Where would you find a singing bench, a witches’ gathering place and a crane painted like a giraffe? Subterranean art, libraries with eclectic collections, and a tiny theatre with only 20 seats? All this, and more, can be found within the pages of Secret Stockholm by Per Faxneld, a new “unusual guide” from Jonglez Publishing.
Contents
More Than Just A Guide Book
Unlike some European cities, the Swedish capital is not a major tourist destination. The islands of the archipelago are well known, as is the old town area of Gamla Stan. But Stockholm has more than its share of quirky details, making it a favoured destination for anyone with an eye for the unusual and a desire to get away from the beaten path.
Secret Stockholm is not a conventional introduction to the city. It is more of an insider’s guide to secret places and hidden sights, a treasury of places that visitors – and even locals – might not discover for themselves. A great way to get beneath the skin of the city and its people.
Stockholm’s Hidden Places
This book covers the whole city, from the heart of Gamla Stan to the islands and the outskirts. Even in the city centre there are hidden places to be found, from alleys almost too narrow to walk along to weird sculptures to a urinal with an “interesting” history. Some details are hidden in plain sight, like the tiny statue that is reputed to grant wishes, or a cannon ball embedded in a wall.
The quest for oddities even goes underground. Not just with tunnels and cellars, but also with examples of what has become known as the world’s longest art exhibition, the spectacular artwork that features in many of Stockholm’s metro stations. The station at Kungsträdgården goes one better – it is also a unique ecosystem, with tiny spiders and an obscure type of moss.
An Eclectic Mix
You’ll find a bit of everything here. There are specifically Scandinavian sights, such as the rune stones (one in the old town area of Gamla Stan, another behind the Karlberg Castle). But there is also a Japanese Zen Centre, a Turkish Pavilion, and an Italian Cultural Institute. Elsewhere are remnants of the medieval trade guilds, brutalist architecture… and the occasional folly.
It has to be said that some of the entries are slightly bizarre. Some are grotesque – you’ll discover the blood red stones that are said to be a reminder of a 16th century massacre, a human skull, and a (possibly) petrified cat. There is a family crest that has been crossed out with thick black lines because its owner was a “masonic necromancer” (perhaps an early example of cancellation culture). And then then there is the Montelius Grave, a tomb in the megalithic style built in the 20th century…
How To Use Secret Stockholm
Bizarre or otherwise, Secret Stockholm is always entertaining. It is full of interesting facts about the city and its hidden places. As you explore the pages you’ll learn much more about Stockholm, its history, and the people who live there.
You can use the book as a practical guide: each of the 140 main entries has details of address, nearest metro station and opening times. And there are maps to help you locate sights close to one another. But it is also a source of inspiration (for armchair travellers as well as visitors and locals), with a wealth of information, anecdotes and lots of full colour pictures.
Secret Stockholm, Per Faxneld, Jonglez Publishing, 2024, 9782361951696
