4th December Closer to the world's treasures Sustainable City Award 1997 for Stockholm New EuroClass lounge at Arlanda Airport Guides for Stockholm's archipelago Christmas in the archipelago Facelift for Kungsträdgården Cultural Capital of Europe 1998 News in Brief PREVIOUS NEWS News 5/97 News 4/97 News 3/97 News 2/97 News 1/97 Navigation page

Closer to the world’s treasures The aim of UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention is to preserve irreplaceable sites of special cultural or natural importance. The convention has been celebrating its 25th anniversary in 1997, and there are now 506 sites on the World Heritage list, of which 18 are in the Nordic countries and three in the Stockholm area. To mark the anniversary a new book, "Our Nordic Heritage", describes the Nordic sites which feature in the list. The book emphasises the multi-faceted Nordic culture as well as the Nordic countries’ common democratic and cultural traditions. The unique Nordic landscape is represented in the World Heritage list by the Laponia region of Arctic Sweden. The fjords and pine forests could feature on the list in future as examples of the variety in the Nordic landscape. In fact, variety is perhaps the Nordic countries’ common World Heritage. Palaces, Vikings and a modern cemetery The Stockholm area is well represented on the World Heritage list with three sites: Drottningholm Palace, the Birka Viking settlement, and the Skogs-kyrkogården cemetery. Drottningholm was the first Swedish site on the list, along with the palace itself, the Royal Court Theatre, the Chinese Pavilion and the palace park. Drottningholm was chosen because it is regarded as the best-preserved example of an 18th century palace in Sweden and is also representative of all European royal architecture which used Versailles as its model. The Skogskyrkogården cemetery is located on a pine-covered hill in the southern part of Stockholm. It is a consecrated area where the graves and chapel blend in with their natural surroundings and it was placed on the World Heritage list as an outstanding example of the way in which architecture and contemporary landscape design can be welded to produce a cemetery. Few places from the Viking era are as intact as the Viking town of Birka, a trading settlement dating from the eighth century AD. Birka was chosen as a World Heritage site because it was seen as an exceptionally well-preserved example of the wide-ranging trade routes that the Vikings established. Birka is a unique, complete and undisturbed example of a Viking trading town, now transformed into a popular visitor attraction. The book "Our Nordic Heritage" can be ordered from Lena Scherman, Publishing Department, Central Board of National Antiquities, (+46-8-783 92 18, fax +46-8-783 90 83 Sustainable City Award for Stockholm Stockholm has won the 1997 "European Sustainable City Award" in competition with about 90 other European cities. This award is made by a number of organisations involved in environmental questions not just within the EU but also worldwide. The citation highlights Stockholm’s determined work on environmental issues since the 1970s. Associations, business interests, the city council, and private individuals all co-operate in measures to improve the environment and influence future developments under the aegis of the Agenda 21 group. Among its achievements are the publication of an "environmental balance sheet", and investment in measures to improve water quality and the sorting of waste. The "Miljö 2000" environmental programme sets goals for the city, and models for environmental work are now being introduced both in Stockholm municipal administration departments and in private companies. An example is the way that the Real estate, streets and traffic department is now studying how the environment is influenced by the laying of asphalt, and the recycling of the old asphalt is seen as one way of improving the environment. Elisabet Söderström, Agenda 21 Stockholm, (+46-8-616 96 00) New EuroClass lounge at Arlanda Arlanda Airport has a new SAS EuroClass lounge with polished oak floors, light furnishings and works of art on the walls. It covers an area of 700 square metres compared with only 220 square metres in the previous lounge. SAS and the Museum of Modern Art are co-operating in a three-year project to decorate SAS lounges in Europe and the USA with Scandinavian art. Apart from the "bistro" section where refreshments are served, the comfortable seats all have electric sockets for laptop computers and facilities to link up with the Internet. SAS has 19 of its own lounges around the world, the largest of which is at Copenhagen Airport, covering an area of 3,000 square metres. Arlanda Airport ( +46-8-797 64 02 ) Guides for Stockholm’s archipelago Stockholm’s archipelago is used