Private tour Beautiful Stockholm; Old Town and other highlights

You will begin this picturesque journey with a short introduction to Sweden and Stockholm. The formal name of Sweden is “Kingdom of Sweden”. Many of the buildings you will see at this point have a Royal connection. The majestic Royal Palace in front of you was built at the beginning of the 18th century in the magnificent Baroque style. The Opera house figured in the opera "The Masked Ball" composed by Guiseppe Verdi about the Swedish king Gustav III. The beautiful house in the classic style on the other side of the square, which now houses the Ministry of Foreign affairs, was once the Heir Presumptive palace.

The predecessor of the parliament (riksdagen) was the “Riksdag of the Estates” (Ståndsriksdagen) where Nobility, Clergy, Burghers, Peasants met separately for discussions before meeting the King in the palace. Until its dissolution in 1866, the institution was the highest authority in Sweden next to the King. In 1866 a parliament with two chambers was introduced, but still without equal voting rights for all citizens. The first elections with general suffrage was held in 1921. This was after a long political struggle led by liberals and socialists.

We stop outside Riddarhuset, the House of Nobility, and look at the statue of Gustav Vasa, "the father of Sweden". Here starts Chapter two in our history about Stockholm and Sweden. Since Gustav Vasa 1523 marched into Stockholm, Sweden has been a sovereign state, never occupied by foreign powers. Gustav, after his father and between 80 to 100 other noblemen were killed in “The bloodbath of Stockholm”, organised an uprising against our southern neighbour who had taken control over Sweden. He also changed the religion in Sweden from Catholicism to Lutheran Protestantism

The story continues... Outside the Riddarholmen Church we will meet the presumed founder of Stockholm, Birger Jarl, or at least a statue of him. 1252 is the year when "Stockholm" was first mentioned in a written text that is preserved until today. Birger Jarl signed the paper...

Next stop at "Lejonbacken" on the north side of the Royal Palace. Here we start Chapter 3 of our story of Sweden. Peter the Great of Russia put an end to the Swedish dreams of being a great power in Northern Europe. Karl XII, the last of our warrior kings is still pointing to the east (i.e. the statue is pointing), where he and his army, the Caroleans, first had some great victories, but in the end were defeated by Peter the Great in Poltava 1709.

The age of enlightenment, with growing interest in arts and science, influenced Sweden. Gustav III, an enlightened despot with great interest in theatre, made several contributions in these fields.

Below the statue of Carl XIV Johan we continue the story about Sweden. This king, the first of the Bernadottes, was imported to Sweden from France in the beginning of the 19th century to win back what we lost to the Russians. Instead he put his efforts into diplomacy, building infrastructure and develop education! In 2014 200 years of peace was celebrated in Sweden. The industrial revolution, natural resources and great Swedish inventions created a foundation for a welfare state, and several entrepreneurs continued the development in the 20th and 21th centuries. !

The end of our tour! The Nobel Price Museum is situated at Stortorget. The Swedish Royal Academies designate the winners of the most prestigious prices in many important fields of science and art. After the tour, 5 minutes walk to the Royal Palace if you would like to see the changing of the guards.