Drottningholm Palace on the island of Lovon was completed in the late 1600s during Sweden’s time as a great power. The Swedish royal court resided here regularly during the 18th century and it remains a summer residence for the Royal Family, but is also open to the public. In 1991, the palace and its grounds were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site for being “the finest example of an 18th-century north European royal residence inspired by the Palace of Versailles”.

Below are trip highlights from July 6th, 2019. Click any image for a larger view, or click the position to view the location on a map. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.

Hammarbyslussen Lock Position: 59°18.19’N, 18°4.70’E Water entering the Hammarbyslussen lock as we return to the lake system in the tender to tour Drottningholm Palace.

Arstabroarna Position: 59°18.36’N, 18°2.45’E About to pass under the Arstabroarna (the Arsta bridges), two parallel railway viaducts that connect mainland Stockholm to the island of Sodermalm. The closest bridge has been in operation since 1929 and was the longest bridge in Sweden when completed. The second bridge behind was completed in 2005.

Boat Transport Position: 59°18.95’N, 18°1.39’E A boat being lifted out of the water for transport.

Paddlers Position: 59°18.98’N, 18°1.21’E These paddlers really digging as we passed.

Drottningholm Palace Position: 59°19.27’N, 17°53.46’E Our destination for the day, Drottningholm Palace on the island of Lovon. An original castle built in 1580 burnt down and was replaced by the current palace, completed in the late 1600s during Sweden’s time as a great power. The Swedish royal court resided here regularly during the 18th century and it remains a summer residence for the Royal Family, but is also open to the public. The palace and its grounds were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991 for being “the finest example of an 18th-century north European royal residence inspired by the Palace of Versailles”.

Tender Position: 59°19.41’N, 17°53.50’E Our tender tied off at the small boat dock on the Drottningholm Palace grounds.

Staircase Position: 59°19.30’N, 17°53.20’E The grand staircase in Drottningholm Palace is full of statues, perspective paintings and beautiful marble.

Baroque Garden Position: 59°19.31’N, 17°53.21’E A view to the Baroque Garden, part of the expansive Drottningholm Palace Park.

Bedchamber Position: 59°19.30’N, 17°53.20’E The opulent state bedchamber of Queen Hedvig Eleonora, who commissioned the palace in the 17th century. It is one of Sweden’s grandest, and most expensive, Baroque rooms.

Library Position: 59°19.32’N, 17°53.18’E The magnificent library, created in the late 18th-century, houses roughly 2500 works in 7400 volumes.

Theatre Position: 59°19.37’N, 17°53.12’E The Drottningholm Palace Theater is one of the best preserved 18th-century theatres in the world. The stage’s hand-operated wooden machinery and sound effect machines are still in working order, and productions are regularly held here in the summer.

Chinese Pavilion Position: 59°19.04’N, 17°52.67’E The Chinese Pavilion is a summer palace given to Queen Lovisa Ulrika in 1753 as a surprise birthday gift from her husband King Adolf Fredrik. At that time, Chinese craftsmanship was exotic and rare, and considered the height of fashion in Europe.

Yellow Room Position: 59°19.03’N, 17°52.71’E The Yellow Room in the Chinese Pavilion is beautifully decorated with Chinese lacquered panels and porcelain.

Confidencen Position: 59°19.04’N, 17°52.67’E Confidencen is a remote dining building at the Chinese Pavilion where the dinner table and the serving tables were set on the floor below and hoisted up on signal, allowing for private dining similar to the Hermitage dining room at Peterhof palace.

Sculptures Position: 59°19.12’N, 17°52.91’E Sculptures are spread throughout the Drottningholm Palace Park, some designed to surprise and delight visitors who unexpectedly come across them.

Seven Cascades Position: 59°19.26’N, 17°52.95’E On either side of the center avenue in the Baroque garden are seven cascades spilling from a raised walkway.

Palace from Gardens Position: 59°19.23’N, 17°52.88’E The rear of Drottningholm Palace, viewed from above the seven cascades in the Baroque Garden.

Hercules Fountain Position: 59°19.27’N, 17°53.00’E The Hercules Fountain is one of 32 bronze sculptures in Drottningholm Palace Park by the leading sculptor of the Baroque period, the Dutchman Adriaen de Vries. They were taken by the Swedish army from the Wallenstein Palace in Prague as spoils of war.

Sjopaviljongen Position: 59°19.89’N, 17°59.17’E A delicious lunch on the terrace at Sjopaviljongen about halfway back to Dirona from Drottningholm Palace. Our tender is partially visible moored to James’ right.

Powered Board Position: 59°19.84’N, 17°59.29’E A couple of people were out on the lake in battery-powered paddleboards.

Apartments Position: 59°20.44’N, 18°0.25’E Modern apartments on the island of Kungsholmen.

Float Homes Position: 59°20.52’N, 18°0.45’E One of several striking floathomes moored at Papas Marina opposite the island of Kungsholmen.

Suspended Buoys Position: 59°20.44’N, 18°0.77’E This is the first time we’ve seen buoys suspended from a bridge above a waterway, rather than secured to land or the sea bottom.

Karlberg Canal Position: 59°20.42’N, 18°0.91’E The narrow and intimate Karlberg Canal along the north side of the island of Kungsholmen.

Karlberg Palace Position: 59°20.36’N, 18°1.48’E Karlberg Palace was built in the 1620s for a wealthy Stockholm resident and purchased by the King in 1688. It served as a royal palace until the lat 1700s, when it was converted to a military academy that has continued to present day.

Stockholm Waterfront Position: 59°19.70’N, 18°3.35’E The modern Stockholm Waterfront complex, completed in 2011. The complex includes a hotel, office buildings and a conference center.

City Hall Position: 59°19.54’N, 18°3.38’E Stockholm’s City Hall building was completed in 1923 and is a landmark in the city. The 347ft (106m) tower is open to the public to climb to the top.

Brightwork Position: 59°19.18’N, 18°1.86’E Amazing brightwork on this wooden boat moored along the lakes.

Canal Tour Position: 59°18.20’N, 18°4.72’E This large canal tour boat was one of several other vessels we shared Hammarbyslussen with on the return back to saltwater. We didn’t know it then, but Artnautica 58 Britt owner Rob Westermann was on board.

Click the travel log icon on the left to see these locations on a map, with the complete log of our cruise. On the map page, clicking on a camera or text icon will display a picture and/or log entry for that location, and clicking on the smaller icons along the route will display latitude, longitude and other navigation data for that location. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.