Gamla stan

Morning view from the harbour of Skeppsbron, the eastern waterfront of Gamla stan.

Gamla stan (The Old Town), until 1980 officially Staden mellan broarna (The Town between the Bridges), is the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Gamla stan consists primarily of the island Stadsholmen. The surrounding islets Riddarholmen, Helgeandsholmen, and Strömsborg are officially part of, but not colloquially included in, Gamla stan. The word "stan" is simply a contraction of the word "staden" ("sta'n"), meaning "the town."

Façades of the Royal Palace and Stockholm Cathedral facing Slottsbacken.

Overview

The town dates back to the 13th century, and consists of medieval alleyways, cobbled streets, and archaic architecture. North German architecture has had a strong influence in the Old Town's construction.

 Prästgatan, one of the old thoroughfares of Gamla stan.

Stortorget is the name of the scenic large square in the centre of Gamla Stan, which is surrounded by old merchants' houses including the Stockholm Stock Exchange Building. The square was the site of the Stockholm Bloodbath, where Swedish noblemen were massacred by the Danish King Christian II in November, 1520. The following revolt and civil war led to the dissolution of the Kalmar Union and the subsequent election of King Gustav I.

 Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, less than a metre wide, the narrowest alley in the city

As well as being home to the Stockholm Cathedral, the Nobel Museum, and the Riddarholm church, Gamla stan also boasts Kungliga slottet, Sweden's baroque Royal Palace, built in the 18th century after the previous palace Tre Kronor burned down. The House of Nobility (Riddarhuset) is on the north-western corner of Gamla stan.

 A so called trumba (e.g. a medieval waste pipe) at 2, Nygränd

The restaurant Den gyldene freden is located on Österlånggatan. It has been in business since 1722 and according to the Guinness Book of Records is the oldest existing restaurant with an unaltered interior. A statue of St. George and the Dragon (sculpted by Bernt Notke) can be found in the Stockholm Cathedral, while Riddarholmskyrkan is the royal burial church. Bollhustäppan, a small courtyard at Slottsbacken behind Finska kyrkan, just south of the main approach to the Royal Palace, is home to one of the smallest statues in Sweden, a little boy in wrought iron. The plaque just below the statue says its name "Järnpojken" ("The Iron Boy"). It was created by Liss Eriksson in 1919.

 The original wood sculpture was made by Bernt Notkes. Bernt Notkes was a German wood artist that lived in Stockholm during the period 1484 to 1496.

From the mid 19th to the mid 20th century Gamla stan was considered a slum, many of its historical buildings left in disrepair, and just after WW2, several blocks together five alleys were demolished for the enlargement of the Parliament (see Brantingtorget). From the 1980s, however, it has become a tourist attraction as the charm of its medieval, Renaissance architecture and later additions have been valued by later generations.

 The statue is situated in the small square of kopmansbrinken in the old city.

While the archaeology of the 370 properties in Gamla stan remains poorly documented, recent inventories done by volunteers have shown many buildings previously dated to the 17thy and 18th centuries, can be up to 300 years older. There is also a metro station in Gamla Stan with the same name.

 The bronze statue is a gift by Hjalmar Wicander.

 When the old city was established the sea line was at the lower level of Marten Trotzig alley.

 The alley joins the streets of Prastgatan and Vasterlangatan. The alley is one of the places were the difference in ground level in the old town is notable.

 The alley of Marten Trotzigs have 36 steps. These go from the street Vasterlanggatan to the street prastgatan.

 Vasterlangatan 81 the starting point of Martin Trotzigs alley. He alley was closed for the public during almost 100 years. It was blocked by a wooden fence at bouth ends. The allaey was opened again in the year 1945

 The alley of Marten Trotzig starts at the street Prastgatan. The alley is so narrow that it is easy to pass it without notice it.

 It is not only the big three that gives the area its leafy feeling. There are also a lot of plants growing on the front of the houses.

 There are a lot benches in the place to sit down and rest.

 Original there was a house on the place were branda tomten is. The house was burnt down in the year 1728. The owner of the house did choose not to rebuild the house.

 In the map from the year 1760 the spot was named branda tomten. The place has since had this name.

The big chesnut three in the middle of branda tomten is big and gives shade to the whole area.

 The former premier minister of state Olof Palme lived in Vasterlånggatan 37. Olof Palme was killed by an assassin in the central of Stockholm in the year 1986

 When artist or musicians performs there often becomes a crowd of people.
Beware of pickpockets.

 Almost all ground floors along Vasterlanggatan has been converted to shops. This happened during the 1900 century when trade increased along Vasterlanggatan.

 During the 1500 century Vasterlanggatan was Stockholm's most used road. The road went from the internal port in the north, interior norrport ((Mynttorget)) and to the internal port at the south, internal Soderport (Jarntorget). All people that wanted to pass true Stockholm was forced to go thru both gates. (norrport and soderport).

 Stockholm was based in the middle of 1300 century. The town was at that time surrounded by a defense wall. Vasterlanggatan was then a beach path outside the town. The path reconciled the southern and the northern part of the town. At the beginning of the 1500 century a new wall was built that placed Vasterlanggatan inside the town.

 During the summer period, their are often lots of people that go for a walk along Vasterlanggatan.

 The picture above shows Mynttorget from where Vasterlanggatan starts. Mynttorget lies between the house of parliaments and the royal castle. Mynttorget has old ancestry. During the end of 1700 century the square got its name. The house at the square was the new mint agency house's, it was built in the year 1696. The mint agency house embossed Sweden's coins until the year 1790.

 Vasterlanggatan had originally the name” Allmänninggatan west wall”. The name was later changed to Vastralanggatan, in the end the name became become Vasterlanggatan.
(Vasterlangatan = The long street in the west

The picture above shows Jarntorget. Vasterlanggatan goes between Mynttorget and Jarntorget. The streets Vasterlanggatan and Osterlanggatan come together in the square Jarntorget. The name Jarntorget is mentioned already in the year 1489. On Jarntorget stood for many years the town's official balance

 Kopmangatan runs between the big market place and the place kopmanbrinken.

 During mediaeval time the street connected the big marketplace and the fish market.

At the end of Kopmangatan you can see the statue of Sant Goran and the dragon.

 The picture shows the back of the castle. It is in the back the changing of the guards can be seen.

 During the summer there are a lot of tourists visiting the castle. Note all the tourist busses parked in front of the castle.

 The kings entrance to the castle. Being the gate is Logarden witch is in the front of the castle.

Today there are 45 soldiers protecting the king and the castle 24 hours a day and night. The soldiers are a part of the royal guards (Hogvakten). The royal guard has been protecting the castle since 1523. The solders are armed with real weapons and live ammunition. They may use there weapons in order to protect the castle and the king.

Posted in: SWEDEN