Page 151 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Stockholm

DRO T TNINGHOLM  149

(Kina Slott) which is still one (1560–1626) were war
of the major attractions at trophies from Prague in
Drottningholm. The polished- 1648 and from Fredriks-
tile building was designed by borg Castle in Denmark
C F Adelcrantz (1716–96). in 1659.
At this time there was great The avenues of
European interest in all things chestnut trees were
Chinese. In 1733 the newly laid out when the
formed East India Company Chinese Pavilion was
made its first journey to China. completed, as well as
After Lovisa Ulrika’s death in the Rococo-inspired
1782 this interest waned, but it garden area – a cross
was rekindled in the 1840s. The between the formal The magnificent 18th-century stage in the
Chinese Pavilion is a mixture of main garden and the Drottningholm Court Theatre
what was consider ed 250 years freer composition of
ago to be typical Chinese style the English park. The Ulrika, but Adelcrantz did not
along with artifacts English park has have the same resour ces as the
from China and natural paths and a architects of the palace itself.
Japan. Efforts have stream with small This simple wooden building
been made to islands, along with with a plaster façade is now the
restore the interior trees and bushes at world’s oldest theatre still
to its original state “natural” irregular preserved in its original
with the help of a intervals. Gustav III is condition. The interior and
1777 inventory. reputed to have fittings are master pieces of
Four smaller been respon sible for simple functionality. The
pavilions belong to its design and also pilasters, for example, are
the building. In the planned several made from gypsum and the
north-eastern buildings. Not all his supports from papier maché.
pavilion the king plans were realized, The scenery, with its wooden
had his lathe and a but he added four hand-driven machinery, is still
carpenter’s bench. statues which he in working order.
Alongside is the had bought during After Gustav III’s death in 1792
Confidencen Tiled stove in a cabinet his travels in Italy. the theatre fell into disuse until
pavilion, where in the Chinese Pavilion The first 300 of a the 1920s, when the machinery
meals were taken if total of 846 lime ropes were replaced, electric
he wished to be left trees were planted in the lighting was installed, and the
undisturbed. The food was avenues flanking the Baroque original wings were refurbished.
prepared in the basement, garden as early as 1684. The scenery is adapted to
the floor opened and the 18th-century plays. It can be
dining table hauled up. The The Court Theatre and changed in just a few seconds
adjoining Turkish-style “watch with the help of up to 30 scene-
tent” was built as a barracks for Theatre Museum shifters. The sound effects are
Gustav III’s dragoons. The designer of the Chinese simple but authen tic: a wooden
Pavilion, Carl Fredrik Adel crantz, box filled with stones creates
was also responsible for the realistic thunder, a wooden
The Palace Park
Drottningholm Court Theatre cylinder covered in tent cloth
The palace’s three gardens are (Slottsteatern), which dates produces a howling wind. Every
each of a completely different from 1766. The theatre was summer there are about 30
character but still combine to commissioned by Queen Lovisa performances, mainly opera and
provide a unified whole. The ballet from the 18th century.
symmetrical formal garden The theatre is open daily for
started to take shape in 1640. visitors to the palace.
The garden was designed to A Theatre Museum and shop
stimulate all senses with sights, are housed in Duke Carl’s
sounds and smells. It starts by pavilion, built in the 1780s.
the palace terrace with its The museum focuses on
“embroi dery” parterre and 18th-century theatre, with
continues as far as the Hercules decoration sketches, pain tings,
statue. The water parterre is scenery models and costumes.
situated on slightly higher A Commedia dell’arte room
ground and is broken up with contains paintings by Pehr
waterfalls and topiaries. The Hilleström and sketches for
sculptures, mainly carved by the Court Theatre stage machinery: the world’s Gustav III’s dramatic productions
Flemish sculptor Adrian de Vries oldest still in use by Louis Jean Desprez.

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