Vasamuseet (Royal Warship Vasa)

Description:

• This 17th-century man-of-war is the most frequently visited attraction in Scandinavia -- and for good reason. Housed near the main entrance to Skansen, within a cement-sided museum that was specifically constructed for its display, the Vasa is the world's oldest complete and identified ship.

  On its maiden voyage in 1628, in front of thousands of onlookers, the Royal Warship Vasa capsized and sank almost instantly to the bottom of Stockholm harbor. Its salvage in 1961 was an engineering and archaeological triumph. Onboard were more than 4,000 coins, carpenters' tools, sailors' pants (in a color known as Lübeck gray), fish bones, and other items of archaeological interest. Best of all, 97% of the ship's 700 original decorative sculptures were found. Carefully restored and impregnated with preservatives, they are now back onboard the stunning ship, whose exterior is ornamented with dozens of baroque carvings. They include grotesque replicas of human faces, lion masks, fish-shape bodies, and other carvings, some with traces of their original paint and gilt.

  A full-scale model of half of the Vasa's upper gun deck has been built, together with the admiral's cabin and the steering compartment. Several carved wooden figures represent the crew. By walking through the "gun deck" and the exhibit of original objects (including the appallingly primitive medical equipment, preserved clothes, and a backgammon board), you can get an idea of life aboard the ship. Captioned exhibits describe the almost unimaginable hardships of life at sea for the ordinary soldier and sailor. If you're like us, you'll be struck by the drama behind the ship's creation: Designed to terrify Sweden's enemies across the sea, the ship's fatal design flaws were directly commissioned by the king. Its sinking was a great blow to national prestige, but its successful recovery from the muddy bottom became a symbol of restored national pride.

  Free tours are conducted at widely varying schedules depending on the season. During the most visited months, June to August, tours in English are conducted every half-hour from 9:30am to 5:30pm.

• © Frommer's 2012

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Very Highly Recommended 2010