STOCKHOLM PALACE

Description

Essentials about Stockholm Palace in brief

A visit to Stockholm Palace is a must on any trip to the Swedish capital. The palace stands prominently on the highest point of the old town Gamla stan and is one of the largest royal buildings in Europe with over 600 rooms. Although it is no longer inhabited by the Swedish royal family, it is still used for representative purposes. Many of the castle’s rooms can be visited. The palace also houses three interesting museums. If you only want to see the beautiful building from the outside, you should definitely not miss the entertaining changing of the guard.

The history and architecture of Stockholm Palace

Stockholm Palace in its current form is not the first building on this site, but probably the third. During archaeological excavations, wooden constructions from the 10th century were found, which were probably the remains of a castle or fortress. The city of Stockholm and the castle “Tre Kronor” were first mentioned in a document in 1252. This served as a fortress and later as a royal seat. In the 16th century, Tre Kronor was extended under Gustav Wasa and rebuilt into a representative palace in the 17th century under Charles XI. The castle almost burned down completely in 1697.

The present palace was built between 1697 and 1760 according to plans by the architect Nicodemus Tessin the Younger and is one of the most remarkable baroque buildings in Scandinavia. The square courtyard forms the center of the regular four-winged complex. The main building has three storeys and a mezzanine above the first floor and under the roof. To the east, lower wing buildings enclose the palace garden and to the west, semi-circular wing buildings form the outer palace courtyard, where the palace guard is located, among other things. The main façade of Stockholm Palace is the north façade facing the water, whose central axis is aligned with the Norrbro Bridge, which leads across the island of Helgeandsholmen to Norrmalm.

The use of Stockholm Palace

The interior of the palace is characterized by different eras. The oldest parts are still furnished in Baroque-inspired French Classicism. However, as the palace was only occupied in the middle of the 18th century, a large part of the interior is in Rococo and Gustavian style. King Charles XIII’s floor and the Vita havet ballroom were designed in the 19th century in the Empire style. The north-east wing of the palace now houses the Bernadotte Library.

The rooms of the Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and other members of the royal family are located in the palace. Today, Stockholm Palace is used by the king exclusively for representative or ceremonial purposes. It has no longer been inhabited since the royal family moved into the previous summer residence, Drottningholm Palace, as their main residence in 1982.

The parade and living rooms

Some of the rooms in Stockholm Palace can be visited. A tour of the palace is a journey through four centuries of courtly life. Most of the rooms open to the public date from the 18th and 19th centuries. Particular highlights are the State Chamber of Gustav III and the Writing Room of Oscar II. Queen Kristina’s richly decorated silver throne in the State Hall is also a real eye-catcher.

Numerous paintings hang in the gallery on the Bernadotte floor, including centuries-old portraits of kings and queens. Here you will also find Adolf Fredrik’s dining room from the 18th century and the guest apartment, which is still used by politicians and royals from other countries during state visits.

The Treasure Chamber

Housed in the basement vault of Stockholm Palace, the Treasury is the place where the Swedish crown jewels glitter. The highlight of the exhibition is undoubtedly the Swedish imperial regalia, which are presented to the king or queen on the day of their coronation.

There are also two state swords belonging to Gustav Vasa, who ruled Sweden between 1523 and 1560. They are the oldest objects in the treasury. The oldest crown dates back to 1561 and adorned the head of King Erik XIV.

The “Tre Kronor” Museum

Anyone interested in the history of the predecessor of today’s Stockholm Palace should visit the “Tre Kronor” (“Three Crowns”) museum. The museum has a model of the old castle on display. Visitors can also learn about the development of the castle from a simple defensive fortress from the 11th century to the fairytale castle with turrets and oriels of the 17th century. Last but not least, the museum also exhibits some of the objects that were saved from the flames at the time.

The Gustav III Museum of Antiquities

Lovers of antique sculptures will be drawn to Gustav III’s Museum of Antiquities, which is also located in the palace. The king was a passionate collector and undertook a tour of Italy in 1784, from which he returned as the new owner of numerous antique sculptures. In 1794, shortly after his death, the Museum of Ancient Art was opened, which is one of the oldest museums in Europe. The collection consists of around 200 sculptures, the arrangement of which has not changed to this day. The jewel in the collection is the “Endymion”, a depiction of a beautiful youth from Greek mythology.

The Royal Chapel

The Royal Chapel, the place of worship of the Swedish monarchs, is also a work of art. Palace architect Nicodemus Tessin the Younger also immortalized himself here in furniture and works of art. After his death, the chapel was completed by Carl Hårleman. Works by the famous cabinetmaker Georg Haupt can also be seen here, including the pews from the palace chapel of King Charles XI, which were saved from the burning castle “Tre Kronor”.

The Royal Chapel is open to the public in summer and throughout the year for special events such as classical concerts and the weekly Sunday mass.

The changing of the guard

Perhaps the biggest tourist attraction at Stockholm Palace, however, is the changing of the castle guard. Every day, hundreds of onlookers gather to witness the march of the new guards in historical uniforms, accompanied by a music corps. The changing of the guard takes place daily at 12:15 pm and on Sundays at 1:15 pm.