LIVRUSTKAMMAREN

Description

Essentials about the Livrustkammaren in brief

Anyone interested in the history of Sweden must pay a visit to the Livrustkammaren (Royal Armory). Located below the Royal Palace, the armory is not only a wonderful journey through Swedish history with its thousands and thousands of objects, including armour, weapons, carriages and clothing, but is also the oldest museum in the country. A visit to the Livrustkammeren is a great experience, and not just for history buffs.

The history of the Livrustkammaren

The Livrustkammaren was founded by the Swedish King Gustav Adolf, who, after his return from the campaign against Poland in 1628, ordered that his clothes should be kept in an armory in perpetuity. In the decades and centuries that followed, this eternal remembrance was extended not only to clothing, but also to weapons, armor and other personal items belonging to kings and members of the royal court.

The collection was originally kept at Gripsholm Palace before being moved to the Royal Palace in Stockholm in 1866. Today, the Livrustkammaren is the oldest museum in Sweden. In 2023, the armory will celebrate its 375th anniversary.

The exhibition in the Livrustkammaren

The museum is divided into eight sections: Weapons, armor, clothing, jewelry, paintings, decorative arts, musical instruments and vehicles. The objects on display relate to the major events of the Swedish rulers and their families, such as state ceremonies, marriages, baptisms and funerals. However, the exhibition also includes many objects from everyday life at court, such as toys and various items of clothing.

One of the highlights of the Livrustkammaren are undoubtedly the swords, the perforated scalpel from the Battle of Lützen and Streiff, King Gustav Adolf’s horse. But the crown jewels of Sweden, including the crown, the sceptre and the orb, are also among the most magnificent objects in the exhibition.