#Kalmar Castle

[quo-usque-tandem]

Kalmar Castle, Sweden

[demeissen]

Spring morning. Kalmar, Sweden. March 2024.

[rabbitcruiser]

Forest (No. 173)

Borgholm, Sweden

[thepastisalreadywritten]

What’s that elephant the Danes are wearing?

Tatler’s guide to the emblems and quirks of Denmark’s highest honour, the Order of the Elephant.

A curious little diamond-encrusted elephant, a blue sash, a gold collar – and sometimes a big flaming cape…Tatler looks into the history and tradition of Denmark's most privileged Order.

With Frederik X set to become sovereign of the Order as he becomes King on Sunday, you might see a few of these elephants around Copenhagen's royal palaces

By Isaac Zamet

12 January 2024

When Crown Prince Frederik becomes Frederik X of Denmark on Sunday, he will also replace his mother, Queen Margrethe II, as the sovereign of Denmark’s most ancient and distinguished order of chivalry, the Order of the Elephant.

Though it was officially refounded in 1693, the order dates all the way back to the 1400s, when it was established as a religious confraternity by a group of about fifty Danish knights.

In the 1400s, prior to the Reformation which gripped Europe and divided the church, such religious ‘clubs’ as the Order of the Elephant were common features of aristocratic life.

At the time of the Order of the Elephant's birth, Christian I was King of Denmark – and in fact, Norway and Sweden too, creating a personal union known as the Kalmar Union.

During this period, the emblem of the club was an image of the Virgin Mary holding her Son within a crescent moon.

This was hung from a collar formed of links in the shape of elephants.

The confraternity mutated over the centuries but endured a stifled period after the Reformation in which such clubs became suspect.

In 1580, Frederik II – eight Frederiks prior to our current Frederik – revived the order and replaced the medallion of the mother and child with an elephant (a Reformation-safe, Protestant approach – if a quirky one!).

But it was Christian V, in 1693, who gave the club its official statues and founding order.

At this time, it was scheduled as comprising 30 noble knights and one Grand Master (the King) along with his sons.

It was only in 1958 that the statutes were amended by Royal Ordinance to allow the ennoblement of women as members of the order.

Between 1580 and today, around 890 persons have been bestowed with the Order of the Elephant; with Queen Margrethe adding 68 people during her 40 year reign.

The recipients are almost always royal persons and foreign heads of state – though in a rare exception, the order was given to a commoner in 2000.

This was the deceased shipping magnate, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller, who was recognised for exceptional contribution to Danish economic strength and Danish society.

Those unfamiliar with the man himself will surely recognise his name from the famous shipping containers.

The A.P. Møller – Mærsk group was actually founded in 1904 by his father. It is now worth $81bn dollars.

At the time of Møller’s membership of the order, he was the only non-royal and non-head of state to hold the honour; though it had previously been held by the pioneering nuclear physicist, Niels Bohr.

Membership of the order comes with possession of its rather eye-catching elephantine emblem.

The elephant is made of white-enamelled gold with blue housings and is about 5cm high.

On its back, the elephant bears a tower of pink enamelled masonry (a design originally intended to reflect the howdah compartments of the Indian subcontinent).

A number of large cut diamonds adorn the elephant, along with a crowned monogram of the monarch reigning when it was made.

One wonders, then, when the first Frederikian elephants will be carved.

At the top of the tower on the elephant’s back sits a gold ring, from which the badge can be hung from the collar or tied to a sash.

On the elephant's back sits a turbaned ‘moor mahout.’

It should be noted that some would regard such a depiction as an exoticising caricature.

Others would regard its appearance merely as an expression of an historical perspective.

One striking detail about the circulation of the elephants is that each Order of the Elephant is – in principle – on loan and must be returned to the Chapter of the Royal Orders of Chivalry when a member of the Order has passed away.

This rather quaint custom means that elephants are inherited and used several times by different members of the order, with some dating back hundreds of years.

Interestingly, the done thing is not to disclose to whom an Elephant has previously been given – though there are some traditional lines of inheritance.

For example, the elephant recently bestowed on Prince Christian belonged previously to his grandfather, Prince Henrik.

This handing over was always to be, on the basis of a traditional line of inheritance.

