Schwedenspeicher-Museum

The Schwedenspeicher-Museum stands in Stade, a former Hanseatic town on the Elbe river in Lower Saxony. The building itself is a Baroque brick structure from the late 17th century, once used by the Swedish military as a granary. It was erected on the site of an 11th-century Hanseatic harbour warehouse, marking a long tradition of trade and storage. The museum’s exhibits trace the region’s archaeology and history, from Viking finds to Hanseatic trade goods. A highlight is the 1:50 scale model of the *Adler von Lübeck*, the great Hanseatic cog. Archaeological treasures include the Bronze Age Stader Räder, the iron-age Mann von Obenaltendorf, and a rare 4th-century gold coin of Constantine the Great. Inside, the three-storey building reveals its original timber structure, with wide aisles and high ceilings. Visitors move from medieval port relics on the ground floor to Hanseatic displays above, and finally to Iron Age and Bronze Age artefacts under the roof. The upper floors house the library and administration, while the attic offers a glimpse of the building’s Swedish royal monogram above the main entrance.