From Wikitravel

Vadstena (pronounced "Vasstena" by the locals) is a village in Sweden. It is in the northern part of the Götaland region in the Östergötland county. It has about 5,000 inhabitants.

Vadstena is a small town, but has many historic buildnings from its impressive history.

[edit] Understand

Vadstena is situated on the East shores of Lake Vättern in a rich farmland district.

The town's history is closely connected to the convent, founded by Saint Bridget of Sweden in 1384. It was the first, and also the largest, convent of the Bridgettine Order. The convent was established in the 13th century royal palace by lake Vättern. Since 1999, Bridget is one of Europe's six patron saints.

After the protestant reformation in the 16th century, the convent was closed and the abbey church later became the Vadstena parish curch, which it still is today.

In the 16th century, a hospital was founded next to the convent to care for the poor pilgrims who couldn't afford to stay at inns and guest houses in town. The hospital lived on through the centuries specialiced on psychiatric help. Several old buildnings in the hospital area are still standing today.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

• Skavsta Airport [1] - Used by Ryanair. Lies some 140 km North-East of Vadstena. A shuttle bus [2] (90 min) overland link between Linköping and Skavsta airport.

• Linköping Airport [3] - 40 km East from Vadstena. Flights almost only to Stockholm, Amsterdam, Riga and Copenhagen. There are no shuttles between the airport and Linköping central station and you need to take a taxi from the airport.

• Norrköping Airport [4] - Flights almost only to Helsinki, Visby, München and Copenhagen. Lies 90 km North-East of Vadstena.

[edit] By train

Train stations are in Motala, Mjölby or Linköping, from where you take the bus to Vadstena.

[edit] By bus

• Swebus Express, ☎ +46-771-218218, [5]. Vadstena is on one line of the wide network of Swebus Express services.  edit
• The local bus company is called Östgötatrafiken [6]. They also run the buses and trains in the rest of Östergötland and is the cheapest way to get to Vadstena.

It's not possible to pay cash for a ticket on the bus. You can get ticket in Quickomats and some stores. It's also possible to buy an SMS-ticket, information how to do that can be found at [7]. The ticket is valid for a limited time so you can use the same ticket for more than 1 trip.

You can also buy a bus card. It is a magnetic strip card and you can load money in it. The advantage is that each trip fare is cheaper than the normal fare. You'll find more info about tickets and fares at [8]

[edit] By car

• 245km south of Stockholm.

• 90km south of Norrköping.

• 450km north of Malmö/Copenhagen.

• 15km south of Motala.

[edit] Get around

Vadstena is a small town and the easiest way to see the sights is by foot.

[edit] Taxi

Taxis are on the expensive side. The meter is used to control the cost but always make sure that this is set when commencing a journey.

[edit] Bike

[edit][add listing] See

• Vadstena Abbey Church [9]. One of the largest medieval churches in Scandinavia. It holds a large collection of medieval wooden sculptures. Next to the altar is Saint Bridget of Sweden's reliquary.

• Vadstena Castle [10], from the 16th century, was originally built as a fortress to protect the rich Mälaren Valley from the southern enemy. Rebuilt into a Renaissance palace by the royal Vasa family and since then very well-preserved. Guided tours are offered all year. Museum with furnishings from 16-18th centuries.

• The City Hall is Sweden's oldest city hall in Sweden, built in the early 15th century.

[edit] Museums

• Vadstena Hospital Museum is a museum that covers the town's hospital tradition. The 16th century Mårten Skinnares House is situated next to the museum and open during guided tours of the museum.

• Saint Bridgets Convent Museum (Sancta Birgitta Klostermuseum) [11] is situated in the old royal palace, late rebuilt into the Bridgettine convent.

• Vadstena City Museum by Rådhustorget Square, situated in a buildning från the 16th century. Tells the story of the town. Free entry.

• Toy Museum (Leksaksmuseum), opposite the castle.

• Bobbin Lace Museum (Spetsmuseum) at Gottfrid Larsson House at Skänningegatan Street.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Visit the Abbey. Don't miss the concertos.

• Walk around the city.

• Attend the Nostalgic evenings at the Toy Museum, once a week during summers.

• The city sightseeing train Hjulius with guided tour of the town.

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Bobbin laces, traditionally vowen in Vadstena since the 17th century.

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit] Coffee

[edit] Alcohol

[edit] Systembolaget

Systembolaget is the state owned monopoly liquor store. This is where you go if you want to buy a bottle of wine or spirits or beer stronger than approx. 3% alocohol which you can find in supermarkets. There is one Systembolaget in Vadstena, close to the Rådhustorget Square.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

[edit] Mid-range

[edit] Get out

• Vadstena Motor cycle and Tractor Museum, just outside Vadstena
• Herrestad Church and Örberga Church, dated to the early 12th century
• Lake Tåkern with good chances of bird viewing
• Mountain Omberg, 20 km South of Vadstena
• Motala, 15km North of Vadstena.
• The ruins of Alvastra Abbey, 20km South of Vadstena.

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