The Royal Palace, the Old Town and Riddarholmen

Riddarholmen and the Old Town is the heart of Stockholm. This is where the history of Stockholm starts. The buildings on Riddarholmen were built during Swedens period as a great power. In four decades in the 17th century the city fourfold it's population to 40 000.

BIRGER JARLS TORG, Riddarholmen. Great startingpoint for a historic and architectural sight-seeing in the heart of Stockholm. This is where the statue of Birger Jarl, the founder of Stockholm 750 years ago, is placed. In 1252 Stockholm is mentioned for the first time in correspondence between Birger Jarl and his son. WRANGEL PALACE, Birger Jarls Torg 16 During the 17th century this was the largest private palace in Stockholm. After the Royal Palace was burnt down in 1697, the Royal family residenced here for 56 years. Today we find the Court of appeal in the building. RIDDARHOLMSCHURCH, Birger Jarls Torg Free admission with Stockholm à la Carte! This is the eldest church in Stockholm, built between 1280 -1310. It holds almost all the graves of Swedish Royalty. BIRGER JARLS TOWER, Norra Riddarholmshamnen Together with the Wrangel palace this tower is the only building left of Gustav Vasas defensive works. STENBOCKSKA PALATSET, Birger Jarls Torg 4 Another grand palace built during the Swedish period of Great Power.1863 the National Archives moved into the building. HOUSE OF NOBILITY, Riddarhustorget 10 Free admission with Stockholm à la Carte! To move over from Riddarholmen to the Old Town, use the bridge Riddarholmsbron and the first magnificent building you will see is Riddarhuset. This is where the Nobility use to meet and the building is still owned by the Swedish Nobility. The house is built in the middle of the 17th century by drawings of Jean de la Vallée. The two pavilions looking out across the water was built 200 years later. STRÖMSBORG, Norrström Between Centralbron and Vasabron, Strömsborg is situated. Built in the 19th century as a restaurant, nowadays an officebuilding. THE PARLIAMENT, Helgeandsholmen The present site of the House of Parliament and the Bank of Sweden. Enjoy the beautiful view over Norrström.

ROYAL PALACE Free admission with Stockholm à la Carte! The Old Town is dominated by the Royal Palace. The present palace was built on the site of the old palace which burnt down in 1697. Nicodemus Tessin the younger and Carl Hårleman were the architects. A large number of foreign artists, especially from France, was engaged to decorate the palace and that is why the interior has features of different styles. SLOTTSBACKEN Two very impressing ornaments decorates Slottsbacken. By the cathedral Storkyrkan is the Obelisk (Jean-Louis Desprez) from 1797. It's an expression for the ideal that dominated the Gustavian era. By the water is a statue of Gustav III, the foremost Gustavian, sculptured by Tobias Sergel. TESSIN PALACE, Slottsbacken 6 According to some people this house is the most beautiful private building north of Paris. In 1697 the Swedish architect Nicodemus Tessin the younger built the house to himself at the period he was building the Royal palace. Today the house is the residence of the county governor. STORKYRKAN The church was opened in 1306 and today it is the Cathredal of Stockholm. During the 18th century the church was rebuilt to fit the baroque surroundings. Inside the church the famous statue St. George and the Dragon is placed. STORTORGET In 1520 the cobbles ran with blood during the Stockholm Bloodbath. 80 nobles were murdered before king Gustav Vasa put an end to it. Today Stortorget is the centre of the Old Town from which narrow streets fan out in all directions. During December the square is filled with Christmas marketsstalls. BÖRSHUSET, Stortorget In this beautiful building from the 18th century the Swedish Academy and the Stock Exhange is accommodated. The building is in focus every year during the Nobel Prize. The Nobel museum occupies the groundfloor - free admission with Stockholm à la Carte. GRILLSKA HUSET, Stortorget This facade is one of Stockholms most portraited. The existing exterior dates back to 18th century but the rest of the house is from the Middle Ages.

A stroll on Djurgården

Djurgården is the number one strollingarea in Stockholm. It has a unique mix of beautiful nature and cultural establishment. On this tour we will stay mainly outside.

