Earlier this month, I visited Stockholm, a trip I had dreamed about since childhood. Last year, I celebrated my 50th birthday and chose this journey as my birthday present. The problem was that we were also planning a trip to Florence, so it wasn’t financially possible to do both in the same year. I don’t like to deny myself things, so we postponed Stockholm until this year—and now it has finally happened.
The main goal of my trip was to visit the museums. My country, Poland, has been graced with visits from the Swedes twice in history: once in the 1650s and again in the early 18th century. As a result, we now have quite extensive museum collections from that period, and seeing these items was the main purpose of my visit. Stockholm is also a great destination for those interested in Vikings, and the icing on the cake was the Vasa Museum. I managed to visit all of these places.
1. Skansen.
The first place I visited was Skansen, the world’s first open-air museum. It showcases the architecture and culture of various regions of Sweden and is an excellent source of inspiration for historical architecture and related topics. Skansen also features a small zoo highlighting Scandinavian wildlife.
2. Livrustkammaren
The first museum on my list was the Royal Armoury, where some of the items stolen from Poland during the Deluge (1655–60) are housed. It also contains objects belonging to Swedish kings. The exhibition devoted to Gustavus Adolphus is particularly interesting. While I was in this room, a guided tour passed by, and as the guide explained the causes of the king’s death and why he couldn't wear armour, only a leather collar, I felt a certain sense of relief. The museum also has an impressive collection of royal carriages. Below are a few photos; more are available in the Flickr gallery linked below.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720333587253/
3. Armemuseum
This museum probably took me the longest to visit. It presents the history of the Swedish army from ancient times to the present day. The main emphasis is on Swedish expansion in the 17th century, the Great Northern War, and the Napoleonic Wars.
The museum also houses many artefacts looted from Poland by the Swedes during their “visits” to our country. For me, the most fascinating exhibits were the banners captured during the numerous wars fought by the Swedes. Among them are Polish, Lithuanian, Cossack, Muscovite/Russian, Danish, Saxon, and many other banners.
It’s best to start your visit on the top floor and work your way down; that way, you can follow the collections in chronological order. At the very bottom, there is an exhibition devoted to artillery and its crews.
The museum also offers a comprehensive overview of 20th-century history, including both world wars, and features an extensive collection related to the main participants in each conflict. They even have a Goliath! There is also a rich collection of firearms, ranging from ancient times to the present day. However, I was a bit disappointed with the museum shop, as it is small and offers a very limited selection of books.
Outside the museum, there is a collection of cannons, including a Stridsvagn 103 tank and a Bofors anti-aircraft gun. I was especially pleased to see the Bofors gun, as I have a model of it in my pile of shame that I plan to paint. I’ve included a few photos in this report, but for more, I recommend visiting my full gallery on Flickr; the link is below the photos.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720333598779/
4. Historiska
I visited this museum for its Viking collection, which includes many artefacts discovered at Birka. The museum houses an extensive array of weapons and armaments from that era. A particularly fascinating highlight is the so‑called Golden Room, featuring an exhibition of jewellery and treasures from the same period. The museum also presents Swedish history from ancient times to the present day, with a particularly interesting display of wooden altars from historic Swedish churches.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720333709428/
5. Vasa.
The main purpose of my visit to this city was to see this ship. I remember devouring Eugeniusz Koczorowski’s book on the Battle of Oliwa (it’s a bit dated now, but at the time it sparked my interest in naval warfare history). It was in this book that I first saw and read about this ship, and from that moment on, I wanted to see it in person.
I wasn’t disappointed—the ship is stunning: its size, its decorations, and the entire history associated with this vessel. The museum presents this story in a very engaging way.
If you ever plan to visit this museum, I recommend purchasing tickets online to avoid long lines at the ticket office. Entry to the other museums was easy; I had bought tickets in advance here as well and didn’t regret it. I saved a lot of time that I could then spend exploring the ship itself.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720333693985/
6. Viking Musem.
This tiny museum is worth visiting for a very simple reason: it’s run by enthusiasts and historical reenactors. They are its greatest asset, and I’ll cherish the conversations I had with the people who run it. Their vast knowledge is obvious.
In addition, the museum offers a fascinating presentation on the life of Harald Sigurdsson, known as Hardrada, which is far more historically accurate than the trash presented on Netflix.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720333721619/
7. Nordiska.
I’d like to share a report from the last museum I visited. It showcases the rich culture of the northern peoples. This very interesting museum helps us understand contemporary Swedes, their culture, and their national heritage. It is also noteworthy for its impressive 19th-century building.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720333692937/
Of course, I also visited a few other places in Stockholm, but they’re beyond the scope of this blog. Those who follow me on Facebook may have already seen these additional attractions. There are still a few more spots I’d like to visit in the future that I simply didn’t have the time or opportunity to see this time around. Overall, Stockholm left a very positive impression on me.
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