Long time ago, a renaissance building on the Island Lovön, designed by Willem Boy was built by the order of John III of Sweden in 1580 for his queen, Catherine Jagellon.
The name of Drottningholm means "Queen's islet". The Queen Hedwig Eleonora bought the original building which burnt down in 1660. She asked the architect Nicodemus Tessin the Elder to design a magnificent palace for her. During the construction of the palace Tessin died and his son continued his work and finished the interior of the building.
The palace was used as a summer residence of the Queen until she died in 1715 and was given as a gift from King Frederick I to the then next Crown Princess, Louisa Ulrika of Prussiain 1744. She redecorated the interior to be French Rococo style and sold to the state in 1777. King Gustav III of Sweden (her son) used it as a summer residence. It is currently a private residence of the Swedish royal family. That is the place we lead you there:
First, the boat terminal is in Stockholm, check the website of Strömma. The terminals is Stadshusbron near the City hall of Stockholm:
There are many boats at the terminals, do not enter the wrong boat. The boat that goes to the Lake Mälaren surely stop at the Drottningholm palace:
Once you arrive, you simply can't miss the palace. The antique marble statues that the King bought from Italy are put on the columns along the pathway to the palace at the lake side to welcome visitors:
To see a nice view from the palace, ignore the naked male statue at the entrance gate of the east facade facing to the lake Mälaren, the boat station (on the left):
The garden design is geometric form like anti-tank obsacles. Could it be? It is near the Swedish Royal guard in front of the east facade:
The guard looked at the lake, not the bottom of the statue. The palace is surrounded with Baroque garden:
At the end of the trip, hop off and walk along the harbour in search of the three golden crowns:
A tip of the trip: To see the three crowns, always look up and never look down. Bye! Hop Hop!
