During Sweden’s age of greatness, citrus fruits were an expensive luxury that featured on the menu at court banquets. Costly greenhouses – orangeries – were built next to palaces for storing the exotic plants from the gardens during the winter.
Tessin’s architecture
The Orangery Museum is centrally located in the grounds of Ulriksdal Palace in Solna, just north of Stockholm. The present orangery was built in the late 17th century by Nicodemus Tessin the Younger for Queen Dowager Hedvig Eleonora. Despite several subsequent renovations, Tessin’s architecture still dominates the orangery..
New role
Nowadays, the orangery has an exciting new role. Since time immemorial, sculpture and nature have belonged together. The building now houses an exhibition of Swedish sculpture from Nationalmuseum’s collections, featuring works from the 18th to the 20th century by sculptors such as Johan Tobias Sergel and Carl Milles.
For more information about the Orangery Museum’s collection, visit the Swedish Royal Court website, www.royalcourt.se.
Opening hours and information
Orangery Museum open for self-guided tours
1 June–31 August: Tuesday–Sunday noon–4 pm
Closed on Midsummer’s Eve