Drottningholm Palace Stockholm

After visiting the Royal Palace in the old town in the morning I decided to go and see the Royal family's permanent home at Drottingholm. I decided to take a short cruise on a steamship across Lake Malaren to  Drottingham which was free with the Stockholm Pass. Boats leave from Stadshusbron which was right beside the City hall.

The trip took about an hour and was a delight. It was a beautiful warm day and there was plenty to see.

As you can imagine being surrounded by water; sailing, kayaking and other water sports feature highly. If I'd had more time here, I would have hired a kayak for a few hours to enjoy the town from the water.

This is Drottingholm Palace. It dates from the 17th and 18th centuries and is said to have been inspired by the palace of Versailles. Part of it is used by the Royal Family but the rest of the Palace and the grounds are open to the public.

Once inside you are met with this magnificent staircase with its large statues.

Queen Eleonora's State bedroom was the heart of the 17th century's official apartment, and was used as an audience chamber.

The gardens are extensive and free to wander around. Many people were sitting out in the less formal areas enjoying a picnic in the sunshine.

Looking back at the Palace from the garden.




















Close to the Palace is the Court Theatre. It is one of the world's oldest theatres, dating from 1766. You can only visit the theatre during a guided tour.

I  fortunate to be there in time  for a tour in English.

The theatre has been preserved in its original state. It is made from wood but is painted to look like marble which is very effective unless you get very close to the carvings.

The stage can be moved mechanically from side to side and up and down. They also still have and use the original hand operated sound machines for wind, thunder and rain.

They perform opera most evenings during the summer and a few of the costumes were on display.

After the theatre tour I went in search of the Chinese pavilion and came across the Guards' tent. When King Gustav III took over Drottingholm in 1777, he planned several new buildings in the park. This Guards' tent was one of them. It was built in 1781 to resemble a tent in a Turkish Army camp to make it look decorative in the park. However, it conceals a two storey wooden building with dormitories for the guards downstairs and rooms for the officers above. It was restored in 1989-96 to give it the same appearance as it had in 1781.

The Chinese Pavilion was built in 1753 as a surprise gift from King Adolf Fredrik to his wife Louisa Ulrika. At that time the Chinese style was very much in fashion.

Every room inside was decorated with Chinese decorations and artefacts.

Across the way from the Pavilion was the dining room known as the 'Confidence'. The Royal family could dine here with guests in complete privacy if they so wished.

Dinner without servants was possible with an ingenious system of lifting a ready made table up through the floor to the dining room. The floorboards in the middle of the room would be pulled aside and the ready laid table would emerge. The dinners were prepared in the kitchen nearby. In the dining room there are also four side tables. At the pull of a handle a bell would ring in the serving area below and the staff would begin to hoist up the food. When the meal was finished the Royals with their guests would return to the main building, the table was then lowered and cleared. The floor was then closed with a separate piece of furniture that was pulled into place sideways from below.