gothic style and is the highest temple in Scandinavia. In the 16th century, a royal palace in Renaissance style was built in Uppsala. Historical events took place in the castle, kings were born and died, wars were declared. Another interesting place for tourists in Uppsala is the house-museum of the scientist in the field of natural sciences Karl Linnaeus, who lived and died in this city.
The national cuisine of Sweden, like many other northern countries, is simple to cook. Local cuisine by right can be called a peasant. It is not …
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Another Renaissance castle is in the city of Kalmar, which in the middle ages was one of the centers of trade in Europe. The Kalmar Castle was laid in the 12th century. It consists of 4 asymmetrical walls and round towers. For a long time, it was a border area between Sweden and Denmark. Later, it turned first into a brewery, then into a prison. In addition to the castle, in Kalmar you should definitely get acquainted with the cathedral, founded in the 17th century. Another castle, where the fates of the kings were decided, is located in the town of Mariefrede on Lake Mälaren. The castle was founded in the 16th century and in it, King Sigismund III was born, and other kings of the country lived and made strategic decisions.
Sweden guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Sweden

Reference information
Map of all art museums
Art galleries in Sweden
♥   Art museum 'Gothenburg Museum of Art' Gothenburg. On the map   Photos
♥   Art museum 'Moderna Museet' Stockholm. On the map   Photos
♥   Art museum 'Nationalmuseum' Stockholm. On the map   Photos
♥   Art museum 'Tensta Konsthall' Stockholm. On the map   Photos
Map of all churches
Cathedrals and basilicas in Sweden
♥   S:t Erik Katolska Domkyrkan, Stockholm. On the map   Photos
♥   Strängnäs domkyrka, Strängnäs. On the map   Photos
♥   Västerås domkyrka, Västerås. On the map   Photos
♥   Uppsala domkyrka, Uppsala. On the map   Photos
Map of all palaces
Palaces in Sweden
♥   Palace 'Borgeby Castle' . On the map   Photos
♥   Palace 'Bosjökloster' . On the map   Photos
♥   Palace 'Christinehof Castle' . On the map   Photos
♥   Palace 'Drottningholm Palace' . On the map   Photos
♥   Palace 'Glimmingehus' Simrishamn. On the map   Photos

Extreme Guinness-type places in Sweden

Royal Domain of Drottningholm

From the series “Top 15 Unesco Sites in Europe”
There are historical monuments of world importance in Sweden. One of the most prominent is the palace and park ensemble of Drottningholm. It is located on the island of Louvain, among the peaceful waters of Lake Malaren. Since 1981, the palace is the seat of the Swedish kings. The first mansion on the island was built in the 16th century by order of King Johan III, who gave the palace to his wife. However, already in 1662, the majestic building was completely burned down. The palace was restored at the end of the 17th century. It has repeatedly changed owners. The residence was reconstructed in the next two hundred years.

In the 19th century, the gorgeous mansion was abandoned. The last major reconstruction began in 1907. Several years ago, the royal residence was opened to tourists. … Read all

Utter Inn Hotel

From the series “Fancy Houses and Hotels Located on Water or Under Water”
In Sweden, there is a world-famous underwater Utter Inn hotel, owned by an artist Michael Genberg. To get to this hotel, you need to come to Västerås port, which is in the immediate vicinity of Stockholm, and then go on a swim in an inflatable boat on Lake Mälaren. It is among the peaceful waters of this lake that the Utter Inn hotel is located. For its customers it offers the only double room.

The hotel consists of a small platform with a pier, which houses a miniature red cottage. Outwardly, it is very similar to the classical Swedish "stog" cottage, which is often painted red. Guests can go down a special staircase to get to the underwater room. It is designed for two guests and decorated in white and red tones. The main attractive feature of the room are rectangular windows through … Read all
All unique sightseeing Sweden
Country maps Maps of Sweden
Car rental on OrangeSmile.com Car rental in Sweden
Map of cities Cities map of Sweden
Map of sights Map of sights in Sweden

Thailand Relaxes Its COVID-19 Policy

New Year events in Thailand are likely to bring more people this year because everyone is tired of lockdowns and craving normal life. Many tourists, who book hotels in Pattaya, Krabi, or Phuket for the holiday season, also want to participate. As champagne has become an essential drink for New Year celebrations, the question regarding alcohol consumption comes to mind. The government allowed serving alcoholic drinks during the New Year countdown but only open-air cafes and restaurants with good ventilation will be permitted to do this until 1 am on 1 January 2022. This rule is nationwide. Read this

19.03.2024

Top cultural sites of Sweden: monuments, theaters and churches

Church of St. Nicholas, Stockholm

Location on the map:   Interesting facts: » The Church of St. Nicholas is the oldest church in Stockholm that was designated the status of a cathedral in 1942. The church was mentioned in the testament of knight Karlsson (1279). It is supposed that it was built by the founder of Stockholm, Birger Jarl.
»  In the middle of the 18th century, the church was rebuilt and refurbished. At the church, there is the medieval wooden sculpture of Saint George fighting a dragon. It was made in 1489.
»  Swedish royalties were crowned here. The last coronation took place here in 1873.
»  At the church, Swedish kings’ wedding ceremonies were held. In 2010, Daniel Westling and Princess Victoria, the eldest daughter of King Carl XVI Gustaf, got married here. This event took place on the day of her parents’ marriage in 1976.