increasingly for incentive-travel arrangements and excursions in conjunction with conferences because there is a lot of interest in the area among foreign visitors. In mid-November Stockholm Information Service held an examination for 33 of the country’s first archipelago guides. After both a written examination and a test guided tour, all of them were authorised as Swedish-language guides. During 1998 some of them will also be authorised for guiding in English, German, Italian and Spanish. Kirsi Kangas, Stockholm Information Service, (+46-8-789 24 11 ) Christmas in the archipelago The archipelago is a living part of Stockholm – and the archipelago at Christmas really is something special. The nearest island to the city, Fjäderholmarna, can be reached by boat in 20 minutes. Several boats also operate longer cruises towards the outer skerries. You can choose between old-fashioned boats dating from the early part of the century or the modern fast Cinderella boats. Lunch or Christmas buffet cruises can be combined with a visit to Christmas markets and Christmas fairs. The archipelago’s restaurants and hotels serve traditional local delicacies over the Christmas period, including herrings prepared in many different ways. Susanna Evers, Stockholm Information Service (+46-8-789 24 54) Facelift for Kungsträdgården Kungsträdgården – Stockholm’s most central park – concluded its 45th season last summer. With Kungsträdgården, Stockholm is the only European capital to provide a permanent stage right in the city centre with free programmes throughout the year. As part of the comprehensive rebuilding work in Kungsträdgården, a new permanent stage for year-round use is being constructed. Its inauguration on New Year’s Day 1998 will also mark the start of Stockholm’s year as Cultural Capital of Europe. The previous temporary skating rink will become a permanent octagonal-shaped paradise for skaters. Another change affects the fountain, which will be lowered and extended to a length of 56 metres. Steps will be built leading down to the fountain, so that summer visitors can enjoy the amphitheatre-inspired atmosphere. Sam Carlqvist, Kungsträdgården ( +46-8-24 64 90 ) Cultural Capital of Europe 1998 The Ice Cathedral inaugurates Cultural Capital year Glittering snow and ice architecture – displaying sculptures and art – will inaugurate the Cultural Capital year. The Ice Cathedral, an ice pavilion covering an area of about 200 square metres, has been designed by Love Arbén, architect and professor of interior design at the University College of Art, Crafts and Design. Its walls, floor, ceiling and interior will all be built out of snow and ice blocks sawn from one metre thick river ice in Jukkasjärvi in Swedish Lap-land. Yngve Bergkvist, the man behind the world-renowned Jukkasjärvi Ice Hotel, will be responsible for the actual construction work in Stockholm’s Kungsträdgården. The pavilion’s spacious central room will contain an exhibition where sculptors and artists will work with ice both as a practical and conceptual material. A number of snow and ice sculptures will be placed around the pavilion in Kungsträdgården. Dates: 18 January–18 February Young Swedish design for souvenirs Contemporary young Swedish design is of world-class standard, and for the Cultural Capital year 11 young designers have created a range of souvenirs made from classic Swedish materials. While other cities have marked the Cultural Capital year with mass-produced gifts, Stockholm is putting the emphasis on high-quality design. Cutlery, vacuum flasks and postcard-holders are just some of the 11 practical and useful souvenirs which visitors will be able to take home as a reminder of their visit to Stockholm. Several of the souvenirs have associations with food or drink and are equally useful for a tour of the city or a picnic in the countryside. Another aim is that the souvenirs must be affordable for everyone, and none of the products will cost more than 398 kronor. The "Quite Simply" collection will be on sale from the middle of January 1998 in 60 Åhléns stores throughout Sweden and at the K’98 information centre in Stockholm’s Cultural Centre. [email protected] Sergels Torg becomes the Cultural Centre After extensive renovations and building works, the shape of the Cultural Centre in Sergels Torg is beginning to emerge again. The new-look centre will be inaugurated at the New Year with a major festival and dancing on all six floors. With a dozen new escalators, new neon signs, a café on the fifth floor and a chance to enjoy a coffee out on the roof terrace, Stockholmers will have a cultural department store with something for everyone. Up on the fifth floor there will be an interconnected 1,200 square metre exhibition area, while a staircase will lead down to a new department for children’s culture. The