But, anyway, about a week and a half ago I made a day trip with my peer student, Martin, to a small town called Vadstena, about an hour from Linköping. In our experiences, we've all learned that good things come in small packages, and this town is no exception. Its population is only about 5,700, but the town is loaded with Renaissance-era relics and beautiful architecture.
The main attraction in the town is Vadstena Castle. King Gustav Vasa began construction of the castle in 1545, and it was completed in 1620. It was originally intended as a military fortress, but was also built as a castle for the royal family. Until 1716, it served as a castle and fortress, but was used to store grain thereafter. It now houses the Regional Archives. Honestly, it was like something out of a fairy tale. The castle was entirely surrounded by a moat and placed alongside Lake Vättern, which made for some beautiful scenery.
Vadstena is also famous for its monastery and Vadstena Abbey, the roots of the Bridgettine Order. The Abbey was founded in the early 1300's by Saint Bridget under King Magnus II. A palace, constructed in the 13th century, which served as a home for a powerful family, was donated to Vadstena Abbey upon its founding.
St. Bridget's church was constructed in the 1400's, and the current town grew around the Abbey. Some of the wooden sculptures inside the church had dates in the 1400's, but since I could not read the captions (they were in Swedish), I do not know if they were replicas or authentic pieces.
As I mentioned before, the church was loaded with historical relics. The tomb of Prince Magnus, who died in 1595, is actually on display near the entrance. Engravings in the floors of the churches often indicate tombs as well, and this church was loaded with such sights.
St. Anne with virgin and child, mid-15th century.
Some more random Sweden-US comparisons:
In stores, sales tax is already included in the prices you see. I had no clue that the items were taxed when I first came here, and I just thought that the Swedish government paid for its extensive entitlement programs exclusively through income and business taxes.
The postal services are largely privatized, contradicting the American stereotype of Swedish socialism. According to my peer student, the system is similar to that of the United States, based on the description that I gave him.
Unlike the United States, students receive a great deal of financial help from the Swedish government. I've probably already mentioned that there is no tuition, not even for international students. Additionally, students (Swedish citizens) receive 2500 SEK/ month from the Swedish government, pending good academic standing, and low interest rate loans are also available to cover the remainder of living costs. However, there are few, if any, outright scholarships or grants (I guess the 2500 SEK stipend can be viewed as a scholarship?)
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