CITY HALL (STOCKHOLMS STADSHUS)

The Stockholm City Hall is one of the most emblematic monuments of the city. Created by the architect Ragnar Östberg, the Stockholm City Hall was inaugurated in 1923 after 12 years of work. Beautifully located on the shores of Lake Mälaren, this building of a new architectural style, the national romanticism, immediately became the symbol of the city. It almost symbolically illustrates the marriage between the cityscape and the surrounding water. Today, the city hall houses the rooms of the city council, the central commission, the committee of aldermen as well as the offices of the central administration of the city and the ceremonial rooms.

It is possible to visit Stockholm City Hall by taking a guided tour that lasts 45 minutes (purchase tickets on site). Guided tours are given daily but may be cancelled due to events taking place at the venue. It is also possible to book a private tour, which offers more flexibility on the language spoken during the tour (book online). The city hall also has a souvenir store with some very nice items! Good plan for a last minute gift.

The Tower (open only from May to September). At the corner of the building, the tower stands 106 m high and is topped by three crowns, a national and monarchical symbol. You can access its different levels through a narrow spiral staircase that has 365 steps. From the top, one has a complete and impressive view of the city, making the city hall a major tourist attraction. The tickets (only 30 issued each hour) are accompanied by a schedule. So you have to book them as soon as possible, on the spot.

The Blue Hall (Blå Hallen). This immense sheltered courtyard hosts the great Nobel Prize award dinner every year. Largely inspired by the Italian Baroque, with its balconnets and arcades, it does not live up to its name because there is not a single trace of blue here. The reason is simple: the architect changed his mind about the color of the room several months after naming it. Thus, the name remained... Here you will see an organ with 10,000 pipes, 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 overturned ships. A corner of blue sky appears on the ceiling between the rafters through a trompe-l'oeil painted bay. Again, the builder wanted to recall the dwellings of the Swedish ancestors whose roofs were slit with an opening to evacuate the smoke. The red color - common in Sweden - of the beams, textiles and leather emphasizes the solemn character of the room.

The Ovalen. The antechamber of the ceremonial rooms serves as a lounge for civil weddings on Saturdays from 2 to 6 pm. This room is also called "French" because of the tapestries from the royal manufacture of Beauvais around which the room is designed.

The Prince's Gallery (Prinsens Galleri). It is a 47 m long party room. It is illuminated by seven French windows overlooking the park, Lake Mälaren and the shores of Stockholm. In front of 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 Three Crowns Room (Salen Tre Kronor). One of the most representative paintings of the Gustavian period is Stockholm from Mosebacke by Elias Martin. It depicts the old city which, for two centuries, has remained as it is. The Prince's Gallery is closed on Saturdays, often reserved for wedding ceremonies!

The Golden Hall (Gyllene Salen). Work of the master Einar Forseth, this banqueting hall was realized in only two years and is undoubtedly the highlight of the visit. The place is as original as sumptuous: the walls are entirely covered with gold and glass mosaics that represent the history of Swedish kings (including the scenes of the "bloodbath" of Gamla Stan in 1520 and the accession of Gustav Vasa three years later) and, on the back wall, the East and the West paying tribute to Stockholm, depicted in the guise of a strange deity known as the Queen of Lake Mälaren. It is in this sumptuous hall that the annual Nobel Prize Ball is held and broadcast on radio and television.

Stadshusparken is a small park along the city hall and the shores of Lake Mälaren. There are several sculptures here, among them the artists August Strindberg and Gustaf Fröding. The park is large and spacious, offering a very pleasant view of the whole city.

Café Ragnars Skafferi. Located in the city hall, this cozy café is named after the building's architect, Ragnar Östberg. You can go there for lunch, they offer 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 is served as a buffet. Your choice!