Nykoping Tourist Attractions
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Nyköping, chief town of the county of Södermanland, lies on the Baltic coast just above the mouth of the Nyköpingså. The harbor is a base for boat tours to over 3000 islands. In the Middle Ages it was one of the most important towns in Sweden, and between the 13th and the 16th centuries it was the meeting place of the Riksdag (Parliament) on 15 occasions. It is now a busy industrial town (motor vehicles, furniture, etc.).Nyköping Castle was built about 1260 and the town also has churches from Medieval times.
Town
Flanking the main square of Nyköping, the Stora Torg, are the Town Hall (1720), the Governor's Residence (1803) and the old church of St Nicholas (rebuilt in the 18th century).
Nyköpingshus Castle and Museum
From Nyköping's Stora Torg, Slottsgatan runs south to the massive castle of Nyköpingshus, on the right bank of the Nyköpingså. The original castle probably dated from the time of the Folkung kings. In 1318 King Birger Jarl imprisoned his two brothers, who had disputed his claim to the throne, in the castle and left them to starve to death. The castle was burned down in 1665 and later partly rebuilt. There survive the main gateway (Vasaporten) and Duke Charles's Tower or Kungstornet on the west side. In the tower is Södermanland County Museum, which documents the history of Nyköpingshus (model of the castle) and the province of Södermanland (material recovered by excavation, portraits of Swedish rulers). Northwest of the castle is the Museum of Art, with works by Swedish painters of the 18th-20th centuries.
All Saints Church
In the southeast of Nyköping is All Saints Church (Allhelgonakyrkan), built in the 13th century and rebuilt in the 17th. Notable features of the interior are a 15th century triumphal cross and a 17th century reredos.
Surroundings
Lakes
For nature-lovers there are pleasant excursions to the lakes north of Nyköping. (Yngaren, Långhalsen, Båven).
Oxelosund
13km/8mi southeast of Nyköping is the port of Oxelösund (pop. 13,000) - a busy harbor for over 500 years, with a large iron works and an interesting modern church, completed in 1975.
Uppsa-Kulle
7km/4.5mi from Nyköping on the Stockholm highway is an exit (Road 223) leading to the large (10m/33ft high) burial mound of Uppsa-Kulle, 15km/9mi north.
Ludgo Church
11km/7mi north of Uppsa-Kulle in the Nyköping area, Ludgo church has an altar by Burchard Precht and two 15th century sculptures from western Europe (French or Flemish).
Trosa
20km/12.5mi north of Judgo on the expressway and 1.5km/1mi on the ordinary road, Road 218 goes off on the right to the seaside resort of Trosa, 6km/4mi south on the Baltic coast with a large fish-smoking plant.Many celebrities have summerhouses in Trosa, it is one of the wealthiest communities in Sweden.
Trosa - Tullgarn Palace
3.5km/2mi along the main road from Trosa, a side road on the right (2km/1.25mi; signpost) leads to the neo-Classical manor house of Tullgarn (1719-28), in a beautiful park, for many years a royal summer residence (open to the public in summer).
