Streets squares and districts to visit Svealand

On Lake Mälaren, 49 km from Stockholm. Take the E 4 direction Arlanda and Uppsala, then in Märsta, take Route 263 Tourist Office: Stora Gatan 33 Tel (0) 8 592 806 50 - www.sigtuna.se

Sigtuna is one of Sweden's oldest cities. It was founded around the year 980 by King Eric Segersäll and his son Olof Eriksson Stötkonung, who created the first currency in Sweden in 995. It is a very pleasant excursion, with its charming streets lined with wooden house. Some Viking archaeological remains are exposed in the pretty Sigtuna Museum, located in Stora Gatan 55 and open daily from 12 to 16 h (entrance 20 Sek, 15 Sek for students). There is the famous "Viking of Sigtuna", a Viking head of a few centimetres, remarkably sculpted in an elk horn whose origin and function remains mysterious, as well as the coins of that time. It is also in Sigtuna that the greatest concentration of unfortunately stones is found in the world. You can rent boats (canoes, boats…) at Våffelbruket café in the port (Tel 592 508 00). For a coffee, stop at the Tant Bruns, Laurentiigränd 3.

These districts, which are several hundred years old, are almost exclusively made up of red wooden houses in the purest Swedish style. The houses in Elsborg were built by the miners and those in Gamla Herrgården and Östanfors by the foundry workers. A stroll through these enchanting little districts will make you forget your own time and the city around you. A great way to immerse yourself in the culture and history of the country.

The memory of Västerås lies in this small district. Many of the small wooden houses, painted in yellow and red, low and squat, sometimes crooked, are more than 200 years old and it is good to stroll along the cobbled lanes, between gardens full of flowers in spring and snow in winter. Old signs hanging above the doors help to keep the charm of past centuries. A complete change of scenery after the charmless avenues of the modern city centre.