"Vasamuseet" Vasa Museum Tip by Elena77

On August 10th 1628, the day of its maiden voyage, the Royal warship Vasa sank after sailing only 1.300 metres, she did not even manage to leave the harbour of Stockholm. On calm sea the pride of the naval power Sweden sank due to the immense weight of the decoration and basic constructional faults (it was, for example, built top-heavy which led to massive instability). Despite all these apparent defects Vasa was allowed to set sail and so the catastrophe ran its course and 50 people were doomed to die. When Vasa was built, by order of king Gustav II Adolf, she was meant to express the dominance of Sweden at the Baltic Sea. She was one of the largest and most heavily armed warships of her time and neither trouble nor expense was spared to equip and decorate her. Obviously that mark was overshot!

After 333 years at the bottom of Stockholms Ström, Vasa was finally salvaged by a group of marine archaeologists. And after almost 17 years of restauration, the ship was 1st brought to a temporary museum (Wasavarvet) before it was relocated to Vasa Museum wher today it can be admired. It is not possible to enter the ship, but the museum's 6 levels allow in-depth exploration of this impressive wreck. Parts of the ship (like the cannon deck) were also recreated (to give an impression of the ship's size and the on-board conditions) and can be visited. Vasa museet also houses various exhibits related to the archaeological findings of the ship and early 17th century Sweden. According to claims on the official web site, it is the most visited museum of Scandinavia.

Address: Galärvarvsvägen 14, Stockholm
Directions: At the island of Djurgården. Buses Nr. 47 and 69 leave from the Central Station, bus Nr. 44 from Karlaplan. You can also take tram Nr. 7 or go by Djurgårdens ferry (leaving from Slussen all year round and also from Nybroplan in Summer).
Phone: +46 (0)8 51 95 48 00
Website: http://www.vasamuseet.se