What makes Drottningholm so outstanding is how the different influences from the wider world have set their mark on the park and buildings in it.
The UNESCO World Heritage List includes more than a thousand properties with outstanding universal value. They are all part of the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
Official facts
- Full name of site: Royal Domain of Drottningholm
- Country: Sweden
- Date of Inscription: 1991
- Category: Cultural site
UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre’s short description of site no. 559:
The Royal Domain of Drottningholm stands on an island in Lake Mälar in a suburb of Stockholm. With its castle, perfectly preserved theatre (built in 1766), Chinese pavilion and gardens, it is the finest example of an 18th-century north European royal residence inspired by the Palace of Versailles.
My visit
I made it a day out from central Stockholm as it is so easy to reach. Even though it is also the royal couple’s official and permanent residence, almost everything is open to the public.
Be prepared for a walk in the extensive park, in the formal gardens and inside the palace proper – that is elsewhere than the private apartment of the king and queen. Make sure to include a guided visit to the theatre.