In 1891, ethnographer Arthur Hazelius founded the Skansen Park-Museum on the island of Djurgården in Stockholm, which today is not only a favourite recreation place for residents and guests of the capital, but also the oldest open-air museum. More than 160 manors, houses and estates of XVIII - XX centuries from different parts of the country were moved to the territory of Skansen. It is possible to preserve the atmosphere of the respective era and area not only due to the buildings, but also thanks to the museum staff dressed exclusively in national costumes. Thus, the park-museum is rightfully a miniature copy of Sweden.
In Skansen, visitors can see how the city neighbourhoods of the 18th - 20th centuries looked like. Most of the workshops and factories were moved here from the capital's Söder district. You can get acquainted with the life of a peasant farm in the northern regions of Sweden at Elvrus Manor and Delsbu Manor. The latter even has a festive table for visitors in honour of Christmas. Skugaholm Manor and Garden shows the way of life of the aristocracy in those days. You can learn about the life of the indigenous people of northern Sweden, the Sami, in the Sami camp. The Seglur Church, built in the first half of the 18th century and later moved to the territory of the museum, is today the most popular in Sweden for wedding ceremonies.
Fans of folk traditions and rituals can be advised to visit Skansen during a major holiday and take part in the festivities. Since the 14th century, Swedes have been celebrating the arrival of spring on Walpurgis Night. In Skansen, this is celebrated with a big bonfire and choral singing. However, the Midsummer Festival is the most attractive: dancing, songs and round dances continue for 3 days. Only the Christmas market can compare to the Midsummer Festival in terms of the number of visitors.
Skansen Park Museum is also Stockholm's largest zoo. Here you can see the region's traditional wildlife, domestic animal breeds, and check out the aquarium and terrarium.
