Page 64 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden

62  ST OCKHOLM AREA B Y AREA

2 Livrust- for this event. Its renovation
kammaren in the 1970s took eight years
and cost 700,000 kronor.
Slottsbacken 3. Map 3 C2. The cellar vault, once used
Tel 08-402 30 30.  Gamla Stan. for firewood, is skilfully lit,
@ 2, 55. Open May: 11am–5pm providing an imaginative
daily; Jun: 10am–5pm daily; setting for the exhibits.
Jul–Aug: 10am–6pm daily;
Sep–Apr: 11am–5pm Tue–Sun
(to 8pm Thu). 9 = 7 ^ 3 Kungliga
∑ livrustkammaren.se
Myntkabinettet
Sweden’s oldest museum, Slottsbacken 6. Map 3 C3.
Livrustkammaren (the Royal Tel 08-519 553 00.  Gamla Stan.
Armoury) was founded in 1628 @ 2, 43, 55, 76. Open 11am–5pm
and is full of objets d’art and daily. Closed public hols. 8 by
everyday items used by the appointment. 9 - 0 = 7
Royal Family over the past five ∑ myntkabinettet.se
centuries. The oldest exhibit is The elegant Baroque garden in Tessinska
Gustav Vasa’s crested helmet The Royal Coin Cabinet is a Palatset’s courtyard
dating from 1542. The museum fabulous museum holding a
also houses a variety of royal priceless collection of currency 4 Tessinska
items which illustrate events and highlighting the history of Palatset
in Swedish history. Among money from the 10th century
them are Gustav II Adolf’s to the present day – from the Slottsbacken 4. Map 3 C3.
 Gamla Stan. @ 2, 55.
stuffed stallion, Streiff, little cowrie shell via Closed to the public.
which he rode at the the drachma and
Battle of Lützen in denarius to the The Tessin Palace at
1632; Gustav III’s current cash card. Slottsbacken is considered to
costume from the The museum also be the most beautiful private
notorious masked gives an insight residence north of Paris. It is
ball at which he into the art of the best-preserved palace
was murdered in medal design over from Sweden’s era as a great
1792; and Karl XII’s the past 600 years power in the 17th century
blue uniform with and shows both and was designed by and for
the still muddy Sweden’s first coin, struck traditional portrait Tessin the Younger (1654–
boots he was in about AD 995 medals and modern 1728), the nation’s most
wearing when he examples such as renowned architect.
died at the siege of Fredrikshald those that have been awarded Completed in 1697, the
in Norway in 1718. to Nobel laureates. Visitors can building is located on a narrow
Coronation ceremonies are also see the first Swedish coin, site which widens out towards a
illustrated by costumes such struck in the late 10th century courtyard with a delightful
as those worn by King Gustav III by King Olof Skötkonung. Baroque garden. The relatively
and Queen Sofia Magdalena Other rarities include Queen discreet façade with its beautiful
in 1766. The king’s attire alone Kristina’s coin from 1644, porch was inspired by the
was adorned with some 2 kg weighing 19.7 kg (43 lb) and exterior design of Roman
(4 lb) of silver. The coronation reckoned to be the world’s palaces. The decor and garden
carriage, originally built in the heaviest coin. From the island of were influenced by Tessin’s time
17th century, was modernized Yap, in Micronesia, the museum in Paris and Versailles.
has acquired what Tessin, who became a count
is thought to be and state councillor, spent large
the world’s largest sums on the building’s
means of payment, ornamentation. Sculptures and
a so-called “rai- paintings were provided by the
stone” which greets same French masters whose
visitors in the foyer. work had graced the Royal
The kids’ Palace. Later, however, his son,
playroom is great Carl Gustaf, had to sell the palace
fun. Among its for financial reasons.
highlights are a The building was acquired
pirate ship with a by the City of Stockholm as a
treasure chest of residence for its governor in
gold coins and a 1773. In 1968 it became the
The coronation carriage of King Adolf Fredrik and Queen kitsch collection residence of the governor of
Lovisa Ulrika in Livrustkammaren of piggy banks. the County of Stockholm.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp284–5 and pp294–5

062-063_EW_Sweden.indd 62 11/07/16 11:48 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2)
Date 14th November 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm