Sightseeing in Vasteras - what to see. Complete travel guide

Vasteras city is located on the shore of the magnificent lake Mälaren. The city is just one hour away from Stockholm and is considered the largest port city of Scandinavia. Despite the fact the city has a huge industrial and economic importance for the whole country this is also a famous resort that attracts thousands of tourists each year. Such popularity has certainly made its impact on the look of the city and here appeared multiple new facilities – hotels, cultural centers and sports complexes. Certainly, all these centers have appeared due to the development of tourist business.

New hotels and yacht clubs appear closer and closer to the lake; you will also find new movie theaters, restaurants and fitness centers. However, this doesn’t mean Vasteras has forgotten about its history and culture. In the suburbs of the city you will find the burials of Vikings who have lived on the territory of the modern Vasteras long ago. Splendid stone-like burial mounds that remind of great events of the medieval times have become one of the most popular destinations for tourists. During Viking times the city has played an important role as a trading center.

When it comes to describing main places of interest of Vasteras, we should definitely mention the central square of the city. Actually, all main sights are located nearby. Here you will see an ancient cathedral built in the 12th century. The spire of one tower of the cathedral is decorated with a crown that looks like one worn by Swedish monarchs. The center of the square is devoted to monuments of Johannes Rudbeck and Carl Milles – outstanding personalities who have played a significant role in the development of the city. Opposite to the cathedral is located the Archbishop Palace that was founded by Johannes Rudbeck. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Besidea visiting cultural places of interest we should definitely mention picturesque nature of Vasteras. The lake is surrounded by amazingly beautiful woods, so you can totally enjoy the magnificent beauty of this place and walk in wonderful parks.

Those who like to walk in picturesque places should definitely look into the historical area of Chyurkbaken. Its atmosphere has remained unchanged for more than a hundred years. In this area there is a unique building of the 19th century, where many outstanding figures of art and culture once lived. Today in the Chyurkbaken area, there are several interesting art galleries and craft workshops in which travelers can buy unique souvenirs.

Lovers of painting will like the local National Gallery, which has collected several hundred unique masterpieces. Here you can see pictures of famous European artists of the turn of the 19th - 20th centuries. In the gallery, there are often interesting temporary exhibitions and thematic events.

A wonderful place for a family vacation will be the open-air Vallby Friluftsmuseum. It is stylized as an ancient village, on the territory of which there is a small farm, various craft workshops and other interesting buildings that are living illustrations of national culture and traditions. The museum will be interesting to walk with young children. They will be able to help in management on a mini-farm, and also look into interesting houses and admire the collections of old exhibits.

In the vicinity of the city there are many interesting old castles, among which the most visited remains the Angso Castle. This castle is associated with several incredible stories. The locals believe that ghosts live within its walls. Walking along the walls of the castle, on one of them, you can see a huge five-meter chain. According to legend, Johan Sigismund Sparre won this chain in cards from the Devil himself.

Fans of unusual attractions should definitely visit the Anundshög mound, which is the largest in Sweden. Its height is 9 meters, and its diameter reaches 64 meters. According to researchers, the age of this mound is more than a thousand years; it was created in the 10th century. The exact history and purpose of the construction of such a huge mound is unknown. According to one version, King Brot-Anund is buried in this place.

One of the most unusual attractions of Vasteras is the Kokpunkten water park. It is worth noting that it was opened in the building of the old steam station. Today it is a favorite vacation spot for fans of water sports. The water park is very bright and unusually decorated.