DJURGÅRDSLINJEN TRAM Free trips with Stockholm à la Carte! The best way to get in a relaxed mood before your walk on Djurgården, take the tram. The old-fashioned veteranstyle trams are driven by enthusiastic members of the Swedish tramassociation. It is also possible to reach Djurgården by taking the bus, number 44 or 47.

DJURGÅRDEN BRIDGE From Östermalm and Strandvägen you reach Djurgården via the bridge Djurgårdsbron. It was built in 1897 and the decoration consists of sculptured old gods of Asa and beautiful cast iron railings.

GALÄRPARKEN Free admission with Stockholm à la Carte! Turn right after Djurgårdsbron and you will be in the park Galärparken. In the park you will find some of the foremost attractions in Stockholm including Junibacken. Do not miss to visit the Vasamuseum, probably one of the top ten most attractive sights in the world.

ESTONIA MINNESVÅRDEN In connection with the church in Galärparken there is a monument honoring the victims of the Estonia catastrophe in September 1994. A tree is placed in the middle of the triangled room indicating the position of the ship at the time of the accident.

 DJURGÅRDEN ISLAND Continue your walk passing by the Liljevalchs Art Gallery, Aquaria Water Museum, the amusementpark Gröna Lund and the world famous Skansen Open Air Museum. Take the opportunity to visit the attractions. Free admission with Stockholm à la Carte! Djurgårdsstaden (city of Djurgården) is to be found behind Gröna Lund. Uniqe buildings of wood dating back to the 18th century. The well conditioned houses is today private residences for about 200 people.

SKANSEN OPEN AIR MUSEUM Free admission with Stockholm à la Carte! On the other side of Djurgårdsvägen is  the main entrance to Skansen. This world-famous open air museum represents a major part of the Swedish cultural heritage. Visit old farms and houses, all brought here from different original locations througout Sweden. See also workshops, tools and a zoo, exposing Nordic animals.

ROSENDAL PALACE AND TERRACE Free admission with Stockholm à la Carte! Continue your walk to the east towards Bellmansro and then turn north. Finally you will reach the Royal out-of-town residence Rosendal with its beautiful garden. The palace, which was built for Karl XIV Johan, is today a museum. The gardens are a center for biodynamic cultivation offering courses and lectures on the same topic. Coffee, sandwiches etc. are served in the popular terrace café.

Skeppsholmen

Cultural life and naval history. Skeppsholmen has old traditions of being a center of naval architecture. Gradually the seamen moved out and a rich cultural life explored on the island. Enjoy a beautiful and quick walk around the island.

SKEPPSHOLMEN BRIDGE Skeppsholmen is reached from Blasieholmen via the bridge Skeppsholmsbron. The bridge was built in 1861 in Motala after drawings by G. de Geer. It consists of five, more than 30 meter long span of malleable iron which was a innovation during this time. The monogram on the picture is Karl XV:s, the Swedish King at the time.

AF CHAPMAN We continue our walk counter-clockwise along Västra Brobänken towards the beautiful full-rigged ship af Chapman. She was built in 1888 in Whitehaven, England and until 1908 she was sailed as a British cargo ship. Sold to Sweden, she was renamed D G Kennedy. Later, as a training ship for the Swedish navy, she was named af Chapman. She kept that name when she became a youth hostel in 1949. The ship got its name from the great naval architect Fredric Henric af Chapman.

AMIRALITETSHUSET Opposite the ship af Chapman you will find the old house of Admiralty, built in the middle of the 17th century. The purpose of the house has been varied, it has been used as barracks, govnermentbuildings and for storage. In the middle of the 18th century the decayed building got a new look by the architect Fredrik Blom.

KONSTHÖGSKOLAN Further down, where the street changes-over to Södra Brobänken, is the Royal University College of Fine Arts. Originally the building was built as barracks for boatswains but was turned into a school during the 1950´s. The entrance is guarded by the Calydonian boar.

KASTELLHOLMEN We leave Skeppsholmen for a while and make a little detour to Kastellholmen. In 1660 a citadel was built to protect the entrance to Stockholm. The present citadel was built 1848 from where salutes are fired at noon every weekday and at 1 P.M. on weekends. Every morning the Swedish naval flag is hoisted. Just outside this steep cliff the warship Vasa sank during its maiden voyage in 1628.

