Stockholm, Sweden - July 8th to 15th
Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and the most populous urban area in the Nordic countries, with about 2.4 million people in the metro area. The city stretches across fourteen islands into the Baltic Sea. Outside the city to the east, and along the coast, is the island chain of the Stockholm archipelago. The city was founded in 1252 by Swedish statesman Birger Jarl.
View of Gamla Stan - The Old Town
Gamla stan (The Old Town) dates back to the 13th century, and consists of medieval alleyways, cobbled streets, and archaic architecture. 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.
Stockholm history: After the Ice Age, around 8,000 BC, there were already many people living in what is today the Stockholm area, but as temperatures dropped, inhabitants moved south. Thousands of years later, as the ground thawed, the climate became tolerable and the lands became fertile, people began to migrate back to the North. the Old Town of Stockholm was first built from about 1000 CE by Vikings. They had a positive trade impact on the area because of the trade routes they created. Stockholm's location appears in Norse sagas as Agnafit, and in Heimskringla in connection with the legendary king Agne.
Riddarholmskyrkan - Riddarholm Church
This church serves as the final resting place of most Swedish monarchs. It is one of the oldest buildings in Stockholm, parts of it dating to the late 13th century, when it was built as a Grey Friars monastery. After the Protestant Reformation, the monastery was closed and the building transformed into a Protestant church.
Stockholm history continued: With the accession of Gustav Vasa in 1523 and the establishment of royal power, the population of Stockholm began to grow, reaching 10,000 by 1600. The 17th century saw Sweden grow into a major European power, reflected in the development of the city of Stockholm. From 1610 to 1680 the population multiplied sixfold. In 1634, Stockholm became the official capital of the Swedish empire. In 1710, a plague killed about 20,000 (36 percent) of the population. After the end of the Great Northern War the city stagnated. Population growth halted and economic growth slowed.
Riddarholmskyrkan
Swedish monarchs from Gustavus Adolphus (d. 1632 AD) to Gustaf V (d. 1950) are entombed here - with only one exception: Queen Christina who is buried within St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
Stockholm history continued: By the second half of the 19th century, Stockholm had regained its leading economic role. New industries emerged and Stockholm was transformed into an important trade and service center as well as a key gateway point within Sweden. Stockholm became a modern, technologically advanced, and ethnically diverse city in the latter half of the 20th century. Currently, Stockholm's metropolitan area is one of the fastest-growing regions in Europe, and its population is expected to number 2.5 million by 2024.
Riddarholmskyrkan
Storkyrkan - The Great Church
Storkyrkan, officially named Sankt Nikolai kyrka (Church of St. Nicholas) and informally called Stockholms domkyrka (Stockholm Cathedral), is the oldest church in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. Originally the main parish church of Stockholm. It is an important example of Swedish Brick Gothic - but you probably would have figured that out on your own.
The view down the central aisle of the church is dominated on either side by the Royal Pews, one facing the other on either side of the central aisle. Each consists of a large enclosed box with decorated sides and back. High above each of the Royal Pews is a large royal crown forming a canopy above it, supported by two genii in flowing mantles, and from which billow sculptured hangings behind the royal seat, while above hover numerous putti.
Storkyrkan
The monumental pulpit is the work of Burchard Precht in 1698-1702 and is in a French Baroque style. It became the model for a number of other large pulpits in Sweden. From the rear of its lofty sounding board issues widely billowing dragery, in front of which hover two large winged genii on either side of a radiant sun.
Sankt Göran och draken - Saint George and the Dragon
Saint George and the Dragon is a late medieval wooden sculpture depicting the legend of Saint George and the Dragon. The statue was commissioned by Sten Sture the Elder following his victory over the Danish army in the Battle of Brunkeberg in 1471.
Sankt Göran och draken
The Golden Legend: Silene in Libya was plagued by a venom-spewing dragon dwelling in a nearby pond, poisoning the countryside. To prevent it from affecting the city itself, the people offered it two sheep daily, then a man and a sheep, and finally their children and youths, chosen by lottery. One time the lot fell on the king's daughter. The king offered all his gold and silver to have his daughter spared; the people refused. The daughter was sent out to the lake, dressed as a bride, to be fed to the dragon.
Saint George arrived by chance at the spot. The princess tried to send him away, but he vowed to remain. The dragon emerged from the pond while they were conversing. Saint George made the Sign of the Cross and charged it on horseback, seriously wounding it with his lance. He then called to the princess to throw him her girdle, and he put it around the dragon's neck. When she did so, the dragon followed the girl like a "meek beast" on a leash.
