The Vasa Museum in Stockholm: not to be missed

[Steven_Draker]

"The Vasa is the only preserved seventeenth-century ship in the world, and a unique art treasure. More than 95 percent of the ship is original, and it is decorated with hundreds of carved sculptures.

 

The 69 meter-long warship Vasa sank on its maiden voyage in the middle of Stockholm in 1628, and was salvaged 333 years later in 1961. For nearly half a century the ship has been slowly, deliberately and painstakingly restored to a state approaching its original glory. The three masts on the roof outside the specially built museum show the height of the ship's original masts.

 

Today the Vasa Museum is the most visited museum in Scandinavia, with over one million visitors a year."

 

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/2271/vasa.jpg

 

http://www.vasamuseet.se/en/

[+ WilliamM]

Another Vote for the Vasa Museum

 

 

The 69 meter-long warship Vasa sank on its maiden voyage in the middle of Stockholm in 1628, and was salvaged 333 years later in 1961. For nearly half a century the ship has been slowly, deliberately and painstakingly restored to a state approaching its original glory. The three masts on the roof outside the specially built museum show the height of the ship's original masts.

 

 

I visited the museum almost exactly a year ago. It's amazing that people thought that such a heavy ship would sail and be a major factor in Sweden's centuries-long battles with Russia. Russia and Finland are about seventeen hours sail time away on the opposite side of the Baltic Sea.

 

That photo really captures the ship very well.

 

I spent two weeks in Stockholm. It's now my favorite city in Europe. I was very surprised at how friendly EVERYONE is...a very pleasant surprise.

[justaguy]

The carving is spectaular. I didn't make it that far into Sweden this summer, but now I'm thinking a tour might be in order.

[+ WilliamM]

I didn't make it that far into Sweden this summer' date=' but now I'm thinking a tour might be in order.[/quote']

 

Stockholm is a city of island. I found Gamla Stan (Old Town) and Sodermalm (newly gentrified) to be the most interesting.

I had just begun to explore the many island in the Stockholm Archipelago when my two week vacation was over (just after Labor Day last year). I would have loved to stay another week. I am not sure what you mean by 'tour.' But, the residents of the city are so friendly, each one could give you a long list of things to do & so could I at this point....

 

Steven, I was not looking very hard for gay bars or clubs, so the only one I found was in Gamla Stan. Was that about it, or did I miss a lot? I stayed away from the downtown, except for a few houts on a Saturday morning.

[unsub2O17]

Oh what memories! I visited the Vasa museum in 1975! At that time they were constantly spraying the floor planks with oil, and the museum consisted of articles from the ship. It was fascinating even then, and to see how far they've come--wow!

[Steven_Draker]

Gay Stockholm

 

Steven, I was not looking very hard for gay bars or clubs, so the only one I found was in Gamla Stan. Was that about it, or did I miss a lot?

 

I haven't researched the subject that far either. I'm not into the bar scene and who wants to be in a bar when you meet beautiful men on every corner on the street, in the metro, at the grocery store, at the gym ... and on Grindr of course. Stockholm has the highest concentration of beautiful and sexy people from my overall traveling. There must be clearly something in the water!

 

Before someone asks: gay bathhouses are illegal in Sweden. The City was wise enough to close them down when the AIDS epidemic was raging in the late 80' and 90'. I believe the City of New York did something similar.

[+ WilliamM]

I haven't researched the subject that far either. I'm not into the bar scene and who wants to be in a bar when you meet beautiful men on every corner on the street, in the metro, at the grocery store, at the gym ... and on Grindr of course. Stockholm has the highest concentration of beautiful and sexy people from my overall traveling. There must be clearly something in the water!

 

.

 

Yes, it is very easy to meet people in Stockholm, sometimes for just a memorable few minutes, or several hours or days.

[+ nycman]

Thank you Steven for reminding me about this incredible museum.

 

It is mind blowing and worth a trip to Stockholm just to see this amazing ship.

 

There are plenty of other reasons...but this one tops the list in my book.

[+ azdr0710]

sorry to be a dense country bumpkin, but are those carvings original to the 17th-century construction or were they done since 1961 as part of an "artsy" restoration?? ....

 

thanks

[Steven_Draker]

... are those carvings original to the 17th-century construction or were they done since 1961 as part of an "artsy" restoration??

 

According to several sources more than 95% of the ship is original and sculptures are painted in what are believed to be the original colors.

 

"The aim of The Vasa Project is to present the ship in its original condition for public display. Most of the Vasa ship underwent extensive preservation. The destroyed portions of the ship, the main deck, the sterncastle, the bow of the ship and the fitments inside the ship had to be rebuilt. This work was undertaken by ship technicians, shipwrights, and museum staff, using the original timbers and parts of the structure. It was being restored in a similar manner to that of the warship Elefanten, another Swedish wreck.

 

An update on the conservation stage of the Vasa ship reveals that 95 per cent of the ship today (February 1997) is made up of original parts. The conservationists ceased spraying the Vasa hull in 1979. Towards the end, the time between spraying sessions was extended. During the 1980's, they began to attach the loose parts such as sculptures and ornaments. Now during the 1990's, they have restored one of the three masts. The next step is a reconstruction of Vasa's upper deck. Only rarely, are fake parts used."

 

The reasons why the Vasa was in pretty good condition after 333 years underwater are (Barkman 1975:5) :

 

• The ship was brand new at the time of sinking.
  
• Salinity in Baltic Sea is 0.4% and shipworms do not thrive.
  
• The water surrounding the Vasa contained no oxygen.
  
• Neither ice nor currents had caused any damage.
  
• An even water temperature between +1 to + 5 degrees C.
  
• The ship was built chiefly of oak heartwood with a high iron content.
  

 

Here's a link for you http://http://www.abc.se/~pa/publ/vasa.htm

[Steven_Draker]

For some reason the link doesn't work. So I'm trying again ...

 

http://www.abc.se/~pa/publ/vasa.htm