Tag: Northern Europe

Around the World: Gamla Uppsala

Stockholm, Sweden

Walk in the footsteps of Vikings at this archaeological site. Early written sources show that this was well-known as the residence of the Swedish kings. It was the location of the Thing of All Swedes. And no, we don’t me a thing as in an everyday object. A “thing” is a Norse word that means a general assembly of members of a Nordic tribe. Things were held from pre-historic times until the Middle Ages.

Legend claimed the Norse god Freyr lived at Gamla Uppsala. Because of this existing belief in Gama being sacred grounds, when Christianity arrived, the first Archbishop was established there in 1164.

Gamla Uppsala is home to the famous Royal Mounds. These three large barrows house the remains of ancient Viking royalty. They have become an important symbol of Sweden’s history.

Pathways allow visitors to walk atop these incredible structures and contemplate what life was like over 2,000 years ago.

For more information, visit the museum website here: http://www.raa.se/upplev-kulturarvet/gamla-uppsala-museum/

Looking for something off the beaten path? Not interested in tourist traps? Stay tuned for our Around the World series. Several times a week, we share interesting things to do in exotic places. Give your clients a new experience in old places!

Photo credit: By OlofE [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

Around the World: Turku Castle

Helsinki, Finland

This fortress dates back to the 13th century, with construction beginning around 1280. This castle is one of the oldest buildings still in use within Finland and is the largest surviving medieval building in the country.

Originally, the castle was only to have a military purpose. However, during the period of Swedish rule, the castle was expanded to provide living quarters for nobles. The last additions were made to the building in the 16th century and the castle has remained untouched since.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the building had fallen into some disrepair and was no longer used as a noble residence. Instead, it was converted into a prison. Renovations had been underway before the onset of World War II, however, two subsequent wars with the Soviet Union prevented these restorations from being completed. Thankfully, they were finished in 1987 and the castle was finally able to be turned into a museum.

The main collections of the castle feature historical relics including: ceramics, jewelry, costumes, textiles, furniture, and toys. Visitors can also explore the dungeons of the round tower.

This museum is an excellent way to experience Finnish culture through the ages. For more information, visit the museum website here: http://www.turunlinna.fi/en/index.html

Looking for something off the beaten path? Not interested in tourist traps? Stay tuned for our Around the World series. Several times a week, we share interesting things to do in exotic places. Give your clients a new experience in old places!

 

Photo credit: http://i.imgur.com/pPs9m.jpg

Around the World: Open Air Museum

Reykjavik, Iceland

The Reykjavik Open Air Museum is perfect for anyone looking to experience the traditional days of Iceland. With over 20 buildings, this living museum offers an interactive exposure to history. Since 1957, the local historical society has strived to keep alive the “old Reykjavik.” Around that time, concern grew that the city of Reykjavik was losing its customs. Many artifacts, including whole buildings, were collected and moved to what is now the Open Air Museum.

The museum has numerous special exhibitions and presentations. Many of these exhibitions highlight specific periods of Iceland’s history and aspects of culture from toys to painted houses.

Costumed presenters bring history to life as they demonstrate homesteading activities and explain traditional farming practices.

For more information, visit the museum’s website here: http://borgarsogusafn.is/is/arbaejarsafn

Looking for something off the beaten path? Not interested in tourist traps? Stay tuned for our Around the World series. Several times a week, we share interesting things to do in exotic places. Give your clients a new experience in old places!