Discover 6 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Vadstena (Sweden). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Vadstena Castle, Vadstena Town Hall, and Östergötland Runic Inscription 179. Also, be sure to include Vadstena Abbey in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Vadstena (Östergötland).
Table of Contents
Vadstena Castle
Also known as: Vadstena slott
Castle in Vadstena, Sweden. Vadstena Castle is a former Royal Castle in Vadstena, the province of Östergötland, Sweden.[1]
Address: Hamngatan 4, 592 30 Vadstena
Vadstena Town Hall
Vadstena Town Hall is a former town hall in Vadstena, Sweden. It is the oldest preserved town hall in Sweden.[2]
Address: Rådhustorget 5, Vadstena
Östergötland Runic Inscription 179
Also known as: Östergötlands runinskrifter 179
The runestone known as Östergötland Rune Inscription 179 or Ög 179, as listed in the Rundata catalog, stands on the east side of the Vadstena Abbey in Vadstena, Sweden. The stone is tinted red and is about 193 cm in height. The inscription is classified as being carved in runestone style Fp. This is the classification for runic bands that have attached serpent or beast heads depicted as seen from above.
The earliest information about this stone indicates that it originally stood close to Lake Vättern. When it was moved to its present location it was discovered that the lower part of the stone had been worn away by the waves and none of the runes on that part of the stone remain.
The runic text indicates that the stone was raised as a memorial to a father named Áskell. In the text, the runes for the initial vowels in Old Norse words for æftiʀ ("after") and the name Æskel were replaced by a ʀ-rune. A similar replacement of the initial vowel in the word æftiʀ is indicated on eight other inscriptions, Ög 219 in Lundby, Sö 82 in Tumbo, Sö 98 in Jäders, U 742 in Myrby, U 771 in Tjursåker, U 789 in Mälby, U 791 in Tibble, and U 1152 in Brunnby.[3]
Vadstena Abbey
Also known as: Vadstena kloster
Catholic convent founded by St Birgitta. The Abbey Pax Mariae, more commonly referred to as Vadstena Abbey, situated on Lake Vättern in the Diocese of Linköping, Sweden, was the motherhouse of the Bridgettine Order. The abbey started on one of the farms donated to it by the king, but the town of Vadstena grew up around it. It was active from 1346 until 1595.[4]
Wadstena Fogelsta Järnväg
Museum, Specialty museum
Address: Jarnsvagsstationen Jaernvaegsgatan 5, 592 30 Vadstena
Mårten Skinnares hus
Museum
Address: Jungfru Stigen, Vadstena