German Church, Stockholm

Location on the map:     Interesting facts:
» The German Church is also called St. Gertrude's Church. In the Middle Ages, there was the German Guild of Merchants. Many German people also lived here. Many years later, in 1642, the guild’s building was rebuilt into a church and consecrated in honor of St. Gertrude (626-659), the patroness of travelers.
»  One of the stained glass windows depicts St. Gertrude holding a bowl and a church model in her hands.
»  In 1878, the bell tower was destroyed by fire. It was restored by the Berlin architect Julius Raschdorff. Now, the bells ring four times a day.
»  In the church, there is also a royal gallery decorated with sophisticated carved elements. It was built for the members of German royal families visiting services. It was designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder (1615-1681).
»  Nowadays, the church is visited by about 2 000 parishioners. Services are held in German.

Klara Church, Stockholm

Location on the map:     Interesting facts:
» The Church of Saint Clare was built together with a convent on the initiative of Magnus Ladulas in the late 13th century.
»  In 1527, the convent was demolished.
»  In 1751, there was a large tower. The interior of the church was damaged and one of the towers collapsed.
»  The church gained its modern appearance after the reconstruction in 1886. The modest and dark facade contrasts with a white and golden luxurious interior. There is an altar that has been preserved since 1766.
»  The church tower is the highest in the city. It is 116 m high. It is crowned by a spire in the shape of a gilded cockerel. The bell tower has 35 bells that weigh 8.5 tons. A modern and electric clock was hung on the tower in 1965.
»  At the cemetery of the church, you can see preserved gravestones of famous people living in Stockholm.
»  Nowadays, the major activity of parishioners is charity. They feed homeless people and drug addicts, visit detainees in jails and help them.

Museum of Natural History, Stockholm

Location on the map:     Interesting facts:
» The Museum of Natural History was founded about 200 years ago. The museum collection built by the Royal Academy of Sciences in 1819 includes 10 million exhibits. The museum houses specimens of flora and fauna, the collection of minerals, and natural resources.
»  In 1916, the museum moved to the building complex built specifically for it. In the museum, researchers from several universities Stockholm work. There is also the Bird Banding Laboratory.
»  In the IMAX Cosmonova cinema, you can watch 3D documentaries. The hall is equipped with a ceiling screen of perforated aluminum, which creates an illusion that you are in the film. Emotional individuals and small children are not recommended to watch some films.
»  Exhibitions are organized in such a way that you can not only see exhibits on stands, but also take a look into some phenomena. At the “Smart Person” exhibition, you can look inside different organs, e.g. the head, the heart, or the stomach, and learn about how they work. The exhibition dedicated to Earth, you can hear sounds of magma, as well as see dinosaurs’ eggs, mammoths, and a huge sea monster. You can see meteorites, precious stones, and minerals at the exhibition “Treasures from the Earth Interior”.

National Museum, Stockholm

Location on the map:     Interesting facts:
» The National Museum in Sweden houses a lot of art objects. Besides the museum, they are also kept in several Swedish royal castles and the Museum of Porcelain. The first pieces of art were collected by King Gustav Vasa in the middle of the 16th century.
»  In the middle of the 18th century, the Swedish envoy Carl Tessin bought a lot of paintings for the king’s collection in Paris. In 1792, the collection was donated to the National Museum.
»  In 1866, the German architect August Stüler completed the construction of a new museum building. The rich collection puts the museum on a par with the Louvre, the Prado Museum, or the National Gallery in London.
»  Here, you can see picturesque paintings of such Dutch, French, Italian, and English artists, as: van Gogh, Rembrandt, Rubens, El Greco, Perugino, Goya, Renoir, Gauguin, etc. They are gems of the museum collection.
»  The museum had been closed for reconstruction until 2018. When the museum was renovated, its exhibits were kept in the Academy of Fine Arts.

Nobel Museum, Stockholm

Location on the map:     Interesting facts:
» The Nobel Prize Museum was opened in 2001 in the former stock exchange building. It was opened to mark the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize establishment by Alfred Nobel (1833-1896).
»  The prize has been awarded since 1901 in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, peace. 800 people have become prize winners since.
»  The museum is decorated in an unusual and non-standard way. There’s a kind of cableway under the ceiling running through all the halls, bearing portraits of the laureates.
»  The museum shows films, organizes conferences and exhibitions dedicated to famous laureates.
»  The museum has a cafe where you can relax and eat, and if you turn your chairs over, you can see the Nobel laureates’ autographs. It’s surely an entertaining place to visit.

