The Charms of Stockholm's Old Town with a Taste of Vikings Mead

We talk about the early history of Stockholm and Sweden, from the ice age, through the Viking age until the first settlements on the islands. Chapter one of our story starts here! (We start the tour at Gamla Stan Metro station, inside/under ground, in front of the Pressbyrån kiosk.)

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...

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.

Then we continue to the other side of Riddarhuset and talk about the heirs and heiresses of Gustav Vasa. The grandson of Gustav Vasa, Gustav II Adolf, was the "greatest" of our warrior kings. During his time as king, the Baltic Sea became almost an inland sea, surrounded by Swedish possessions.

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 were held in 1921. This was after a long political struggle led by liberals and socialists.

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 ended the Swedish dream 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 a 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 21st centuries. !

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.

The tour ends close to the Royal Palace and in perfect timing to see the changing of the guards. The changing of the guards and the parade are popular tourist attractions. During the summer months, the parade marches or rides with the Music Corps through up to the Outer Courtyard of the palace.

We will end the tour with a glass of mead or beer in a medieval cellar in one of the alleyways of Old Town.