There are two exceptional elephants which have eluded the rule of the ‘loan’ – one remains in the Chancellery Museum at Paris and a second remains on display at the Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Library in the US.

Another beautiful quirk of membership of the Order is that a member’s coat of arms is always painted and subsequently hung in the Knight’s Chapel at Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød.

As to when the elephants come out to play, there are some rather interesting traditions concerning how and when to wear them.

The Order of the Elephant has three festival days: new year’s day, the monarch’s birthday, and the birthday of Valdemar the Victorious, which, if you didn’t know is on June 28.

On these festival days, the Order of the Elephant is worn on the chest on a gold chain link collar, with links shaped as towers and elephants.

The collar sits on each shoulder. On other important occasions, the order is worn on a bright blue sash with a breast star.

The star of the order is an eight-pointed silver star with smooth rays; at its centre sits an enameled red disc with a white cross, surrounded by a laurel wreath in silver.

[mozart-the-meerkitten]

You know what, I need to calm myself down so have another funny? interesting? ATLA/Wingfeather Saga crossover idea.

Okay, stay with me here. I legitimately think that after the end of their respective series that Kalmar and Azula could be friends.

Something something child who was had too much pressure put on them and broke, made bad decisions, was seen as a monster, feared by everyone, fought in a war, younger sibling, missed childhood...

I just feel like Kalmar, the boy who had such insane compassion for the cloven and Fangs, who had to sit in a cell all night listening to a mad Fang in the Hollows and later carried her out of the dungeon, who befriended a cloven who he thought was there to kill him, who watched his uncle suffer with madness...

Idk man I just feel like Kal would understand her. And do his very best to be her friend. He would not be phased at all by her threats or her trying to attack him. I mean, the child was in the Blackwood and attacked by his own broken people who had forgotten who they were. Azula tries to threaten him and he just shrugs and offers her a berry bun.

He'd also absolutely give her an outlet for ~chaos~, like can you imagine if he helped her to the point that she wasn't trying to kill people anymore but was still chaotic? They'd get up to SO MANY shenanigans. Janner and Zuko can't figure out why they keep getting pranked so effectively and they finally figure out their younger siblings have rallied against them.

Also, just, "Oh, your mom thought you were a monster? Do you want to share my mom? She convinced the Hollowsfolk to let me stay with them by pledging her life for mine, so that if I broke the rules she'd be punished with me, even if it meant they killed her." *small voice* "....yes." (Nia would absolutely accept another suffering child are you kidding me)

Janner, watching Kal and Azula run through Castle Rysen committing crimes shenanigans: I quit. Zuko: *just glad his sister's found a friend and isn't trying to murder anyone anymore* at least they're having fun.

edited to add: Janner: WHY ARE YOU SHOOTING FIRE AT MY LITTLE BROTHER Azula: *looking at Kalmar* training. Kal: definitely not because I bet that she couldn't shoot a glipfruit off my head. Azula: we need to work on your lying. Janner: NO

Idk man, I just feel like they'd get along so well. Kalmar at the end of the series has the depth to both care about and want to help someone like Azula. He'd have so much compassion for her it's making me lose my mind a little. And I think Azula would appreciate having someone willing to listen to her side of things and not judge her, but acknowledge her struggles and what she went through and not treat her as any less. Someone who isn't afraid of her, even a little bit. Someone who, somehow, genuinely understands.

[ej-photoblog]

Kalmar Castle!!

[steellegacy]

⚜️ A richly ornate armor of Eric XIV of Sweden, 1560s

This armor is one of oldest objects of the Royal Armory in Stockholm and truly has tremendous value.

Materials: steel with an etched and stamped pattern on it, gilding of individual parts.

The total weight: 25,6 kg

🏛 Livrustkammaren, Stockholm

TODAY IN HISTORY: September 30, 1568 - Eric XIV, king of Sweden, is deposed after showing signs of madness.

📝 Facts About Eric XIV, the Butcher King:

▪️ He was a man of contradictions; he was both humble and haughty, and urbane and well read, but also barbaric.

▪️ He was scarily smart and richly talented. Eric was an eerily bright child who excelled at both languages and mathematics.

▪️ The Swedish tradition of eating crayfish was introduced by Eric XIV - he was very fond of crayfish and cultivated them in the moat around Kalmar Castle.

