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A ▾ Koruna na zábradlí stockholmského mostu vám připomene, že se nacházíte ve Švédském království. — The crown on the balustrade of this Stockholm bridge will remind you that you are in the Kingdom of Sweden. — Корона на перилах стокгольмского моста напомнит о том, что вы находитесь в королевстве.
round the time of Advent, the city gains a completely different, festive atmosphere. Stalls pop up in the city squares, the streets light up with Christmas ornaments, and candlelit churches resound with concerts. Restaurants offer traditional buffets where the best of traditional Swedish cuisine is served. A special experience is to enjoy these delicacies on board one of the festively decorated sightseeing ships, floating among the snow-covered islands of the Stockholm archipelago. Most residents and visitors, however, look forward especially to the Christmas market held on the Stortorget main square in the Old Town, Gamla Stan. The small stands painted red sell mulled wine or glögg, sweets, cheeses, gingerbread, reindeer meat and a variety of handicrafts. Proceeds from the rent of the stalls is then donated to charities and various public causes. The market has been held on this square annually since 1915, but the history of Christmas markets dates back at least to
King Gustav Vasa and the year 1523 – that’s as far back as the records go. In December you also should not miss the celebration of the St Lucia’s day. The processions, led by girls in white dresses with a red cummerbund and a crown of candles on their heads, bring light, to the sound of singing, into the long Nordic night. This custom originates in pagan fertility rites and is a celebration of a girl who defied her father and refused to marry the man he chose for her. Sweden at your fingertips
In Stockholm’s Skansen they will gladly tell you more about this holiday and other Swedish traditions. Skansen offers all of Sweden in miniature, since over 150 farms and houses typical of all corners of the country were transferred here. At Christmas time Skansen comes to life more than ever. When you have had your fill of demonstrations of various folk crafts (some of which you can even try yourself), stop by the famous Solliden restaurant for the special Christmas menu. Children will enjoy the visit too, as there is a small zoo on the premises. There they can see animals native to Scandinavia, from reindeer, lynx and wolf, to the unofficial symbol of Sweden – the majestic moose with its huge antlers. It is also a good place to get your Christmas gifts, as there is a market too and you can buy nice, practical things like Lapp sweaters and gloves. A walk through the past
Most of Stockholm’s sights are reachable on foot, even in winter. The cobblestones might be a bit slippery and the sights can be seen in daylight for just a few hours, but all of them are illuminated and in the darkness they look even more impressive than in summer. Stockholm was founded in 1252 and its medieval look is preserved in Gamla Stan, which ranks among the largest and best-preserved medieval quarters in Europe. It is here that you will find the Stortorget square, which hosts the Christmas market mentioned above. The little alleyway called Mårten Trotzigs is also worth searching for, as it is special in its own way – you will have to walk down it, as at the narrowest point it is only 90 centimetres wide. Among the most popular venues for Christmas concerts is the resting place of Swedish kings, the Riddarholmen cathedral. Sweden is still a monarchy today and the royal couple officially uses the Royal Palace, which, with its 600 rooms, is among the largest in the world. The Royal Palace and its museums are open to the public and the changing of the palace guard, both male and female, is worth seeing too. A city of museums
In the cold winter season, when the days are short and there is not much light, you have the best opportunity to stop by the world-class Stockholm museums and galleries, which this city of more than 750 years abounds with. 32
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