Page 141 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden

EASTERN SVEALAND  139

One of the best ways to visit
Mariefred is by boat. The 1903
steamer S/S Mariefred plies the
three-and-a-half-hour voyage
from Stockholm. There is a
Railway Museum in the town and
ÖSLJ (Östra Södermanlands
Järnväg museum society)
operates narrow-gauge steam
trains from the harbour on a
20-minute trip to Läggesta and,
on certain days, on to Taxinge.
+ Gripsholms Slott Red-painted, 18th-century wooden buildings in central Strängnäs
500 m (546 yd) southwest of
the centre. Tel 0159-101 94. the poet Bo Setterlind as the the end of the 10th century.
Open early May–Sep: daily; Apr, most beautiful in Sweden. During Sweden’s Age of
Oct & Nov (see website for details). Strängnäs Municipality Greatness in the 17th century,
& 8 = ∑ gripsholmsslott.se includes the largest island in Eskilstuna flourished after
E ÖSLJ Lake Mälaren, Selaön. There are Karl X Gustav gave master smith
500 m (546 yd) west of the centre. more rune stones here than in Reinhold Rademacher a 20-year
Tel 0159-210 00. Open See website any other part of Södermanland, monopoly on the manufacture
for departure times. & - indicating that this was a major of items such as cannons, knives
∑ oslj.nu cultural centre in ancient times. and scissors. Rademachergatan
Nowadays the island has no still has a few forges kept as
connections to the mainland. they were in the 1650s, where
The renovated Mälsåkers visitors can try their hand at
Palace dating from the being a blacksmith.
17th century is another of Today’s modern industrial
Selaön’s attractions. town and centre of learning
features more than 200 items
R Domkyrkan of public art, including Carl
Biskopsgränd 2. Tel 0152-245 00. Milles’ Hand of God (see p101)
Open daily. 8 by appointment. in Stadsparken.
5 Wed & Sun. Parken Zoo is one of Sweden’s
Bedchamber of Duke Karl (Karl IX, leading zoos, with animals from
1550–1611), Gripsholms Slott all around the world, including
i Mälardalen’s some endangered species. There
u Strängnäs Castles is also a heated outdoor pool
Södermanland. * 12,000. £ @ See pp140–41. and an amusement park, which
n Eskilstunavägen 2, 0152-296 94. is popular with young children.
Open Jun–Aug. _ Strängnäs market
(2nd Sat in Oct). ∑ strangnas.se Environs
o Eskilstuna North of Eskilstuna is Torshälla,
As keeper of the keys of the Södermanland. * 100,000. £ @ a small town of cobbled streets
Kingdom, Strängnäs was an n Tullgatan 4, 016-710 70 00. and well-kept wooden houses.
important centre in the Middle ∑ eskilstuna.se The magnificent 12th-century
Ages. It was mentioned as an church dominates the old
episcopal see as early as 1120 The town is named after St Eskil, quarter. Northeast of Torshälla is
and is dominated by the the Englishman who became Sunbyholms Slott (see p140) from
imposing tower of its Gothic Svealand’s first Christian bishop where a 10-minute walk leads
cathedral, Domkyrkan, and built his church on the to Sigurdsristningen, Sweden’s
completed in 1280. It was here riverbank along Eskilstunaån at finest rock carving, which is
that Gustav Vasa was chosen as thought to date back to 1040.
king on 6 June 1523, the date
which was to become Sweden’s O Parken Zoo
National Day. Quaint wooden 1 km (half a mile) west of the centre.
buildings surround the cathedral. Tel 016-100 100. Zoo: Open early
To its east is Roggeborgen, the May–mid-Sep: 10am–5pm daily;
bishop’s palace from the 1480s. mid-Jun–mid-Aug: 10am–7pm daily;
Gyllenjelmsgatan, the street Oct: 10am–4pm Sat. Amusement Park:
that runs from the city centre Open May & late Sep: Sat & Sun; Jun–
to the mighty gates of the A Sumatran tiger, one of the many exotic mid-Aug: daily; mid-Aug–mid-Sep:
cathedral, was described by animals at Eskilstuna’s Parken Zoo Sat–Sun. & 8 - 0 = 7

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