▪️ Eric had sought to enhance his reputation as a King by securing a grand marriage. For years, he had been competing for the hand of England's "Virgin Queen" Elizabeth I Tudor (1533-1603).

▪️ He had an allegiance to exactly one person: himself.

▪️ He showed signs of schizophrenia in his alternating moods of violent frenzy and abject repentance. Two guards were sentenced to death for 'annoying the King'. If someone smiled or whispered in his presence, Eric believed that he was ridiculed.

▪️ Eric was deprived of the crown and was then detained at various castles in Sweden and Finland until he was probably murdered at the castle of Örbyhus at the command of Johan III.

▪️ He was buried in Västerås Catherdral.

▪️ According to an expert, an opening in 1958 by Eric XIV's grave did not provide proof that the arsenic found was the result of poisoning. Another expert's conclusion was that "the whole finding thus fully supports the assumption that Eric XIV has been poisoned with arsenic".

- -

⚜️ Богато украшенные доспехи шведского короля Эрика XIV, 1560-е гг.

Этот гарнитур является одним из старейших экспонатов королевской оружейной палаты и действительно имеет огромную ценность.

Общий вес: 25,6 кг

Материалы: сталь, травленый и одновременно штампованный узор, позолота отдельных деталей

🏛 Ливрусткаммарен, Стокгольм

ДЕНЬ В ИСТОРИИ: 30 сентября 1568 года - Король Швеции Эрик XIV был свергнут после того, как у него появились признаки безумия

📝Факты о шведском «Короле-мяснике»:

▪️ Он был противоречивым человеком - одновременно скромным и высокомерным, вежливым и начитанным, но в то же время варваром.

▪️ Он был пугающе умен и очень талантлив: преуспевал как в языках, так и в математике.

▪️ Ввел шведскую традицию поедания раков, поскольку очень любил раков и выращивал их во рву вокруг Кальмарского замка.

▪️ Эрик стремился улучшить свою репутацию короля, заключив грандиозный брак. В течение многих лет он боролся за руку английской королевы-девственницы Елизаветы I Тюдор (1533–1603).

▪️ Был предан ровно одному человеку: самому себе.

▪️ Он проявлял признаки шизофрении, резко сменяя настроение от жестокого безумия до жалкого раскаяния. Двое стражников были приговорены к смертной казни за «раздражение короля». Если кто-то в его присутствии улыбался или шептал, Эрик считал, что его высмеивают.

▪️ Эрик был лишен короны, а затем содержался под стражей в различных замках Швеции и Финляндии, пока, вероятно, не был убит в замке Орбихус по приказу Йохана III.

▪️ Был похоронен в Вестеросском соборе.

▪️ Вскрытие могилы Эрика XIV в 1958 г. не дало доказательств того, что обнаруженный мышьяк был результатом отравления. Заключение же другого эксперта гласит, что «все данные полностью подтверждают предположение, что ��рик XIV был отравлен мышьяком».

#EricXIV #armor #history #ЭрикXIV

[une-sanz-pluis]

Philippa of England, Queen of Norway, Denmark and Sweden

Philippa of England was the youngest daughter and last child of Henry of Lancaster and Mary de Bohun, Earl and Countess of Derby, and was born on, or shortly before, 1 July 1394, when her mother died from complications in childbirth. Little is known of Philippa’s early childhood but when her father usurped the throne in 1399, becoming Henry IV, her future changed dramatically. No longer the youngest daughter of an earl, she was now a princess.

The new king almost immediately began searching for marriage alliances for his two daughters. 1401 saw Henry enter into marriage negotiations with Margrete of Denmark for Philippa to marry Margrete’s adoptive son and heir, Erik of Pomerania. Like Henry, Margrete was hoping for an alliance to strengthen her domestic position and that of the fledgling Kalmar Union of Norway, Denmark and Sweden. It wasn’t until 1405 that the marriage was formally agreed upon and in December, Philippa was proclaimed Queen of Norway, Denmark and Sweden. In August 1406, the 12-year-old Philippa sailed from England in August 1406. She married Erik at the cathedral of Lund, and her coronation soon followed. Famously, Philippa is the first documented European princess to wear white at her wedding.

