Page 145 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Stockholm
P. 145
EX CURSIONS FROM ST OCKHOLM 143
EXCURSIONS FROM
STOCKHOLM
Stockholm’s strategic location between the Baltic Sea and Lake Mälaren
provides the backdrop for a range of excursions that offer an insight into
Swedish life and history. To the east lies the beautiful archipelago with its
24,000 islands and skerries. To the west are the more sheltered beaches and
islands of Mälaren with a cultural heritage stretching back to the time of the
Vikings and before.
The wide stretches of water to the east Around Lake Mälaren’s shores are many
and west of Stockholm are markedly other majestic palaces, elegant manor
different, in terms of both their natural houses and small historic towns like
environ ment and history. The Vikings and Mariefred, which was established in the
their ancestors headed west from the early 17th century and has retained its
capital towards the present-day Lake old-time character ever since. It is home
Mälaren for defensive reasons, before the to Sweden’s National Portrait Gallery.
gradual rising of the land transformed To the east of the city, the rising of the
what was once a Baltic inlet into a land since the Ice Age has provided a
freshwater lake. largely untouched archipelago with over
Sweden’s first town, Birka, was founded 24,000 islands, rocks and skerries. The
on the island of Björkö in the 8th scene of many enemy attacks from the
century, but archaeological finds sea, the archipelago lacks the cultural
indicate that people have been using treasures that characterize Mälaren, but
this area for trading with other countries it does boast plenty of splendid natural
since the 6th century. Evidence of these scenery. The boat trip from Nybrokajen
early residents can be found on Björkö or Slussen to the leafy Fjäderholmarna
to this day. Along with the royal palace islands takes about half an hour, but a full
of Drottningholm, on nearby Lovön, day should be allowed for an excursion to
Birka is included on the list of UNESCO the outer archipelago with its smooth
World Heritage Sites. rocks and wide bays.
Enjoying the sunny weather in the grounds of Drottningholm Palace
The sun sets behind the bell tower of Stadshuset in Kungsholmen
142-143_EW_Stockholm.indd 143 19/09/17 12:01 pm
