The Vasa Museum
....and the 17th Century Royal Warship

 

  

  

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Vasa museum is one of several great museums in Stockholm but this one also has a restaurant. It is on the island of Djurgarden close to the downtown shopping areas and right behind the Pippi Longstocking (Swedish Pippi Langstrump) center. Stop in with the kids to visit Pippi, the monkey and his bananas.

Then hurry over to the Vasa and learn all about this warship that sunk on its maiden voyage right in the Stockholm harbor. She was top-heavy, keeled over, and sank before going 2000 meters. She was the most expensive and richly decorated naval vessel that Sweden ever built. She was the King's pride and built to be the mightiest naval vessel of her time. See also the rich wood carvings that were done by the German and Dutch wood carvers of the era.

Built in 1626-1628 she remained in the harbor mud until 1956 when she was discovered and the restoration process started.

The exhibits show how she was built, the tools they used, what life was like on the ship, information of Naval warfare and tactics, and how they brought the ship back to life with restoration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The exhibits outside are interesting also...tour the Lightship and the Icebreaker Sankt Erik.

 

 

 

 

Going out to some of the other historical and cultural museums will take several days. But you will find that the Swedes take the preservation of their past very seriously.