She spent the next three years at Kalmar Castle in Sweden, the first year under the guidance of Katarina Knutsdotter (the granddaughter of Saint Birgitta of Sweden), and probably owing in no small part to her youth, Philippa remained in the sidelines of rule until Margrete’s death in 1412. She retained close ties to Sweden, serving as Erik’s de facto regent there, and was the only queen of the Kalmar Union to ever achieve popularity in Sweden. Of particular note is her patronage of Vadstenna Abbey, the motherhouse of the Bridgettine Order. She often stayed there when in Sweden, was a generous patron, and petitioned the pope multiple times on the Order's behalf, even enlisting the support of her brother, Henry V of England. In 1425, Philippa donated a choir dedicated to St. Anne, where she was later buried. This may have had particular significance for Philippa, as she had no surviving children..

Philippa was deeply involved in the rule of all three kingdoms of the Kalmar Union. In 1420, demonstrating Erik’s trust in her, it was decided that she would serve as regent to his heir, Bogislaw of Pomerania, should the marriage remain childless, and her widow’s pension would effectively give her a ‘queendom’ in Sweden. In 1423, Erik went on pilgrimage and Philippa served as his regent, with all power that entailed, until his return in 1425. She also obtained the resources and support Erik needed for his war against the Hanseatic League. Indeed, it was Philippa who organised the defence of Copenhagen against the bombardment of the Hanseatic League in 1428 to great acclaim.

In late 1429, Philippa, apparently in good health, travelled to Sweden to secure further support for the war against the Hanseatic League. She was staying in Vadstena Abbey when she fell seriously ill and died on the night of 5 and 6 January 1430, possibly following a stillbirth. Philippa was remembered almost universally favourably, a reputation that was surely deserved.

Sources: Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, MS Lat. 17294), "Filippa, drottning", Svenskt kvinnobiografiskt lexikon (article by Charlotte Cederbom), Steinar Imsen, “Late Medieval Scandinavian Queenship”. Queens and Queenship in Medieval Europe, Mary Anne Everett Green, Lives of the princesses of England from the Norman conquest, Vol 3.

[waywot]

Kalmar Castle in Sweden.

[mayzi33]

TWS gang, please, hear me out.

So, I still got wingfeathers in the brain (I'm starting to think I may never get rid of it...) and one of my favorite fairytales has always been Beauty And The Beast.

Since exams week has been draining me, why not come up with another thing to daydream about?

I present you... The-Wingfeather-Saga-Beauty-And- The-Beast AU!

The Jewels And The Beast for short.

Or Jewels and The Cloven.

Or Jewels and The Birdman.

You'll see.... Just bear with me.

I'm debating in whetever Esben or Artham should be the "beast". In one hand, it would make sense for it to be Esben since he's all bear-like but I would also like it to be Artham since we have more information about him and what he's like. But either way, the "Beauty" is none other than our favorite jewels, Janner, Kalmar and Leeli.

Here's the idea: so, the kids still live with Podo and Nia in Glipwood. However, in the Glipwood forest, there's an abandoned castle. (Bonus points if Artham is the "beast" cause then it could be Peet's castle only bigger and creepier) Podo goes on a trip for whatever reason, and ends up being taken by the oh-so-horrible beast of Glipwood. Danny, the horse, comes back to the Igiby cottage where Nia and the kids get nerve struck when they find the horse without its rider. Nia leaves to get help to find Podo leaving the kids alone, and one thing leads to another, they decided to go to the forest by themselves to rescue their grandpa because main characters moment. There, they meet the "beast", and bargain to stay as prisioners in Podo's place. Podo obviously tries to fight, but ends up having to flee, leaving the kids as captives in the castle.

