Culture of Vasteras. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Vasteras is one of the oldest cities in Sweden. It was founded by Vikings, and one of the main landmarks of the city is connected to this famous nation. The gorgeous Viking burial mounds, which are located in the city’s suburbs, have made Vasteras internationally famous. Thousands of tourists come to the city simply to see the ancient mounds. An ancient cathedral, the building of which took place in the 12th century, is a no less important symbol of the city. At the beginning of the 17th century, one more tower was added to the cathedral. Even nowadays this tower is one of the tallest buildings in the city. Its spire, which resembles a royal crown, is visible from virtually any part of the city.

Vacationers should not forget to make a walk on the central square as there are also several notable buildings there, as well as bronze statues of famous residents of Vasteras - Johannes Rudbeckius and Carl Milles. Rudbeckius founded the first gymnasium in the city and later became the head of the eparchial library. The eparchial castle attracts numerous tourists and is widely known as one of the most attractive buildings in the city.

It is important to mention that all historical landmarks of Vasteras are located in its older part. The “old town” is rather small and it is easy to explore it on foot in just one day. The district of Kyrkbacken looks particularly appealing to tourists. It is a charming area with wooden houses, picturesque parks, and green streets. In the 12th century, Kyrkbacken was the northern border of the city. This neighborhood was mostly for rich people, while the poor lived in other parts of the city. This area has one more place of interest – an ancient well. There are several interesting stories connected with the well. It is believed that an executioner built the well. As all local people hated him, the executioner had a hermit lifestyle and even made a separate source of water for himself because he wasn’t allowed to use the public well. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The Stadshotellet Hotel is one of the newer landmarks of the city. The iconic hotel was opened in 1907. The building is a wonderful example of the modern style, and the interior design is simply flawless. The prestigious hotel still serves travelers who claim the best. Skrapan skyscraper has also become a popular landmark of Vasteras. There is a stylish bar on the last floor of the building. Finally, in order to enjoy magnificent local nature, head to the lake park – this gorgeous park is ideal for relaxation away from the city noise and stress.

Travelers, who want to get acquainted with the heritage of this area, will hardly find a more suitable place than Vallby Open Air Museum. This is also a fantastic destination for all vacationers with children. Vallby Open Air Museum is one of the largest museums of this type in Sweden. It was decided to move 40 historical buildings from the Vastmanland County to the museum so that visitors could see how people lived in Sweden centuries ago. There are traditional houses, a mission hall, a village school, farmstead, copper works, and even a city quarter. To make the exhibition more authentic, traditional domestic animals of the region live in the museum. The infrastructure of Vallby is diversified and includes artisan and souvenir shops, an open-air theatre, cafes, and relaxation areas. It is particularly interesting to visit the museum during summer months as various concerts and live performances are very frequent in this part of the year.

Fans of art have the address they cannot fail to visit in Vasteras - Karlsgatan 2. This building hosts two museums, Vasteras Art Museum and Vastmanland’s County Museum. Besides interesting exhibitions, these museums offer lectures, workshops, guided tours, and many other interesting activities.

Among the religious attractions, the main cathedral of the city is ranked in the first position. This is Domkyrkan. It is worth mentioning that the first building on this site appeared in 1271, after which it was constantly expanded until 1517. The tower and the roof were rebuilt at the end of the 17th century, due to the fact that the church suffered from a fire. The cathedral was later restored several times, but its present appearance owes much to the last reconstruction which took place in 1961. This is where King Eric XIV is buried. Another interesting church is called Hubbo Kyrka. It is small but very cozy, and the feeling of peace that you can experience here cannot be compared with anything. The church also has a rich historical value – it should be noted that it was constructed in the 14th century, and since that time it has not changed much.

The biggest mound left behind from the Viking era is Anundshög. It has since been given the name “Swedish Stonehenge”. The five stone ships that are located here are most likely tombstones of Viking sailors. It is a very atmospheric place where Viking meetings were held in past times, as well as where important issues were resolved. Another reminder of the Viking Age is Västerås Historiska Skeppsmuseum, a museum that represents an authentic village. There is even a real ship from that era here, and you can eat in a real Viking house. Besides, it offers truly amazing views of the harbor. The idea to create a whole Viking village seems to have turned out quite well.

Castle Engsö, which is located near Vasteras, attracts visitors with its rich history. It was built in 1196. In 1475 however, it was bought by the Sparr dynasty, and up until 1710, the castle belonged to this family. This was a difficult time for the castle as it witnessed several large-scale battles from which it suffered greatly. In 1710, it was seized by Charles and Christina Piper, and later only in 1959, did it acquire the status of a museum. Another interesting castle, both from an architectural and historical point of view, is called Tidö. It is also on its territory that the Toy Museum is located today. The castle itself was built in 1645, but the first building that was erected on this place, existed even earlier (you can see its ruins next to it).

An interesting building from an architectural point of view is the Västmanlands Teater. The theater built in 1977, is a beautiful example of neoclassical architecture. Generally, it is very interesting to walk on Slottsgatan Street, on which the theater is located. One of the most interesting structures is the so-called “Turbine House” (Turbinhuset). It is located near the river, and the building cannot be confused with anything – built of red brick, the building gives a special romance to the embankment. On the other side is located the Hakon Swensons Allé, a park where you can walk slowly, without a care on your mind. Nearby is located the Västerås Rådhus, yet another building with interesting architecture.