Drottningholm - Swedish Versailles
Description:
The Royal Palace Drottningholm is a palace and park ensemble in the suburbs of Stockholm, since 1991 included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
During our walk there will be a unique opportunity to see the current royal palace - the residence of the royal couple since 1981; the opera house, operating since 1766, a beautiful park and the Chinese pavilion.
The history of Drottningholm dates back to the 1500s, when the palace looked very different and resembled a fortress. Drottningholm is a palace complex of Queens of different eras. The land was originally donated by the son of Gustav Vasa Johan III to his beloved wife Katarina Jagiellonica. At the beginning of the XVII century, it belonged to the Baroque Queen Hedwig Eleonore, the grandmother of the famous Charles XII. After the fire of 1662, the palace was rebuilt and acquired its present appearance.
This magnificent palace on the shores of the island of Malaren is the first of its kind in Sweden royal palace, devoid of the thick walls and guard fortifications characteristic of Swedish castles of the time. At the turn of the XVIII century, palace fashion is set by France with its Versailles and a park in the style of French Baroque. A little later, an English park with antique sculptures acquired by the King of Arts Gust III appears.
Walking around the royal palace, we will talk about the architectural fashion of the XVII and XVIII centuries, trace the change of dynasties, see the gifts presented by Catherine II to her cousin Gustav III, and also I will make a special emphasis on the role of the female queen in the management of Sweden from different eras.
Drottningholm certainly deserves special attention and stands alone among the castles and palaces of Sweden. I offer you a fascinating journey into the history of Sweden and royal dynasties.
How to get there: To get to Drottningholm we can either by boat Karl Philippe, which departs from the Town Hall in Stockholm in the summer (the journey time is about 50 minutes), or by public transport (metro and 2 bus stops).
Entrance: Travel and entrance tickets are paid separately. Admission to the palace is 130 crowns, children 7-18 years 65 crowns, up to 7 years free.