Page 98 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden

96  ST OCKHOLM AREA B Y AREA

6 Vasamuseet

After a maiden voyage of just 1,300 m (1,422 yd) in calm weather,
the warship Vasa capsized in Stockholm’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 (109 yd) off the southern tip
of Djurgården. Almost all the guns were salvaged from the vessel
in the 17th century and it was not until 1956 that a private
researcher’s persistent search led to the rediscovery of Vasa. Gun-port Lion
A complex operation began to salvage the wreck, followed by a More than 200 carved
17-year conservation programme. The city’s most popular museum ornaments and 500 sculpted
figures decorate Vasa.
opened in 1990, less than a nautical mile from the scene of the
disaster. The museum has undergone reconstruction,
and its plan may differ from the illustration shown.

. Lion Figurehead
King Gustav II Adolf, who commissioned
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
Carvings of 20 Roman
emperors stand on
parade on Vasa.

Entrance

KEY
1 Information desk
2 To the restaurant Bronze Cannon
3 The main mast was originally More than 50 of
52 m (170 ft) high. Vasa’s 64 original
4 Exit to Museifartygen cannons were
salvaged in the
5 Reconstruction of the upper 17th century. Three
gun deck bronze cannons
6 Main film auditorium are on display
in the museum.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp284–5 and pp294–5

096-097_EW_Sweden.indd 96 11/07/16 11:48 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 24th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm