Opening Day of the Exhibition Queens
Welcome to the opening day of the international exhibition Queens! Experience a packed schedule with free admission.
A Full Day with Queens
On Valentine's Day, you are invited to a full day at Uppsala Castle, where Uppsala Art Museum and Uppsala Castle Museum have given space to the queens Katarina Jagiellonica and Barbara Radziwiłł - and their dramatic lives in 16th-century Europe.
Through historical objects and contemporary art, Queens weaves together past and present in a story about power, love, courage and resistance – questions that still concern us today.
During the opening day, you can take part in screenings, music, historical characters, a creative workshop, drag queens and public activities.
Opening Ceremony in Vasasalen
The official opening will take place at 2:00 PM in Vasasalen. Here you will be able to join the Queens opening together with international guests, the exhibition creators and the museum management.
The ceremony will be attended by the Ambassador of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius, the Ambassador of Poland Karolina Ostrzyniewska, the Director General of the National Museum of Lithuania Rūta Kačkutė, and the Chairman of the Uppsala City Council Klas-Herman Lundgren.
The exhibition’s initiator and conceptual curator Julia Janus will be present, along with curators Dr. Milda Kvizikevičiūtė and Dr. Vaida Ragėnaitė from the National Museum of Lithuania.
The opening is led by museum directors Daniel Werkmäster and Tina Landgren and is accompanied by music by the Uppsala Vocal Ensemble.
Guided Tours
Would you like to get an introduction to the exhibitions? During the day you can join guided tours in both Uppsala Art Museum and Uppsala Castle Museum. The tours start at 11:30 and are given at selected times during the day.
Uppsala Castle Museum: 12:00, 15:00 and 16:00
Uppsala Art Museum: 11:30, 12:30 and 15:30
The tours are approximately 20–25 minutes long. Maximum 15 people per tour. To participate, pick up a ticket at the reception.
Experiences and Activities
From opening to closing, a lively program takes place around the castle.
- Meet Queens Catherine Jagiellonia and Barbara Radziwiłł, along with their husbands John III and Sigismund II August
- Mingle with drag queens.
- Read declarations of love to someone you care about. Choose from historical or newly written quotes and texts.
- Take pictures at our photo stations.
- Participate in a creative workshop.
- Have coffee and a pastry with a Valentine's Day theme.
About the Exhibition Queens
Queens is an international exhibition that takes its starting point from two queens – Catherine Jagiellonia and Barbara Radziwiłł – and their lives in 16th-century Europe. In an era marked by dynastic alliances, political intrigue and strong emotions, their choices had consequences far beyond the private sphere.
The exhibition combines historical objects with contemporary artistic expressions and allows past and present to meet. Through themes such as power, love, loyalty and resistance, Queens explores what it means to be a queen – and why questions of identity and agency are still highly relevant.
Café and Food
The café serves a special opening menu throughout the day. There is a coffee shop outside.
Practical Information
Location: Uppsala Castle – Uppsala Castle History & Uppsala Art Museum
Time: 11:00–17:00 (official opening at 14:00)
Admission: Free admission all day
Contact
Do you have any questions? Contact the art museum reception.
Telephone: 018 – 727 24 82
Opening hours
Monday: Closed
Tuesday–Wednesday: 11:00–17:00
Thursday: 11:00–20:00
Friday–Sunday: 11:00–17:00
Welcome!