Stockholm (volume II)

Slottsbacken Tre kronor

The monumental building of the Royal palace of "three kings" (Slottsbacken Tre kronor) towers on the opposite side of Rikcsdag. The word-combination "Tre kronor" is known to everyone who heard though something about Sweden.
"Tre kronor" is partially opened for tourists (cash departments are in the western court yard). However it's difficult enough to examine it entirely for a day: there are more than 500 rooms with a set of ancient Gobelin tapestries and pictures. Some museums enter into a palace complex.

Royal Palace

The fortress where Swedish kings lived appeared on the northern side of the island in the XIII century. However numerous fires destroyed almost all buildings of that time. The unique escaped wing of an ancient fortress is transformed into a museum "Tre kronor". In the XVI century Gustav Vasa began a construction of his residence on a place of the castle Birger Jarl. An emblem with three crowns decorated it. However this building burned down as well.
The building existing nowadays was built in 1754. After a fire 1697 king Charles XII charged to continue work to the Italian architect N.Tessin - younger. However works were stretched for some decades. Now the palace is used as "a study" of the king.

Storkyrkan St. Nikolai

There is Sacred Nikolay's Cathedral (Storkyrkan St. Nikolai) from the western side of the Royal palace. Its second name - Sturchurka, it means "a city cathedral". The construction of the temple, devoted to the patron of seamen, began in the XIII century, simultaneously with the first Royal castle. But it came to an end only in the XVIII century. Now this is the oldest building in the city.
Since the XV century the Swedish kings were crowned there. Burial services over outstanding Swedes (for example, in 2002 - A.Lindgren) took place there. Speeches of owners of the Nobel Prize happen annually in Sacred Nikolay's Cathedral.
May-September: daily 9.00-18.00. October-April: daily 9.00-16.00.

Stortorget

The main square Stortorget is the heart of the city. It's more than 700 years old. Many streets of the old city are crossed there. There are many tourists everyday. Stones in the centre of the square remind about tragical "the Stockholm bloody bath" when more than 100 people were executed there. The majority of buildings appeared there in the XVII-XIX centuries. Their facades are trimmed by an elegant groove and a sculpture. A well was kept also since the XVII century.
The most appreciable building on the square - Borshuset (Stock exchange building). It was built on a place of an old town hall by E.Palmsted in a style of classicism in 1778.
Nobelmuseet (Nobel Museum) devoted to winners of the premium works there now.
May, 16th - September, 15: Monday, Wednesday - Sunday 10.00-18.00. Tuesday 10.00-20.00. September, 16th - May, 15th: Tuesday 11.00-20.00, Wednesday - Sunday 11.00-17.00.
www. nobelprize.org/nobel/nobelmuseum.
There is a House of the adviser fon Schanz decorated by bas-reliefs to the left of Borshuset. The city church for homeless people is located on another side of the square.

Norrmalm - Drottinggatan

Norrmalm - one of the youngest areas of Stockholm. Almost all its old buildings were demolished in 1960th when authorities conceived to create Stockholm City.
Walking street Drottinggatan is one of the most beautiful streets of this area. The name of the street is translated from Swedish as "a street of queen" and connected with a name of Queen Christina, the founders of the National museum. The street appeared in 1630th and was stretched through the whole Norrmalm.

Stadshuset

The main sight of Kungsholmen-island is the City Hall (Stadshuset). It was constructed in 1911-1923 on a place of the first in Sweden steam mill. The building of the Town hall is an imitation of Venetian temples and medieval fortresses. The building is decorated by painting and sculptures in spirit of national romanticism. The tower has three gilt crowns on its top.
Excursions: Monday-Sunday 10.00, 12.00. In the summer: 11.00, 14.00 and 15.00.

Tyskakyrkan

German merchants constructed Tyskakyrkan church in the XVII century on their own money. In the middle of the XIX century the church underwent to significant alteration: there was a bell tower with dragons-drainage systems and a stained-glass window at the entrance, representing Sacred Gerthruda, the patroness of travellers.
(Monday - Sunday 9.00-16.00)

Gamla Stan

A walk around narrow old streets of Gamla Stan is pleasant at any time. However streets are over flown by people in the afternoon. This part of Stockholm gets special charm in the evening when streets become empty; they are shined with weak light. At this time it is possible to plunge into an atmosphere of a medieval city and to take pleasure in its beauty without handicaps through crowds of tourists.

Changing of the guard

Walking around Gamla Stan, it is possible to observe a solemn changing of the guard at the western court yard of the Royal palace
(Monday-Friday 12.00; Saturday-Sunday 13.00).
www.hogvakten.mil.se

Gamla-Stan shops

As well as in any European city - the tourist centre - souvenirs are on sale practically everywhere. Walking on Gamla-Stan it is difficult to give up a pleasure to watch out colourful show-windows of numerous shops, to come into a small gift shop and to buy something for memory. We were involved with show-windows with figures of various trolls.

Gamla-Stan souvenirs

Irina could not pass by a show-window with a figure of the German shepherd. We could not buy it, but instead of it we bought a mug with views of Stockholm.

Travelling by ferry and car

Arrangement in a hotel of Scandic is very convenient for those who visit Sweden by Silja-line ferry. Booking of a room occurs simultaneously to purchase of a ferry ticket.
This procedure essentially simplifies a reception of the visa to non-residents of the countries of the European community.

Money exchange

While going to Sweden we knew that this country, being a member of EU, nevertheless has kept national currency - the Swedish crone. It is difficult to judge an expediency of such a decision. But it so! I assumed to change euro for Swedish crones directly in the sea port where our ferry arrived. What was my surprise when I have found out, that there was no exchange office in the port! On my question where I could change currency, I received an answer - in the city in Forex exchange offices.
That was why we came in the city not having any crone. It was necessary to park the car to find exchange office and on foot go on searches. But parking does not happen free-of-charge! A trap! So we have run into the penalty... But to pay the penalty we had no money! A second trap!!! It was possible to solve this problem with huge work. Travellers, take our mistake into account!

From Turku to Stockholm by ferry

A travel on a ferry from Turku to Stockholm was very convenient and inexpensive. All the way of 300 kilometres lasted 10 hours. We have slept rather well and overcame the long distance. Our car waited for us on a special deck.
The ferry is equipped by a lot of restaurants and entertaining places. At your desire it was possible not only to have a rest but also to have a good time. Our dogs peacefully slept in a cabin while we were walking on a huge sea liner Silja-line.

Motorway E20

Our hotel was on a half-way from Stockholm to airport Arlanda. These were 12 kilometres on motorway E20. When we went on our evening excursion to the city, we flew by these 12 kilometres very quickly. I have missed a turn to the city centre. We continued driving, expecting to see the following index. However in 5-10 minutes we understood that the city appeared behind us.
We were very surprised by such small sizes of Stockholm. After huge Moscow this city seemed to us simply tiny!

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