The Vasa Museum

Let’s be honest, you’d need a telescope to see every detail of the ship in the distance. It’s part of the most visited maritime museum in Sweden, known as The Vasa. The story behind this cultural landmark is truly extraordinary. In 1626, the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus ordered the construction of a massive 1,200-ton warship with 64 cannons for the navy. Two years later, as the Vasa prepared to leave Stockholm’s harbour, a strong gust of wind tipped it over and it sunk, just a few hundred metres from the shore, after only 18 minutes at sea. Yet between 30 and 50 of the 150 crew members on board lost their lives. After two years of investigation by a Swedish navy technician, the shipwreck was finally discovered in the summer of 1956—nearly 300 years after it sank. A remarkable discovery, to say the least. Today, this 17th-century marine giant is still 98% intact. Since 1990, it’s been a top cultural attraction, offering a look at what seafaring was like back in the old days. Inside, you’ll find a collection of original artefacts recovered from the wreck, along with the remains of sailors who perished in the disaster.