STOCKHOLM

Stockholm is one of the most beautiful cities in the world I have ever visited. Stockholm is the capital of Sweden. It has long been one of Sweden’s cultural, media, political, and economic centres.

Its strategic location spread across 14 islands on the coast in the south-east of Sweden at the mouth of Lake Mälaren, by the Stockholm archipelago, has been historically important. The city is known for its beauty, its buildings and architecture, its abundant clean and open water, and its many parks

The geographical city centre is situated on the water, in Riddarfjärden bay. Over 30% of the city area is made up of waterways and another 30% is made up of parks and green spaces.

GAMLA STAN

Gamla stan (The Old Town), until 1980 officially Staden mellan broarna (The Town between the Bridges), is the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Gamla stan consists primarily of the island Stadsholmen

The town dates back to the 13th century, and consists of medieval alleyways, cobbled streets, and archaic architecture.North German architecture has had a strong influence in the Old Town’s construction.

Riddarholmen (“The Knights’ Islet”) is a small islet in central Stockholm.

The main landmark is the church Riddarholmskyrkan, the royal burial church since the 16th century and where a number of Swedish monarchs lie buried.

As well as being home to the Stockholm Cathedral, the Nobel Museum, and the Riddarholm church, Gamla stan also boasts Kungliga slottet, Sweden’s baroque Royal Palace built in the 18th century after the previous palace Tre Kronor burned down

The Stockholm Palace is the official residence and principal workplace of the Swedish monarch

 

stockholm city hall

Stockholm City Hall (Stockholms stadshus or Stadshuset locally) is the building of the Municipal Council for the City of Stockholm.

It is the venue of the Nobel Prize banquet and one of Stockholm’s major tourist attractions.

 

museums

Stockholm is one of the most crowded museum-cities in the world with around 100 museums, visited by millions of people every year.The most renowned national museum is the  National Museum with Sweden’s largest collection of art: 16,000 paintings and 30,000 objects of art handicraft.

The Museum of Medieval Stockholm (Swedish: Stockholms medeltidsmuseum), centrally located north of the Royal Palace, was constructed around old monuments excavated in an extensive archaelogical dig (dubbed Riksgropen, “National/State Pit”) in the late 1970s

DJURGARDEN

Djurgården or, more officially, Kungliga Djurgården (“The (Royal) Game Park”) is an island in central Stockholm. Djurgården is home to historical buildings and monuments, museums, galleries, the amusement park Gröna Lund, the open air museum Skansen, the small residential area Djurgårdsstaden, yacht harbours, and extensive stretches of forest and meadows.

It is one of the Stockholmers’ favorite recreation areas and tourist destination alike, attracting over 10 million visitors per year, of which some 5 million come to visit the museums and amusement park.

Skansen (the Sconce) is the first open-air museum and zoo in Sweden and is located on the island Djurgarden.It was founded in 1891 by Artur Hazelius (1833–1901) to show the way of life in the different parts of Sweden before the industrial era.

Djurgården consists of green areas offering footpaths and water front promenades among present or historical upper class residences and old institutional buildings, many of which are regarded as historical monuments of national interest

The Nordic Museum (Swedish: Nordiska museet) is a museum dedicated to the cultural history and ethnography of Sweden from the Early Modern age (which for purposes of Swedish history is said to begin in 1520) until the contemporary period.

Biologiska museet exhibits a collection of stuffed European birds and mammals in dioramas

Vasa museum is a maritime museum displaying the only intact 17th-century ship. One of the most visited museums in Scandinavia.

Drottningholm Palace

Apart from being Sweden’s capital, Stockholm houses many national cultural institutions. The Stockholm region is home to three of Sweden’s World Heritage Sites – spots judged as invaluable places that belong to all of humanity: The Drottningholm Palace, Skogskyrkogården(The Woodland Cemetery) and Birka. In 1998, Stockholm was named European Capital of Culture.

The Drottningholm Palace (Drottningholms slott) is the private residence of the Swedish royal family. It is located in Drottningholm.

Built on the island Lovön (in Ekerö Municipality of Stockholm County), it is one of Sweden’s Royal Palaces.

It was originally built in the late 16th century. It served as a residence of the Swedish royal court for most of the 18th century. Apart from being the private residence of the Swedish royal family, the palace is a popular tourist attraction.

KARLSTAD

Karlstad is the capital of Varmnland County, and the largest city in the province Varmnland in Sweden.

It is built on the river delta where Sweden’s longest river, Klaralven, runs into Sweden’s largest lake, Vanern

Karlstad is often associated with sunshine and the symbol for Karlstad is a smiling sun. Karlstad is reputed to be one of the sunniest towns in Sweden

 

MARIEFRED

Mariefred is a locality situated in Strängnäs Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden with 3,726 inhabitants in 2010.Mariefred, despite its small population, is for historical reasons often still referred to as a city.

The name is derived from that of the former Carthusian monastery here, Mariefred Charterhouse, and means “Peace of Mary” (the former name was Gripsholm). It lies roughly 65 kilometres west of Stockholm. The Royal Gripsholm Castle is located in the town.

Gripsholm Castle (Swedish: Gripsholms slott, Mariefred) is a castle in Mariefred, Sodermanland,Sweden. It is located by lake Malaren in south central Sweden, in the municipality of Strangnas

A fortress was built at the location around 1380 by Bo Jonsson Grip, and belonged to his family until the confiscation of mansions and castles by King Gustav I in 1526. The King tore it down, and built a fortified castle with circular corner towers and a wall, for defensive purposes. Of the original medieval fortress, only the façade of a wall remains.

Since Gustav Vasa, Gripsholm has belonged to the Swedish Royal Family and was used as their residence until 1713.The castle was  used as a prison several times

Now the castle is a museum which is open to the public, containing paintings and works of art.

all pictures are properties of ani krisnamurti

text taken from expedia