Nordic Museum, Stockholm

Location on the map:     Interesting facts:
» The Nordic Museum is located on the island of Djurgården. It keeps within its walls the history and culture of the Swedish from 1520 to the present day.
»  During his life, collector Artur Hazelius (1833 - 1901) collected, bought pieces of furniture, clothes, toys from all over Sweden and other northern countries.
»  The permanent museum building was erected in 1907. This magnificent building had features of the best Danish palaces. The main hall has a huge statue of Gustav Vasa, the king of Sweden that restored the country’s independence.
»  The collection includes 1.5 million exhibits and a large series of photographs – about 6 million shots.
»  Visitors to the museum are invited to participate in role playing, for example, working on a farm or cooking food without electricity and water supply. To immerse fully in the role play, visitors can change into historical costumes.
»  The museum has its own farm and shop where visitors can buy modern and classic products, fabrics, books, jewellery, and, of course, traditional woolen gloves.

Riddarholm Church, Stockholm

Location on the map:   Interesting facts: » Riddarholm Church was built at the abbey in the 80s of the 13th century.
»  In the 16th century, the abbey was reconstructed and a tower with a wooden spire was added to it. In 1835, the wooden spire was replaced by an iron one.
»  In 1807, church workers were dismissed and religious services stopped being held.
»  At the church, Swedish monks were buried. The oldest grave here is of Magnus Ladulas who died in 1293. He was the king of the Folkung dynasty and the son of Birger Jarl, the founder of Stockholm. Since that time, 17 royalties and members of their families were buried at the church.
»  At Riddarholm Church, legendary Charles XII found his final resting place. It was his troops that were defeated at Poltava. In 1950, the deceased started to be buried at the cemetery of Hagaparken.
»  On the walls of the church, there are 1 748 arms of knights of the Royal Order of the Seraphim. Since the foundation of the Order in 1748, every entrant receives his own coat of arms. It is kept in the Royal Palace. When a knight dies, his coat of arms is taken to the church and the bells ring for an hour, from 12:00 to 13:00.

Culture and monuments in popular cities of Sweden

Stockholm
Rosendahl Palace is an important destination for excursions. This is a beautiful architectural monument of the beginning of the 19th century. Originally the building was the place of rest for the royal family. Near the palace is located a large garden with fountains and pavilions. Now the beautiful building is converted into a museum, in the halls of which you can see beautiful antique furnishings and exquisite decor items. In the city are also opened various interesting museums and … Read more
Goteborg
Kronhuset is the oldest building in the city that has managed to survive till our days. The construction of the building was completed in 1643. Initially the building was intended to become an artillery arsenal. The building of East India Company was built several years later. It also has managed to survive in its original form till our days. Currently the large-scale building is the location of two large museums – an archaeological and a historical one. You will find Slottsskogen (Palace … Read more
Malmo
A few beautiful buildings are located around the ancient Lilla Torg square. These were built in the 17th – 18th centuries. The characteristic feature of the buildings of that period is fancy turrets. Such turrets are decorating almost every building set in the neighborhood of the square. The oldest building of the city is considered to be St. Peter’s Church which was established in the 14th century. This ascetic and grave Gothic style building features unique interior decoration. The halls … Read more
Uppsala
There is an interesting religious attraction in the city - the beautiful Skattkammaren Cathedral. Its construction has begun in 1260 and ended only in the early 15th century. The beautiful cathedral is one of the oldest religious buildings of the country. On the territory of the cathedral there are tombs of prominent historical figures and representatives of royal families. The golden tomb of St. Eric attracts special interest of tourists. One of the towers of the cathedral is converted into a … Read more
Norrkoping
The place where the building stands now was once a swamp. To make the building's foundation as strong as possible, more than 4,000 concrete pillars had to be driven into the ground. Today, the main feature of the Town Hall is its 69-meter-tall tower visible from many city streets. At the top of the tower, you'll find the most popular observation deck in town overlooking many other city attractions. The facade of the town hall is of great interest too - ancient niches with beautiful sculptures … Read more
Kalmar
The Öland Bridge is one more famous symbol of Kalmar. This is the longest bridge in Sweden. The length of the bridge is 6,000 meters, and its height reaches 40 meters in the middle. The height is not random – the bridge was constructed in a way to make sure that ships can sail without any trouble. This motorway bridge connects Kalmar with Färjestaden on Öland Island. The bridge also offers a fantastic view of the Kalmar Strait. However, tourists need to remember that this bridge is not … Read more
Vasteras
Vacationers should not forget to make a walk on the central square as there are also several notable buildings there, as well as bronze statues of famous residents of Vasteras - Johannes Rudbeckius and Carl Milles. Rudbeckius founded the first gymnasium in the city and later became the head of the eparchial library. The eparchial castle attracts numerous tourists and is widely known as one of the most attractive buildings in the city. It is important to mention that all historical … Read more
Kristianstad
Even now you can see the preserved royal monograms on it. Another characteristic of the building is high windows. In total there are 26 of them, thanks to the windows all the inner space is flooded with natural light in the daytime. The height of the old church tower is 53 meters, which makes it visible from many city streets. The interior of the church is also striking in its splendor. It has preserved beautiful sculptures, stucco elements, as well as religious artifacts brought here several … Read more

Sweden map of cultural and historical sites

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