Page 96 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Stockholm

94  ST OCKHOLM AREA B Y AREA

6 Vasamuseet

After a maiden voyage of just 1,300 m (4,265 ft) in calm
weather, the royal warship Vasa capsized in Stock holm’s
harbour on 10 August 1628. About 30 people went down with
what was supposed to be the pride of the Navy, only 100 m
(330 ft) off the southernmost point of Djurgården. Most of the
guns were salvaged from the vessel in the 17th century, but Gun-Port Lion
it was not until 1956 that a marine archaeologist’s persistent More than 200 carved
search led to the rediscovery of Vasa. After a complex salvage ornaments and 500 sculp ted
figures decorate Vasa.
operation followed by a 17-year conservation programme, the
city’s most popular museum was opened in June 1990, less
than a nautical mile from the scene of the disaster.

. Lion Figurehead
King Gustav II Adolf, who
com missioned Vasa, was
known as the Lion of the
North. So a springing lion
was the obvious choice
for the figurehead. It is
4 m (13 ft) long and
weighs 450 kg (990 lb).

Emperor Titus
Replica carvings of 20
Roman emp erors stand
on parade on Vasa.

Entrance

KEY
1 Information desk
2 To the restaurant
3 The main mast was originally
52 m (170 ft) high.
4 Reconstruction of the upper Bronze Cannon
gun deck More than 50 of Vasa’s
64 original cannons were
5 A model of the Vasa to a scale salvaged already in the
of 1:10 17th century. Three 11-kg
6 Main film auditorium (24-lb) bronze cannons are
on display in the museum.

094-095_EW_Stockholm.indd 94 19/09/17 11:53 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
LAYERS PRINTED:
Eyewitness Travel
Starsight & Street by Street “UK” LAYER
“UK” LAYER
Starsight template
(Source v1.9)
template V2 (OpenType)
Date 28th August 2012
Date 8th December 2005
Size 125mm x 217mm
Size 125mm x 217mm