LÅNGA RADEN On our way back over the Kastellholmsbron (built 1880), we walk Amiralsvägen and cross Långa Raden. These buildings was built in the end of the 17th century as barracks for the bodyguards of Karl XII. Except the gables, the building look almost the same as it did originally. Långa raden accommodates the Swedish National Council for Cultural Affairs but also exhibitionhalls and private residences.

MUSEUM OF MODERN ART Free admission with Stockholm à la Carte! In the heart of Skeppsholmen the Museum of Modern Art, built in 1998 when Stockholm was the European City of Culture, is located. The building, accomplished by drawings by the Spanish architectural Rafael Moneo, holds more than 1000 square meters of exhibition space.

FESTIVALPLATSEN, Östra Brobänken Below the Museum of Modern Art is Slupskjulsplan where festivals are often held, for example the Stockholm International Jazz & Blues Festival. During 5 days in July world-renowned artists and groups from Sweden and abroad are coming to Stockholm to appear in the Jazzfestival.

ENGELSKA PARKEN We stroll back through the wooded walkingpath to Svensksundvägen. The thickly wooded Skeppsholmen dates back to the 18th century when the English park was built. Skeppsholmen was once actually a royal garden during the Vasa era.

PARADISET On your way back along Svensksundvägen you will pass the Paradise. This spectacular sculpturegroup is performed by Jean Tinguely and Niki de Saint Phallo. It was shown the first time during the world exhibition in Montreal 1963 and since 1972 it's been on Skeppsholmen.

SKEPPSHOLMSKYRKAN One style.Builtof Swedens best preserved church of Empire style. Built 1824-42 after drawings by Fredrik Blom and has kept its exterior and interior.

THE MUSEUM OF FAR EASTERN ANTIQUITIES Free admission with Stockholm à la Carte! The last stop on this walk around Skeppsholmen is a long, thin building. The Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities where you will find collections of Chinese stoneware and other pieces of art from Japan, Korea and India.

MONTELIUSVÄGEN A beautiful strollingpath along Söder Mälarstrand and Mariaberget. The view over the water, the City Hall and the Old Town is outstanding!

MOSEBACKE Make a trip up Katarinahissen, an old 19th century elevator that takes you to the heights of Södermalm. From there it is only a short walk to Mosebacke torg. In the middle of the 19th century the square teemed with activity. Enjoy the beautiful view from the terrace on Mosebacke.

FJÄLLGATAN Fjällgatan offers the most splendid panoramic view of Stockholm. The picturesque wooden houses gives a special atmosphere. Walk down the stairs Sista styverns trappor and continue on Stigbergsgatan.

DROTTNINGHOLM Free boat ride and free admission to the Drottningholm Palace, Drottningholm Court Theatre and the Chinese Pavilion with Stockholm à la Carte. From Stadshuskajen the trip to Drottningholm takes about 50 minutes with steamer. The palace is the beautiful residence of the Swedish Royal family. The palaces, the theater and the garden on Drottningholm is all on UNESCO´s world heritage list.

HAGA Free admission with Stockholm à la Carte! The park Haga is part of the first nationalpark in the world. Here is a couple of sights worth exploring, for example the Pavilion of Gustav III and the Butterfly House. This is where Gustav III started to build his Versaille inspired royal out-of-town residence. A fateful masked ball put an end to the plans. Ruins of the foundation of the house is all that remains. Among all the beautiful building in the park, Ekotemplet has a special atmosphere. This is where Gustav III and his family ate their meals during summer. The palace Haga slott, built during the 19th century, was the home for the present king and his four sisters during their childhood.

VÄSTERBRON The bridge Västerbron is since 70 years a well known silhouette in Stockholm. On a beautiful morning, take a walk out to the top of the bridge and watch the sunrise. Magnificent! Västerbron links Kungsholmen and Södermalm together.

EVERT TAUBES TERRASS The terrace overlooking the water and Ridarholmen is offering a nice atmosphere and a beautiful view over the water. A statue over the Swedish troubadour Evert Taube keeps your company.

LÅNGHOLMEN Is it possible for an old prison to offer atmosphere? Absolutely! The prison on this island is torn down but the old remand prison built in 1835 is turned into a hotel. The island also has a popular beach.