Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
city center). Consider approaching by water (as the royals traditionally did)
and then returning by bus and T-bana (as a commoner).
Visiting the Palace:
You'll see two floors of lavish rooms, where
Sweden's royalty did their best to live in the style of Europe's divine mon-
archs. While rarely absolute rulers, Sweden's royals long struggled with stub-
born parliaments. Perhaps this made the propaganda value of the palace decor
even more important. Portraits and busts legitimize the royal family by con-
necting the Swedish blue bloods with Roman emperors, medieval kings, and
Europe's great royal families. The portraits you'll see of France's Louis XVI
and Russia's Catherine the Great are reminders that Sweden's royalty was re-
lated to or tightly networked with the European dynasties.
The king's bedroom looks like (and was) more of a theater than a place
for sleeping. In the style of the French monarchs, this is where the ceremonial
tucking-inanddressingofthekingwouldtakeplace.TheRoomofWar—with
kings, generals, battle scenes, and bugle-like candleholders—is from the time
when Sweden was a superpower (1600-1750). The murals commemorate a
victory over the Danes: It's said Swedish kings enjoyed taking the Danish am-
bassador here.
