Overview:

Royal Armory in Sweden is the Royal Palace’s most lasting contribution to the Swedish art collection. It dates back to the 16th century, when King Gustav Vasa established it in the original Royal Palace in Stockholm. Today, it is one of the most visited sites in Sweden and home to some of the most exquisite pieces of European and Scandinavian art, spanning centuries. The Armory has two parts: the 'Salar' (Swedish for 'halls'), with royal and military decorations, as well as Swedish and foreign arms, and the 'Grisar' (Swedish for 'rooms'), with devotional as well as social pieces. It houses a range of arms, armor, clothing, artwork, and other objects related to Sweden’s monarchy and history, including the King’s crown and sceptre. In addition, it includes thousands of documents from royal and military archives, as well as artifacts connected to the royal lifestyle. The Royal Armory is also home to Sweden’s largest collection of captured enemy weapons which, until now, has not been open to the public. These pieces, which include cannons, grenades, and cannonballs, can be viewed through the museum’s exhibitions. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Sweden
Prominent Features:

The Royal Armory in Sweden, located at the Livrustkammaren museum in Stockholm, is home to an impressive collection of royal arms and armor from the Middle Ages to the modern era. The Royal Armory chronicles the development of Swedish weaponry from its earliest days, and is the world's biggest museum of arms and armor from the Middle Ages. Its collection contains more than 14,000 pieces, including thousands of firearms, swords, crossbows, axes, and plate armor. Highlights include a suit of armor worn by King Gustavus Adolphus in the Thirty Years War (1618-48) and an array of 17th-century firearms from the Vasa Dynasty. Additionally, the Royal Armory is home to several non-military-related pieces of history such as King Charles XII's coronation throne – dating back to 1715. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Sweden.

History:

The history of the Royal Armories in Sweden dates back to the early 16th century when King Gustav I of Sweden built the Royal Palace in Stockholm. This marked the beginning of the royal armory in the country. The King installed a forge in the basement of the palace, which was used to produce metal cannons, muskets, and other weapons. During this period, the arms produced were used to defend against possible invasions. King Charles IX of Sweden expanded the armory in the mid-16th century with the introduction of the Arsenalmuseum and the establishment of the Kronan Gun Factory on the island of Vaxholm. These two pieces represented the first major restructuring of the Swedish military since the reign of Gustav I. In the 17th century, Sweden became a major European power, and the Royal Armory was given a larger role in producing arms. During this period, guns were mass-produced and the quality and quantity of weapons produced in the armory increased significantly. In the 19th century, the Royal Armory in Sweden began to develop and modernize its production of arms. New advanced artillery systems were created, such as cannons, howitzers and mortars, and the Armory was granted a bigger budget in order to expand its production capabilities. At the end of the 19th century, the Armory produced more than 10,000 firearms and 20,000 swords annually. By the first World War, the Royal Armory had become a major arms supplier for the Swedish military. Today, the Royal Armories in Sweden have become one of the most important centers for the production of weapons and continued military innovation. The Armory is still used to produce both firearms and military equipment for the Swedish Armed Forces, as well as for export around the world. Visit one of the famous monuments of Sweden with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Royal Armory at Gripsholm Castle is the oldest state-owned museum in Sweden. It was established in 1628 and contains over 4,000 weapons, including swords, firearms and armor from the 16th to the 19th century. 2. The Royal Armory preserves some of the world’s most important artifacts, including one of the first wrist-watch guns ever made. 3. The oldest firearms in the Armory are 16th century matchlock muskets. 4. The Armory also contains one of the oldest pieces of firearms in the European continent - a wheellock pistol dating to 1579. 5. The Armory hosts a variety of exhibitions, such as “Guns of Gripsholm”, which showcases 34 firearms from the past five centuries. 6. The Royal Armory’s collection also includes swords, sabres and other hand-held weapons from countries around the world. 7. The Armory also preserves uniforms worn by Swedish and foreign royalty, including those of the King of Prussia and the Pope. One of the historical monuments of Sweden, it tells the story of a bygone era