The "talking objects" are the Glipwooders, plus a few other characters from other regions. We got Oskar, who's a book, (are you surprised) and basically takes the role of Cogsworth. We also got Addie and Joe, Maraly, Sara, Thron, Rudric and others. (No, I haven't thought of what objects they would all be, sorry. You can suggest in the comments tho!) As the story goes by, it focuses mainly on the kids bonding with either beast! Esben or beast! Artham, and teaching about kindness and stuff. The "rose" would be a set of three actual jewels, that may or may not represent the kids themselves. Meanwhile Gnag, will be the one to take the role as Gaston. Unlike in TWS, Gnag will pretend to be the good guy and the whole town loves him, (like Gaston and the villagers) so when Nia and Podo announce that the kids have been captured by a beast, he will try to play the hero and claiming he will "rescue them". However, what Nia Podo and the Glipwooders don't know, is that Gnag is the one who helped to turn Esben or Artham into a beast in the first place, along with the Stone Keepers (who take the role of the Enchantress). Gnag knows that Janner, Tink and Leeli are the Jewels Of Anniera, and has only been waiting for the right moment to strike, to capture them and begin his plan on taking over Skree, the Hollows, and the lost Shining Isle, which everyone believes to only be a legend.

Anyways that's all I got for now.

Maybe I'll write a small fic or something on that in the future...

Maybe.

Thank you for reading my rambling!

[wings-dings-and-iggyfings]

Okay, so… hear me out… what if, in your Wingfeather Falls AU (which is literal AWESOMESAUCE, by the way, as everything you write is.), there was a portal…

That sent the U.S.S. Enterprise into Aerwiar.

THE CHAOS!!! THE HEARTWARMING-NESS!!!

Plot points include Kirk being mildly concerned why this child is the leader of a whole country, McCoy finding out about First Well Water, and Scotty, Fiddleford, and Kalmar becoming a trio of chaos. Leeli and Uhura are over in the corner teaching each other how to play a whistleharp and the Vulcan-harp-thing respectively.

anon I’m pretty sure it’s been years since this was sent so sorry about that, I’d been saving this for when I rewatched The Voyage Home and had the characters in my head again, but joke’s on me we ended up watching the entire original series first instead. xD

Anyway I’m replying to this now because I just had a vivid image pop into my head of Leeli playing her whistleharp while Spock strums along on his Vulcan harp and Uhura sings in the background, they’d make a perfect band and it’s cracking me up and I had to run and find this ask/submission because of it.

A few other thoughts while I’m here:

I feel like Janner would 100% latch onto Bones’ dry humor and copy it and also commiserate with him about always getting into SITUATIONS, why do they keep getting dragged along into these things. (also haha, while I’m here we just watched the episode “The Empath” so I’m thinking about how Kirk, Spock and Bones went down the chain of command all willing to die for each other and it ended with Bones knocking the other two unconscious with a hypo-spray and almost dying because of it and that’s just so Janner coded, I’m-)

Kalmar is on Enterprise, Idk where everyone else is but he is driving everyone insane. He is everywhere, he is climbing through the air vents. He definitely ends up in engineering and Scotty decides that alright, fine, he’ll put the hyperactive child to work and has him start working on something. Janner finally tracks his brother down two hours later and Kalmar has an intricate understanding of the warp core and how dilithium crystals work.

Sara is hanging out with Nurse Chapel. Unsung heroes of their respective series, tbh, they put up with everyone’s shenanigans and manage to be helpful and interesting in their own right.

Idk if Kalmar could convince Sulu to teach him to fly the ship but he could definitely convince Chekov, Idk man, they have the same energy.

Leeli and Uhura are just singing somewhere. They keep drawing people to them like sirens and eventually summon Spock with his harp and that’s how their little band forms. I feel like Leeli would like both Spock and Uhura a lot, Idk, she seems perceptive enough to pick up that Spock actually cares about people despite what he says to the contrary.

lol I have gotten this far without mentioning Kirk in anything, wild. I’m probably just tired, but I feel like it would be hilarious if while the Wingfeather kids ended up on Enterprise, Kirk ended up on Anniera. Like, this was some sort of bizarre transporter malfunction or something. Maybe Sulu went with him because Sulu deserves to be able to duel people ajghsjafhlgdfka him being an expert in fencing on a starship is just hilarious okay, send him to a place he can use his skills.

^This, by extension means that Artham ends up dueling Sulu for funsies (or due to a misunderstanding, either way it’s basically just the fight between Wesley and Inigo in the Princess Bride, “You seem a decent fellow, I hate to kill you.” “You seem a decent fellow, I hate to die.”) and also that Artham hears Kirk say he’s the “captain” of a starship and is like “oh??? would you like to go SAILING then??? :)))” (Artham 100% knows Kirk does not mean a regular sailing ship but as always I go back to the fact that Artham and Esben pranked Nia her first night in Castle Rysen he has mischief in his blood) and takes Kirk out on an Annieran ship and Kirk is... a little thrown off, but I can’t imagine he doesn’t catch on quickly. And Artham is a good teacher after all.

