One of Stockholm’s most popular attractions is the Vasa Museum. It is a purpose built museum which houses the almost fully intact Vasa, a 64 gun warship that sank on her maiden voyage in 1628.
Once her valuable bronze cannons were salvaged in the 17th century, she lay almost undisturbed until she was located in the late 1950s. Vasa was salvaged in 1961 and housed in a temporary museum..go to Wikapedia for the full, fascinating history.
The construction of the present museum began on and around the dry dock of the old naval yard. Vasa was towed into the flooded dry dock under the new building in December 1988 and the museum was opened in 1990.
The first sight of this incredible ship in the subdued lighting will take your breath away. Vasa looks as though she might sail off at any moment with a ghostly crew.
The low light and the fact that the ship is so huge and fills the space makes it difficult to get good photos. You really will have to go there to appreciate just how magnificent it is.
The 3 metre long figurehead lion consists of several parts carved individually and fitted together with bolts.
The intricate details on the carvings is amazing. Vasa must have looked stunning as she sailed out of the harbour.
There are several models showing what the ship would have looked like on her maiden voyage.
I particularly liked the one showing a cross section of the ship and how the sailors worked their positions.
There is a very good guided tour in several languages explaining the circumstances of the ship, the sinking and the salvage. Take time also to watch the film of the salvage. There are areas depicting life as it was at the time of the ship’s construction, with life size models in the dress of the time.
Allow a few hours to really appreciate this amazing ship and the work that has been done by many people to preserve it. There are several floors each giving a different perspective of the ship…don’t miss anything. I guarantee you will be fascinated.
What a beauty! I will certainly put it on my “to visit” list. Thank you for sharing it, Debra.
By: Mulino Dominillo on December 16, 2015
at 12:51 pm
I was delighted with my visit to the Vasa museum…it is amazing.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 17, 2015
at 12:27 pm
Surprising how many ships sink on their maiden voyage!
By: Andrew Petcher on December 16, 2015
at 12:57 pm
This one was too narrow and too high and the guns were too heavy.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 17, 2015
at 12:28 pm
Such a sad tale, but how glorious that she has been so lovingly preserved and reconstructed. 🙂
By: anotherday2paradise on December 16, 2015
at 1:38 pm
The restoration is brilliant…decades of work and it is ongoing.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 17, 2015
at 12:29 pm
Great!
By: anotherday2paradise on December 17, 2015
at 12:48 pm
Remember reading about this when it was first salvaged. They certainly have done a wonderful restoration. I think seeing a ship out of water makes you realise their full size as in the ocean, we only see a fraction of a vessel.
By: Mallee Stanley on December 16, 2015
at 4:45 pm
It was the size that struck me as I walked in.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 17, 2015
at 12:29 pm
that is really magnificent!!! thanks for sharing..
George Miori
By: george Miori on December 16, 2015
at 6:19 pm
The work is amazing, so much attention to detail.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 17, 2015
at 12:30 pm
That’s utterly fascinating. The workmanship is extraordinary. How tragic for it all just to sink out of sight. I can imagine that salvaging the ship would have been a wonderful thing to work on. I can’t imagine what it would have felt like below decks – especially in rough weather.
By: Jan on December 16, 2015
at 9:57 pm
I think life was tough for those below decks.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 17, 2015
at 12:30 pm
Great photos, that is a great museum and I enjoyed it very much. I also enjoyed the timeline video display . You are right, it is fascinating.
By: Gerlinde@Sunnycovechef on December 16, 2015
at 11:24 pm
You could easily spend hours in the museum.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 17, 2015
at 12:31 pm
Stunning ship. Thanks for showing it to us.
By: Coral Waight on December 17, 2015
at 2:52 am
You really need to be there to get the full effect…definitely worth a visit.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 17, 2015
at 12:32 pm
I was able to take my kids there about 5 years ago — we all loved it. We found it quite stunning and majestic!
By: Stacy di Anna on December 18, 2015
at 3:00 am
What a fascinating little museum! I’d love to visit Stockholm one day 😀
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on December 18, 2015
at 6:26 am