third floor contains an 800 square metre gallery, auditorium and studio. On the second floor there is a reading room and restaurant. The Cultural Capital information centre is on the ground floor alongside the Lava youth workshop. Also on the ground floor, visitors can still go to the theatre, shop in the design centre or surf the Internet. www.kulturhuset.stockholm.se News in brief Full speed to the airport One of Sweden’s biggest and most important railway projects is now well under way. In two years’ time the Arlanda Express will start to operate between Stockholm and the city’s Arlanda Airport at speed of 160-200 km/h (100-125 mph). The journey will take only 20 minutes and the new "A trains" will operate five or six times an hour. Discover the Alps in Stockholm The "Stockholm Alps" is the new collective name for the area’s 13 downhill skiing centres. Stock-holmers themselves are often surprised to find how many excellent ski slopes there are in the area. During the winter season from December till early April there is nearly always good snow for skiing at one or other of the 13 centres which have a combined total of 34 lifts and many cross-country trails. The Swedes are a ski-loving race and ideally they prefer to head for the mountains for their sport. But to get in good shape many of them are increasingly doing their training on Stockholm’s home slopes. Cobblestones on Stockholm’s streets again Some people think that cobblestones are bumpy and slippery, while others regard them as an attractive and natural part of the city. Cobblestones are currently enjoying something of a revival in Stockholm, and they are being laid again in several places, including the area around Drottninggatan and in Norra Hammarbyhamnen. The Real estate, streets and traffic department aims to restore the stones in streets and squares where they used to be found. The cobblestones have started to become more popular again and, in contrast to asphalt and concrete, the stones age in an attractive way. Stockholm’s Concert Hall more attractive than ever Stockholm’s Concert Hall (Konserthuset) was inaugurated in 1926. It was designed by Professor Ivar Tengbom, whose dream was to "build a Greek temple near the Arctic Circle". The Concert Hall is the home of Stockholm’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. It also hosts the annual Nobel Prize award ceremony, watched by millions of TV viewers worldwide. The latest renovation of the hall has taken place in stages since 1993 and it has now regained its original attractive ice-blue colour. Christmas is here! The official lighting of the Christmas tree in Kungs-trädgården on the first Sunday in Advent signals the start of a busy month in Stockholm. This is when Christmas shopping really gets going, especially in the traditional Christmas markets with their wonderful atmosphere. The city’s restaurants also get into the spirit of things, offering many traditional Christmas delicacies. The Nobel and Lucia celebrations brighten up the winter darkness and Stockholm’s churches, concert venues and stages fill with Christmas music, plays and shows. Christmas market Treat yourself to Swedish handicrafts, Christmas decorations and typical Christmas fare while warming up with ginger biscuits and a steaming cup of "glögg", a hot mulled wine with raisins and almonds. The market at Stortorget in the Old Town (11.00-18.00 daily until 21 December) dates back to the 14th century when the city’s trade was dominated mainly by the Germans, Danes and Dutch. The Skansen market (7 and 14 December) is the largest in Sweden and offers folk music and children’s games around the Christmas tree. Take the opportunity to look round the houses and farmsteads which are open to the public or join in traditional Swedish Christmas activities such as making bread, candles and straw animals. The Kungsträdgården Christmas market in the heart of the city is open daily 11.00-20.00 from 13-23 December. Music, Theatre and Shows Christmas and Advent music can be enjoyed in most of the city’s churches and on its many stages throughout December. The English Theatre Company invites you to an evening with Charles Dickens in the form of "A Christmas Carol" at the Vasa Theatre. Revellers should also head for Wallmans Salonger where the staff both serve and entertain their guests – a Christmas show, glögg, singing and lots of Christmas atmosphere are promised. Gourmet Christmas Enjoy a real Swedish Christmas buffet with all the trimmings at Stockholm’s restaurants. Traditional and very popular Christmas buffets are to be found at Ulriksdals Värdshus (+46-8-85 08 15), Opera-källaren (+46-8-676 58 00) and Gondolen (+46-8-641 70 90). Those who prefer Far Eastern specialities should try the buffet at East (+46-8-611 49 59). Editor: Charlotta Lorentz Translated by Philip Ray