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10 amazing hotels and places
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Sweden’s Queen Silvia and King Carl Gustaf ride an open carriage to the concert at the Nordic Museum in Stockholm recently. The concert was held as part of the celebration of King Carl Gustaf’s 70th birthday; (Photo: AFP) and right file photo of National Day celebrations. (Courtesy: www.sweden.se)
Painting the country yellow and blue Today, Sweden comes alive with celebrations, as it marks National Day
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he National Day marks two historic events — the election of Gustav Vasa as King in 1523 and the adoption of a new constitution in 1809. Furthermore, in 1916, June 6 officially became the Swedish Flag Day, which celebrates the fact that Sweden acquired its own flag after
the dissolution of the union with Norway in 1905. An active interest in celebrating the day of independence came around 1983, when patriotic vibes spread across the country, leading to the establishment of folklore societies and museums that focused on local history. The National Day gives visitors a rare insight into celebrations and flag-waving, as Swedes are otherwise known to be reserved. As per annual custom, the King and Queen of Sweden participate in a ceremony at Skansen, an open-air museum in Stockholm. Here, the bright yellow and blue flag of Sweden is raised on a mast, and children adorned in tradition-
al garb present the royals with bouquets of summer flowers. In addition to this, exclusive events are organised across the country to welcome new Swedish citizens on National Day. The origins The idea of celebrations came about from Artur Hazelius, founder of the Skansen open-air museum, who had organised a national day event there as early as the 1890s. In 1893, Sweden presented Midsummer Day at the World Fair in Chicago, as a form of Swedish National Day, so in the 1890s Sweden celebrated the occasion twice a year.
weden’s popularity as a tourist destination is ever growing. Here’s your guide to avoid the crowds, escape the beaten track and catch up on your beauty sleep in 10 Swedish accommodations way out of the ordinary.
low the surface is the bedroom with panorama windows to the underwater world. Launched as an art project by Mikael Genberg, Utter Inn is hugely popular during April to October. Why not try Hotell Hackspett (Woodpecker) by the same artist too?
Falknästet: The Kullen lighthouse (Kullens fyr) on the peninsula of Kullaberg in the south is the highest standing lighthouse in Sweden. Nesting at its foot is Falknästet (the falcon’s nest), a remarkable one-room hotel — with a round bed hanging from the ceiling and panorama windows offering a frontrow sunset view. Works well for wedding nights as well as a Wednesday nights.
Jumbo Stay: Jumbo Stay is a jumbo jet turned hostel. The conversion included throwing out 450 seats to make room for 27 rooms and 76 beds. This aeroplane, parked at the entrance to Stockholm Arlanda Airport, offers a budget alternative to pricier airport hotels. Perfect for plane spotters as well as anyone who needs to catch an early flight.
Fabriken Furillen: Fabriken Furillen is a creation of concrete and hardwood in the middle of an old limestone quarry. The buildings reflect the rough industrial setting, yet are cosy and comfortable shelters. Whether you choose to stay in a hotel room or a hermit cabin, this design hotel’s remote location on the island of Gotland’s Furillen peninsula, makes for a special stay. Salt & Sill: Salt & Sill is a hotel close to the sea. Six two-storey houses combine to make a floating hotel steeped in Nordic minimalist design. The hotel is permanently moored on the small fishing island of Klädesholmen — hence the name Salt & Sill, sill means herring. The island is only a 45-minute drive north of Gothenburg.
Courtesy: www.sweden.se
Hotell Utter Inn: In Lake Mälaren, outside Västerås, floats a lone red cottage. It marks the entrance to Hotell Utter Inn, an underwater hotel. Above water you’ll find cooking facilities. Be-
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Courtesy: www.sweden.se
Icehotel: Come April every year and the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi melts down. Then, in the colder season, it is built up again using ice and snow from the nearby Torne river. Artists decorate the interior, making it not only a hotel destroyed and rebuilt on a yearly basis, but also an art exhibition. The icy part of the Icehotel opens in December each year, but there are warm accommodation alternatives all year round.
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Camping in the wild: In Sweden, allemansrätten – the right of public access – grants everyone the right to pitch a tent pretty much anywhere in nature, as long as you keep your distance to people’s houses and stay away from farmland. For a unique yet natural experience of Sweden bring a tent, find a remote spot in a field or on a rock, pitch your tent and enjoy the silence. All for free.
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Sala silvergruva: Sweden is home to the world’s deepest hotel room, the Mine Suite of Sala Silver Mine. Dress warmly before venturing the 155 metres underground — it never gets warmer than 2°C in the mine. Fortunately, the suite itself is a comfortable 18°C and there are extra blankets to go with it. If you suffer from vertigo or claustrophobia, this may not be your thing.
Treehotel: Imagine a tree house gone boutique hotel and you have the Treehotel — six customised tree houses spread out in a forest. Leading architects have created little havens of contemporary design in the middle of nature here, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the unspoiled landscape. You’ll find your home in the trees an hour outside of Luleå, way up north.
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Kolarbyn Ecolodge: Kolarbyn Ecolodge is luxury in its most primitive form. Its twelve cabins are covered in mud and grass, with blueberries and mushrooms growing from the roofs. Come here to escape electricity and showers and experience fresh air, peacefulness and wildlife. Kolarbyn is two hours’ drive from Stockholm, just outside the village of Skinnskatteberg.
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