(Sulu should also duel Maraly, I just want her flinging knives at him while he deflects each of them and she’s just baffled and irritated the whole time and he is having the best day of his life)

Alright, I have an appointment tomorrow so I need to stop but I hope you all enjoyed... whatever this is. xD

[rabbitcruiser]

The Kalmar Union was formed under the rule of Margaret I of Denmark on June 17, 1397.

[keenhideoutenthusiast]

So someone irl asked me for my Janara headcanons so here goes:

Library. All the time. Janner absolutely LOVES books, and so does Sara. Also in TWatWK when she was reading Artham's poems while at his tree house.... she likes poetry?

Sara likes her coffee in a certain way and Janner is the only one who knows how to make it. Like, Sara doesn't even know how lol

They babysit Artham and Arundelle's kids a lot. Everyone think its cute because EVERYONE in the castle ships them and then there they are with LITERAL CHILDREN.

They take turns watching over Kalmar.

Kalmar is their official third wheel, but sometimes Leeli and Maraly join in being a 4th and 5th wheel

THEY. LIKE. SAILING. PERIOD.

okay I feel like after the events of the entire Saga, they both wouldn't really like adventure but like, maybe a little here and there. Ya know, just to get out of the castle.

I feel like they'd both be good at singing (idk, maybe the First Well water helped Janner's vocal cords or something) BUT THEY SING TOGETHER. They are the type of people that either are completely serious, silent, and reading, or being completely childish and singing duets together. OH, and Leeli third wheels and plays the instruments.

They both love children and offer to watch the kids of all their friends.

Idk, Sara is good with a bow and Janner with a sword so they make a PERFECT team in battle

thats pretty much it tbh

[mozart-the-meerkitten]

Janner x Sara headcanons? (from the Wingfeather Saga)

*Spoilers for books 1-4 of the Wingfeather Saga*

When they meet again after book 4 they start off very shy with each other, because they have both been through a lot and, really, they only had the very beginnings of a relationship before they were separated in book 2 (they do think of each other in subsequent books, but neither knows that about the other one). It is, of course, obvious to everyone else in the castle that they are majorly crushing on each other, and everyone has various approaches to dealing with that (Kalmar and Leeli actively try and set them up on dates, for instance).

Okay, wait, what would be really cute would be if Janner went to Artham for advice and Sara went to Arundelle for advice because they have SO MANY parallels as characters and in their relationships oh my word-

*cough* Anyway, pretty sure the adults in their lives (including Nia, btw, they both definitely talk to Nia) urge them to just, well, talk to each other. They finally do, sitting out on Castle Rysen's hill, in the new green grass.

Sara tells Janner how much he inspired her, Janner tells Sara about how thinking about her helped him not lose hope. They talk about all the stuff that's happened to them since they parted in the Fork Factory and after a day of laughing and crying at each other's stories, they're closer than ever and understand each other so much better.

After that they start getting more comfortable around each other. They invite each other on little dates and start giving each other little gifts. Janner starts writing Sara clumsy little love poems and gives her the best ones. Kalmar makes sure the "worse" ones find their way to Sara as well. xD

One day, Janner takes Sara out sailing, just the two of them. It's been one of his dreams to sail on the sea for as long as he can remember and as much as he loved the idea of sailing all by himself... sailing with Sara is infinitely better. They end up just sitting on the ship's deck, snuggled up together watching the sunset, letting the ship drift... and then ten minutes later jointly panic because they promised they'd be back before dark and oh my gosh where even are they-

Janner uses the stars to find their way back and finds out Sara enjoys stargazing and knows quite a few constellations. "That's good, it's good for a sailor's wife to know the stars." "What?!" "NOTHING!"

They make it back long after dark to find Nia and Artham smirking at them on the dock. They don't even get lectured and somehow it's worse (and more awkward) than if they'd gotten in trouble.

