Understanding Swedish Rune Stones
Wherever you go in southern Sweden you are likely to find rune stones. These ancient Viking stones with their distinctive red patterns and cryptic markings seem to be everywhere. But what are rune stones, and what were they for? What Were Viking Rune Stones?...
History, Churches and Rune Stones in Sigtuna, Sweden’s Oldest Town
Less than 50 km from Stockholm, Sigtuna is ideal for a day trip from the capital. It is Sweden’s oldest town, founded in AD 980, and until the 13th century it was one of the most important cities in the country. Today it is small, and its importance has waned, but...
The Ancient Burial Sites of Gotland
There are stones everywhere. Wherever you go in Gotland they are scattered on the beach and by the road, in fields and in forests. They must have provided plentiful building material for the ancient labyrinths around the coast. And, as I discovered, these stones were...
Discovering the Fishing Stations of Gotland
I went to Gotland in search of its stone labyrinths and the medieval city of Visby. But, as so often happens, it was the unexpected that caught my attention. And I found two things that took me by surprise. The first was the old fishing stations that are dotted around...
The Stone Labyrinths of Gotland
Over the past few years I've been exploring English turf mazes, and I recently visited the last on the list. So it was time to discover their predecessors, the stone labyrinths of Scandinavia. My destination was the Swedish island of Gotland, home to more than 40...
Eat Like a Local With BonAppetour (and Get a Discount With Your First Meal)
Have you ever wished that it was easier to meet local people when you travel? Or that you could eat home cooked food rather than searching for yet another restaurant? If so, welcome to BonAppetour, a scheme that lets you dine in private homes throughout the world. I...
Sea, Sky and Sculpture at Stockholm’s Millesgården
A garden high on a hill, overlooking the Stockholm harbour front. Designed by the artist who lived there and filled with sculptures, terraces and flower gardens. This is the Millesgården, a sculpture park on the island of Lidingö. Building the Millesgården...
Midsummer Adventures on a Stockholm Night Safari
Spotting wildlife isn’t always high on the agenda when you’re visiting a capital city. You might expect museums, restaurants and art. There may be elegant parks, but it is rare to find untamed nature. However Stockholm is different, as I discovered when I went on a...
Art in the Stockholm Metro: The World’s Longest Art Exhibition
The Stockholm Metro is full of busy people, scurrying around on their way to work, school or the shops. There is no time to stop and look around. Which is a pity, because Stockholm’s subway stations are full of original artworks, making the Metro a work of art in...
Book Review: Sunflower Walk and Eat Stockholm
Two things I enjoy when visiting a new city are exploring by foot and sampling the food. So the Sunflower Walk and Eat series, with their emphasis upon walks and food, is a winning combination for me. Armed with my review copy of Walk and Eat Stockholm I set off to...
