CITY HALL (STOCKHOLMS STADSHUS)

Stockholm City Hall is one of the city's most emblematic monuments. Designed by architect Ragnar Östberg, Stockholm City Hall was inaugurated in 1923 after 12 years of construction. Magnificently situated on the shores of Lake Mälaren, this building in a new architectural style, the National Romantic style, immediately became the symbol of the city. It almost symbolically illustrates the marriage between the urban landscape and the surrounding body of water. Today, the town hall houses the council chambers, the central commission and the committee of aldermen, as well as the offices of the city's central administration and the ceremonial rooms.

You can visit Stockholm City Hall on a 45-minute guided tour (tickets available on site). Guided tours run daily, but the number of departures varies according to the day and season. It is also possible to book a private tour, which offers greater flexibility in terms of the language spoken during the visit (book online). The town hall also has a souvenir store with some very nice items! A great idea for a last-minute gift.

The Tower (open only from May to September). At the corner of the building, the tower rises to a height of 106 m, topped by three crowns, a national and monarchical symbol. A narrow spiral staircase, 365 steps high, leads up to the various levels. The view offers an impressive panorama of the city, making the building a major tourist attraction. Tickets (only 30 issued each hour) are accompanied by a timetable. You'll need to reserve them early, on the spot.

The Blue Hall (Blå Hallen). This huge, sheltered courtyard hosts the annual Nobel Prize award dinner. Largely inspired by Italian Baroque, with its balconies and arcades, it does not live up to its name, as there is not a single trace of azure here. The reason is simple: the architect changed his mind about the room's color several months after naming it. So the name stuck... You'll see a 10,000-pipe organ, which must surely be the largest instrument in Sweden.

The Council Chamber (Rådsalen). The 101 elected members meet here two Mondays a month. The roof structure is fully visible, a reference to the Vikings, who once held their councils under the hulls of their upturned ships. A patch of blue sky appears on the ceiling between the rafters through a trompe-l'oeil painted bay. Here again, the builder wanted to recall the dwellings of Swedish ancestors, whose roofs were slit with an opening to evacuate smoke. The red color - common in Sweden - of the beams, textiles and leather underscores the room's solemn character.

The Ovalen. The antechamber to the ceremonial halls is used for civil weddings on Saturdays from 2pm to 6pm. This room is also known as "French" because of the tapestries produced by the royal Beauvais manufactory, around which the room is designed.

The Prince's Gallery (Prinsens Galleri). This is a 47 m-long banqueting hall. It is lit by seven French windows overlooking the park, Lake Mälaren and the shores of Stockholm. Opposite the windows, this vast panorama is reflected in frescoes painted by Prince Eugene. Three carved and gilded oak chandeliers hang from the ceiling of the Salen Tre Kronor (Three Crowns Room). Of particular note is one of the most representative paintings of the Gustavian era, Stockholm from Mosebacke, by Elias Martin. It depicts the old town, which has remained unchanged for two centuries. The Prince's Gallery is closed on Saturdays, often reserved for wedding ceremonies!

The Golden Hall (Gyllene Salen). The work of master builder Einar Forseth, this banqueting hall was completed in just two years and is undoubtedly the highlight of the visit. The setting is as original as it is sumptuous: the walls are entirely covered with gold and glass mosaics depicting the history of the Swedish kings (notably the scenes of the Gamla Stan "bloodbath" in 1520 and the accession of Gustav Vasa three years later) and, on the far wall, East and West paying homage to Stockholm, depicted in the guise of a strange divinity known as the Queen of Lake Mälaren. This sumptuous hall is also the venue for the annual Nobel Prize Ball, broadcast on radio and television.

Stadshusparken is a small park running alongside the town hall and the shores of Lake Mälaren. It features a number of sculptures by artists such as August Strindberg and Gustaf Fröding. The park is large and spacious, offering pleasant views over the whole city.

Café Ragnars Skafferi. Located within the Town Hall, this inviting café is named after the building's architect, Ragnar Östberg. You can visit for lunch, where you'll be served homemade dishes and all ingredients are organic! The menu is fixed, and changes every day of the week. You can find out more on their website: www.ragnarsskafferi.se/. Vegetarian-friendly menu, and everything served buffet-style. The choice is yours!