On a very wet and cold Tuesday morning in late August, we boarded a ferry to take us to Drottningholm Palace.
Located on the island of Lovon, Drottningholm Palace is a private residence of the Swedish Royal Family. It was built in the late 16th century and has undergone many renovations over the years.
Photography was not allowed inside of the palace, but we were able to take many picture of the grounds and the exterior of the palace.
The backside of the palace was even more magnificent, with an shiny gold gate as an entry to the gardens.
Dan took this panorama of the beautiful garden.
We did a self-guided tour of the palace, which as I've mentioned with other landmarks, is a mistake. Always wait for a proper tour. We often had no clue what we were looking at, as we explored the opulent rooms. One thing that was very memorable, was the eye-tricking paint jobs. In efforts to save building costs, there were often illusions to make the palace appear fancier than it actually was, like painting techniques to give the facade of depth in a flat space. It's pretty clever actually! As with other buildings in Sweden, Drottningholm Palace was filled with vibrant colors to bring cheer on during the gloomy winters. Or even gloomy summers, like the day we visited.
Far more interesting than the Palace, was the Drottningholm Palace Theatre.
The Drottningholm Palace Theatre has a long and very interesting history. It was originally built at the end of the 17th century and was decorated to emulate the French style. A fire destroyed the original theatre in 1762.
The current theatre was rebuilt in 1766 and many of the original theatre effects, like a thunder machine and a Deus Ex Machina, still work. The theatre was very much championed by King Gustav III, who even acted on the stage. After King Gustav lll was assassinated in 1792, the theatre was left to waste.
In 1920, the theatre was restored and has been running since 1922. The theatre was the first Swedish landmark to be part of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.
We took an tour in English, with a Swedish guide who spoke with a heavy Australian accent. As part of the hour long tour, we were able to sit in on the rehearsal for the current production, Mozart's Idomeneo. Photography was not allowed in the theatre, but I was allowed a few shots in the lobby.
All of the touring made us desperate for a latte. We took a break at the lovely cafe on the Palace grounds.
When I went to use the restroom, I came across the best sign ever. Obviously, I can relate to this sign. I often use public toilets wearing only high heels and my lingerie.
Drottningholm Palace is a worthy addition to your Stockholm itinerary. Make sure to arrive early to beat the crowds. I recommend visiting the theatre before the Palace, as the theatre is only available by private tours and the palace is self-guided.
