Djurgården, Stockholm

To the south of the Nordic Museum in Stockholm can be found the Biological Museum, a wooden building in the style of the Norwegian stave churches, with a comprehensive collection of the birds and mammals of Scandinavia. Nearby is Liljevalchs Konsthall, a gallery which puts on exhibitions of Swedish and international art and handicrafts.

On the west side of Djurgårdsbro in Stockholm (also accessible from the city by boat) is the Wasa Museum, housing the warship "Wasa", which sank in Stockholm harbor on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was brought to the surface again in 1961. The "Wasa" was located on the seabed in 1956 at a depth of 32m/105ft, and work began three years later on recovering and preserving it. This was a large-scale operation for which entirely new techniques had to be devised. The vessel, 62m/200ft long, is the only completely preserved 17th century ship in the world. It is now displayed in its own museum, together with numerous items of equipment (everyday objects, carved ornaments, etc.). recovered from the vessel.

The Skansen open-air museum, a branch of the Nordic Museum, extends over a large area to the east of the Biological Museum in Stockholm. The initiator and founder of the museum, which was opened in 1891, was Artur Hazelius, who was concerned to save something of the older Sweden before the development of industry had gone too far in changing the country. The old buildings brought together here include a church and a manor house, Lapp dwellings and an upland shieling (summer grazing station), smallholders' cottages and peasant farmhouses, and a whole quarter of a town, with craftsmen's workshops. Over the years some 150 old buildings of historical interest have been assembled at Skansen, which is now 10 times its original size. In the various houses and workshops visitors can see something of many traditional crafts - butter and cheese making, baking, weaving, basketwork, wood-turning, glass-blowing, etc.

At the south end of Djurgården in Stockholm extends the promontory of Waldemarsudde, on which Prince Eugen (1865-1947), son of Oscar II, built himself a house. Himself a painter, he gathered round him a large circle of artists and writers. Visitors can see his studio and a collection of pictures, including both his own work and works by other Swedish artists of his day. In the Villa Thiel, at the east end of Djurgården, is another collection of pictures, mostly by 19th and 20th century Swedish artists.

To the east of Djurgården are four small islands, the Fjäderholmarna, with restaurants, craft shops and the Baltic Aquarium. In summer the islands can be reached by boat (about 30minutes) from Slussen and Ropsten.

The Museum of Ethnography in Stockholm highlights cultures from around the world. Exhibits include the First Nations of North America as well as Swedish explorers and travelers.

The Gröna Lund amusement park first opened in 1883 and is an important tivoli in Stockholm. Attractions include roller coasters, bumper cars, a carousel, the tunnel of love and a free-fall tower.

The Thielska Gallery is located on Blockhusudden at the far end of Djurgården. The collection highlights Nordic art from the turn of the century with works by Edvard Munch and Carl Larsson.

The history of tobacco and matches is conveyed through historical exhibits that highlight three centuries. Items on display include pipes, matches, snuffboxes, cigars, and cutters.