On this page I'll assembled and will further assemble pictures of Stockholm.
The capital of Sweden is an interesting city that survived a serious number
of wars nearly unharmed and thus combines architectural elements from a
more than 500 year long history. There is the medieval old town (Gamlastan), 17th
century extensions, the traces of industrialism in the 18th and 19th century
as well as modern 20th century architecture (in it's extremes from cold ugly
concrete to fancy modern structures).
But architecture is not everything that makes Stockholm. The city - like
Venice, St. Petersburg, Hamburg and Amsterdam - is almost build on water or to be
more exactly, it is build on a number of small islands (malmen) at the connection between
the Baltic sea and the lake Mälaren.
And yet there is still more about the region - nature! The coastal region of the
area contains the great archpelago with it's thousands of small islands - most of them
with small red houses on them. There are big forests and parks, frequently making place for a small
lake or a slott or some signs of the past, where the vikings left their traces.
But enough words now, here are the pictures...
To come from one end of the city to the other it sometimes helps to take a boat - eg the "Djurgården 7".
Or you might have a boat of your own in one of the uncountable marinas of the city.
But it's long ago that this ship was on it's last voyage. The AF Chapman today is a youth hostel.
Two more pictures to show the presence of newer and older ships everywhere on the water in the city.
The Royal Dramatic Theater - it's not only a place for actors but it's also the place where most the Nobelprices are handed over once a year on december 10th.
Coming from the Baltic sea to Stockholm or leaving with a ship to Finland or Åland, you'll pass Kastellholmen - one of the islands that make up for the city area of Stockholm.
If you should come to Stockholm on a boat cruise, then you'll have the advantage that the ships disembarque directly at the Old Town (Gamlastan). From there it's not too long to any interesting place downtown - if you like to go shopping, visit a museum, see the Royal Palace or relax in a small cafe...
A lot of small streets revive the atmosphere of the Hansa coalition of towns in northern Europe.
A lot of places in the Old Town still show the former influence of german merchants during the time of the Hansa - eg this inscription at the german church St. Gertrud: "Fear the Lord! Honor the king!"
The Old Town actually lies on a small island of it's own, like a small hill between the waters of the lake Mälaren and Saltsjön, which is part of the Baltic Sea.
In winter - and this means a big part of the year here in Stockholm - the park Kungsträdgården becomes a great place for ice scaters.
Stadshuset - The city hall of Stockholm.
View from the tower of the Stockholm city hall.
These old style boats commute between the city hall and the many small islands in the inner archipelago in the lake Mälaren.
On the southern side of the city, the waters of the lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea are separated by a lock "Slussen", the northern part the water from the slightly higher level of the Mälaren can pass to the Baltic. Especially after heavy rains or during the melting of the snow in spring this calm water (Strömmen = the current) really shows some action!
From up there by these old houses you have the - in my opinion - greatest view over the city...
...and you'll find some fancy houses there, like this one with it's entrance on the fourth floor!
The most eastern part of the lake Mälaren is called Riddarfjärden. Not every tourist finds his/her way to this nice panoramic viewpoint south of the city.
Exactly between the shopping mile Drottning gatan and the Old Town and close to the Royal Palace the swedish House of Parliament (Riksdagen) is situated.
The golden crown and the Royal Palace symbolize the monarchy of Sweden.
The Opera - also housing the famous and expensive restaurant "Operakällaren".
A nice boat ride of approximately two hours takes you from the center of the city directly to the fortress Waxholm which once guarded the entrance to the city through the archipelago for centuries. It stands close to the place where in the late 19th century a significant addition to the periodic table of the elements was discovered. Not less than eight new elements were discovered in a mineral found near the village of Ytterby: Ytterbium, Terbium, Erbium, Yttrium, Scandium, Thulium, Holmium and Gadolonium
About 15km north of the city, close to where I live - you'll find the castle Edsbergs slot at the northern end of the fjord Edsvik. On some weekends of the year you even can take a boat from city through the fjord all the way up here, where the vikings used to pull their boats over land from Edsviken to the lake Norrviken and then further on to reach the towns of Sigtuna and Uppsala.
Yes, that's me and the landscape above the fjord Edsviken, just before sunset on a nice autumn day.
From late september to early november large groups of goose take a stop on their way from the northern parts of Scandinavia to their winter homes. They rest on the lawns all over Stockholm - especially on places like here, close to the water of the fjord Edsvik. It's a clear sign of the dark and cold season soon to come...
Responsible for these pages: U. Zimmermann