Sweden - Becky Ohlsen [81]
Sights
During medieval times, Sigtuna boasted seven stone-built churches, though most have since crumbled. The ruins of St Per and St Lars can be seen off Prästgatan. St Olof church was built in the early 12th century, but by the 17th century it was a ruin. The adjacent Mariakyrkan (9am-4pm Sep-May, 9am-8pm Jun-Aug) is the oldest brick building in the area – it was a Dominican monastery church from around 1250, but became the parish church in 1529 after the monastery was demolished by Gustav Vasa. Pop in for restored medieval paintings and free weekly concerts in the summer.
Sigtuna Museum (59 12 66 70; Stora gatan 55; adult/under 20yr Skr20/free; noon-4pm Tue-Sun Sep-May, noon-4pm Jun-Aug) looks after several attractions in the town, all of them on Stora gatan and near the tourist office. Lundströmska gården (adult/child Skr10/5; noon-4pm mid-Jun–mid-Aug, noon-4pm Sat & Sun Sep) is an early-20th-century, middle-class home and general store, complete with period furnishings and goods. Sigtuna rådhus (admission free; noon-4pm Jun-Aug, noon-4pm Sat & Sun Sep), the smallest town hall in Scandinavia, dates from 1744 and was designed by the mayor himself. It’s on the town square opposite the tourist office. The main museum building has displays of gold jewellery, runes, coins and loot brought home from abroad.
The magnificent private palace Steninge Slott (59 25 95 00), 7km east of Sigtuna, dates from 1705 and was designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Younger. On the guided palace tour (tours Skr70; 1pm, 2.30pm & 4pm early Jul–mid-Aug; 1pm, 2.30pm & 4pm Sat & Sun early May-early Jul; 2pm Sat & Sun mid-Aug–early May; in Swedish, prebook English tour), you’ll see luxuriously ornate interiors. In the beautiful grounds there is also the excellent Cultural Centre (gallery tours Skr80, gallery tour early May–mid-Sep; cultural centre 11am-7pm Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm Sat & Sun early May–mid-Aug; 11am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm Sat & Sun mid-Aug–early May), complete with an art gallery, a glassworks, a candle-making area, a cafe and a restaurant.
Another palace, Rosersbergs Slott (59 03 50 39; guided tours adult/child Skr60/30; tours hourly 11am-4pm Jun-Aug), is on Mälaren lake about 9km southeast of Sigtuna. Built in the 1630s it was used as a royal residence from 1762 to 1860; the interior boasts exquisite furnishings from the Empire period (1790–1820). Highlights include the lavishly draped State Bedchamber and Queen Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotta’s conversation room. The palace cafe serves delicious light meals and cakes in regal surrounds.
Rosersbergs Hotell & Konferens (12 20 20 00; www.rosersbergsslott.se; s/d Skr425/850; ) is housed in a palace wing once used to accommodate royal family guests. Rooms are simple yet impeccably stylish, with old wooden floorboards, Gustavian-style furnishings, the odd tile stove and views of either the palace courtyard or gardens. All rooms have basins, though facilities are shared. A restaurant is planned for the opposite wing in 2009.
Best in a light snow, Skokloster Slott (402 30 60; skokloster@lsh.se; adult/under 19yr Skr75/free; 11.30am-4.30pm Sat & Sun Apr & Oct; 11.30am-4.30pm Tue-Sun May; 11.30am-5.30pm Tue-Sun Jun; 10.30am-5.30pm daily Jul & Aug; 12.30-4.30pm Tue-Fri, 11.30am-4.30pm Sat & Sun Sep), around 11km due northwest of Sigtuna (26km by road), is a whitewashed baroque palace with a fragile beauty unusual in Sweden. It was built between 1654 and 1671 and has impressive stucco ceilings and collections of furniture, textiles, art and arms. There’s also a small cafe. Guided tours run daily from April to October; it’s a good idea to call in advance to check times, as the schedule can change.
Sleeping & Eating
Stora Brännbo (59 25 75 00; Stora Brännbovägen 2-6; s/d from Skr1100/1600, summer Skr550/800; ) Just north of central Sigtuna, this large hotel and conference centre offers small, contemporary rooms in soothing neutral hue, with flatscreen TVs and fluffy bathrobes. There’s a sauna, Jacuzzi and gym (Skr150 per day)