Page 612 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

610  SC ANDINA VIA

E Birkamuseet
Tel 08-560 514 45. Open May 1–Sep
26: daily. & 8
P Gripsholms Slott
Tel 0159-101 94. Open mid-May–mid-
Sep: daily; mid-Sep–mid-May: Sat & Sun.
Closed Dec 18–Jan 2. 8 & =
3 Uppsala
* 200,000. k £ @
n Fyris Torg 8 (018-727 48 00).
∑ destinationuppsala.se
One of Sweden’s oldest settle-
ments, Uppsala, on the banks
of the Fyrisån river, is also a
lively university town. On the
last day of April, crowds of
students wearing white
caps parade through the
town for the traditional
spring season celebrations.
Dominating the town’s
attractive medieval center is
the Domkyrkan, Scandinavia’s
The Renaissance Gripsholms Slott, on the shore of Lake Mälaren largest Gothic cathedral. Its
chapel contains the relics of
2 Lake Mälaren and also houses the National Sweden’s patron saint, Saint Erik.
Portrait Gallery, with more than The onion-domed Gustavianum,
Birka 4 May–Sep daily from 4,000 paintings spanning some opposite the cathedral, dates
Stadshusbron, Stockholm. Mariefred:
4 in summer from Stadshusbron, 500 years. from the 1620s and houses the
Stockholm. £ from Centralstationen, Mariefred itself has a lovely Uppsala University Museum.
Stockholm to Läggesta, then bus or 17th-century church and an The museum’s exhibits include
steam train. 18th-century timber Rådhus a 17th-century anatomical
(law courts’ building), as well as theater and Egyptian, Classical,
To the west of Stockholm lies several specialist stores, galleries, and Nordic antiquities. Just a
Lake Mälaren, a vast stretch and antique shops. In summer, short walk away stands the
of water, whose pretty shores one of the most enjoyable ways Carolina Rediviva, the
and islands offer several day to travel there from Stockholm is impressive university library.
excursions from the city. aboard the Mariefred, a historic, Uppsala Slott, the town’s
Sweden’s first town, Birka, was coal-fired steamboat. The trip hilltop fortress, was built in the
founded on the island of Björkö takes around three and a half 16th century by King Gustav
in the 8th century, although hours and allows passengers to Vasa, although it was later
archaeological finds indicate enjoy the spectacular scenery destroyed by fire. Now restored,
that trading activity took place along the route. it also houses the Uppsala Art
here at least 1,500 years ago.
In the 9th and 10th centuries,
Birka grew into a busy Viking
center. The Birkamuseet has
displays of local archaeological
finds and provides a fascinating
insight into the daily lives of the
town’s early inhabitants. There
are also guided tours of
ongoing excavations.
The most striking feature of
the pretty town of Mariefred
is the majestic Gripsholms
Slott, built for King Gustav Vasa
in 1537, and later modified
under Gustav III in the 18th
century. The palace is known
for its well-preserved interiors, Aerial view of Uppsala, with its massive Gothic cathedral, the Domkyrkan
For hotels and restaurants see p616 and p617

610-611_EW_Europe.indd 610 14/07/16 10:19 am