About 10 miles north of central Stockholm is the town of Taby, with charming lakes and fascinating rune stones.
The area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. You can even see the name Taby carved on one of the area's many Viking Age rune stones. Since the 1950s, the town's population has boomed and it's now an ever expanding suburb to Stockholm. From the Swedish capitol you can travel to Taby by car in just 20 minutes, and from the neighbourhood of Ostermalm there are buses every 10 minutes.
Make sure you make a visit to Runriket, or The Kingdom of Runes, which surrounds Lake Vallentuna, during your weekend in Taby. Start your tour of this rune stone area at Jarlabankes Bridge, where you can also find a big playground for children. You can delve deeper into the fascinating inscriptions and the Vikings that created them at Taby main library.
On your tour of The Kingdom of Runes you will pass by Taby Church. The 11th century structure is not from the Viking Age, but it's still well worth a visit to admire the medieval arch paintings, depicting a knight playing chess with Death. Next to the church you can start your walk along the 3 kilometres long historic nature path, crossing terraces from the Iron Age and Viking burial fields.
If you're planning a trip to Taby during the summer you should stop by Viking Plym, which is a modern replica of a Viking boat in the harbour of Viggbyholm and offers tours of the archipelago.
Representing a more modern cultural heritage is Nasby Castle, an impressive mansion which was built around 1660. Much of the castle burnt to the ground in 1897, but it has been restored from the original blueprints drawn up by the architect Nicodemus Tessin. Admire gorgeous buildings as well as beautiful art, such as sculptures by Carl Milles and ceilings painted by Anders Zorn.
Discover more Swedish art and culture at Karby Gard. This old wooden house has a long history, but serves today as a centre for art and culture, displaying changing exhibitions throughout the year. Set out to explore the Kingdom of Runes to learn more about Swedish history in beautiful settings.
A trip to Taby will be a journey into Viking Land, where you can set out on a Viking ship and interpret rune stones that haven't moved in over a thousand years. Taby is truly a Swedish cultural gem unlike any other.