Alright, I'll stop there, hope you enjoyed! :D

[shamelessgalaxymentality]

Wingfeather headcanons

ok im doing this apparently. mostly Artham. He's my favorite :)

(spoilers) (also semi canon divergent because Andrew is christian and me and religion are in a messy relationship)

Artham likes hanging out in the new Books and Crannies

and he totally adopted Sara. I do not take criticism about this

Janner and Kalmar like to race tree climbing (Janner wins)

if they had phones, Gammon would communicate through emojis

Artham would have perfect grammar

and maralay would only use abbreviations

The kids made a tree house in Anniera and they call it Peet's castle

ok i have more but my hands hurt sorry

[travelspassion123]

Unearthing Historical Sites in Sweden: A Glimpse into the Past

Sweden, with its rich cultural heritage and storied past, is a paradise for history enthusiasts. The historical sites in Sweden offer a journey through time, from the Viking Age to the grandeur of royal palaces. Join us as we explore some of the most fascinating historical landmarks across this Scandinavian country.

Kalmar

Kalmar, located on the southeastern coast of Sweden, is home to one of the country’s most significant historical sites: Kalmar Castle. This 12th-century fortress has witnessed numerous pivotal events in Swedish history, including the signing of the Kalmar Union in 1397. The castle's Renaissance architecture, well-preserved interiors, and informative exhibitions make it a must-visit. Kalmar's old town, with its charming cobblestone streets and historic buildings, further adds to the city's historical allure.

Västerås

Västerås, situated in central Sweden, is a city with deep historical roots. The city’s pride is Västerås Cathedral, a stunning structure dating back to the 13th century. The cathedral is renowned for its beautiful Gothic architecture and historical significance, as it is the burial place of King Eric XIV. Västerås is also home to the Anundshög burial mound, Sweden’s largest tumulus from the Viking Age, providing a fascinating glimpse into the ancient past.

Ystad

Ystad, located in southern Sweden, is a picturesque town known for its medieval charm and historical significance. One of the town's highlights is the Greyfriars Abbey, founded in the 13th century, which now houses a museum detailing the town's history. The town’s medieval buildings, such as the Ystad Theatre and the half-timbered houses lining the streets, create an atmosphere that transports visitors back in time. Ystad is also famous as the setting for the Kurt Wallander detective series, adding a modern cultural twist to its historical allure.

Norrköping

Norrköping, in eastern Sweden, is a city with a rich industrial heritage. The city's Industrial Landscape area is a unique historical site, showcasing the remains of the 19th-century textile industry that once thrived here. The old factories, water channels, and historic buildings have been beautifully preserved and repurposed, now housing museums, galleries, and cultural institutions. The Norrköping City Museum offers an in-depth look at the city's industrial past and its impact on Sweden’s development.

Helsingborg

Helsingborg, located on Sweden's southwestern coast, is home to Kärnan, a medieval tower that once formed part of a larger fortress built in the 14th century. The tower offers panoramic views of the city and the Öresund Strait. Helsingborg’s old town, with its historic buildings and cobblestone streets, adds to the city’s charm. The nearby Sofiero Palace and Gardens, a royal summer residence dating back to the 19th century, further enriches the historical experience.

Luleå

Luleå, in northern Sweden, is notable for its UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gammelstad Church Town. This unique historical site consists of over 400 wooden houses surrounding the 15th-century Nederluleå Church. The church town was a common feature in northern Scandinavia, where people stayed during religious festivals and markets. Gammelstad offers a rare glimpse into the region's cultural and religious history.

Örebro

Örebro, located in central Sweden, is home to the magnificent Örebro Castle. This medieval castle, dating back to the 13th century, has been meticulously restored and now hosts exhibitions and events. The city’s Wadköping Open Air Museum provides another historical experience, with its collection of traditional Swedish houses and buildings. Örebro’s historical sites offer a blend of medieval architecture and cultural heritage.

Conclusion

Sweden’s historical sites provide a rich tapestry of the country's past, offering insights into everything from Viking traditions to medieval architecture and industrial advancements. Each location tells a unique story, inviting visitors to step back in time and experience Sweden’s heritage firsthand. Whether you're an avid history buff or a curious traveler, exploring these historical landmarks promises a rewarding and enriching adventure.

Immerse yourself in the historical wonders of Sweden and discover the stories that have shaped this fascinating nation. For more travel inspiration and guides, visit Travels Passion.