Sweden

The Royal Palace rises majestically above the Old Town Gamla Stan. This imposing building dating from... the first half of the 18th century combines various architectural styles: French Classicism and Italian Renaissance determine the facades, while sumptuous Rococo decorates the majority of the almost 600 rooms and halls. Since the royal family moved to Drottningholm Palace this town palace has been used primarily for representative functions and as a museum. The treasure chamber and armoury with the imperial insignia and the splendid carriages give some impression of the pomp and ceremony at the Swedish court over the past few centuries. more

How did a serf live on a farm in Småland 400 years ago? What were working and living conditions like... in a Scandinavian town in the 19th century? The first open-air museum in Europe, opened in 1891, provides interesting and vivid answers to these and other questions on Swedish history, economy and society. Covering an area of 30 ha, it includes around 150 authentic buildings from all the regions in Sweden and from different centuries. Perhaps even more impressive than the buildings themselves are the presentations of traditional production methods performed on the "Craft Days", which reflect the daily lifestyle of people in rural Sweden in the pre-industrial age. more

Sergels torg is one of the most important traffic intersections in the Stockholm district of Norrmalm.... The modern square came into being as a result of the much-disputed redevelopment process in the 1950s and 1960s. The entire district of Klara, home mainly to artists and literary figures living in old, historically important buildings, fell victim to this process. The center of the tiered square is characterized by a large, round fountain, in the middle of which is a 131 ft (40 m) high glass obelisk. The Kulturhuset (the House of Culture) is located on the southern end and is worth a visit thanks to its multifaceted performances, galleries, reading room, theater and cafés frequented by the Stockholm citizens. Five high-rise buildings from the 1960s are grouped around the square, which were all designed by famous Swedish architects. more