The princess and Saint George led the dragon back to the city of Silene, where it terrified the populace. Saint George offered to kill the dragon if they consented to become Christians and be baptized. Fifteen thousand men including the king of Silene converted to Christianity. George then killed the dragon, beheading it with his sword, and the body was carted out of the city on four ox-carts. The king built a church to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint George on the site where the dragon died and a spring flowed from its altar with water that cured all disease.
Stortorget - Grand Square
Stortorget is the oldest square in Stockholm, the historical center on which the medieval urban conglomeration gradually came into being. Today, the square is frequented by tens of thousands of tourists annually, and is occasionally the scene for demonstrations and performances. It is traditionally renowned for its annual Christmas market offering traditional handicrafts and food.
Stortorget was the scene of the Stockholm Bloodbath in November 1520. For three days, the Danish-Swedish king Christian II beheaded and hanged 90 people. That deed was accomplished despite the reprieve proclaimed by Queen Christina Gyllenstierna after four months of Danish siege. Still, the Danish king was not directly responsible for the deed. Archbishop Gustav Trolle, dethroned and imprisoned by the regent Sten Sture the Elder, who died during the siege, wanted to obtain a redress. Therefore, during the coronation of the Danish king, the prominent guests were confronted with the bill of indictment of the archbishop and subsequently condemned for blasphemy. The death sentences were to be accomplished at once and so the square was cleared while a curfew forced all citizens to stay indoors. The executioners beheaded archbishops, councillors, noblemen and city magistrates indiscriminately, including Erik Johansson Vasa, the father of the succeeding King Gustav Vasa, who escaped the fate of his father by hiding.
Check out the wizard in the lower left corner... he morphed while we taking a picture!
Stortorget
Building 18
Stortorget
The 82 white stones on Number 20, Ribbinska huset ("House of Ribbing") or Schantzka huset ("House of Schantz"), are occasionally said to symbolize the heads decapitated by the Danish king in 1520. The house was, however, built no later than 1479, when it appears in historical records.
Swedish Wisdom
Facade of the Stock Exchange Building
The Stock Exchange Building (Börshuset), which houses the Swedish Academy, the Nobel Museum, and the Nobel Library.
We were impressed with the concrete lions. They were basically heavy blockades to keep cars out of the square. It's nice that the Swedes took the time and spent the money to make something so prosaic into something fun and attractive.
Birger Jarl
Birger Jarl, or Birger Magnusson, was a Swedish statesman, Jarl of Sweden and a member of the House of Bjelbo, who played a pivotal role in the consolidation of Sweden. Birger also led the Second Swedish Crusade, which established Swedish rule in Finland. Additionally, he is traditionally attributed to have founded the Swedish capital, Stockholm, around 1250. Birger used the Latin title of Dux Sweorum which in English equals Duke of Sweden, and the design of his coronet combined those used by continental European and English dukes
Our AirBnB in Stockholm
As we mentioned earlier, we had a fabulous AirBnB stay in Stockholm. Our hosts, Sofia and Anders were marvelous. We shared the apartment with them. We had our own room, but had access to the rest of their beautiful apartment. They had also done a great job of preparing for guests, with brochures of local sights and many great recommendations.
Sågargatan
The cottages in this area were built for workers at the nearby docks, and for others connected with the harbor.
Sågargatan
In the 1910's the street was blasted down (lowered), completely disconnecting the door to #11 from the street.
Klara Kyrka
Construction on the Church of Saint Clare (or Klara Church) started in 1572 under Johan III. Before that the Convent and Church of St. Clare was founded on the site in 1280s. However, in 1527, Gustav Vasa, King of Sweden, had the church and convent torn down. The church tower was built as part of restoration work in the 1880s and is 116 metres (381 ft) tall.
Stockholms Stadshus - City Hall
This is the building of the Municipal Council for the City of Stockholm. It houses offices and conference rooms as well as ceremonial halls, and the luxury restaurant Stadshuskällaren. It is the venue of the Nobel Prize banquet and is one of Stockholm's major tourist attractions.
Stockholms Stadshus
We toured the city hall building and went to the top of the tower for spectacular views of the city.
Construction of the building took twelve years, from 1911 to 1923. Nearly eight million red bricks were used. The dark red bricks, called "munktegel" (monk's brick) because of their traditional use in the construction of monasteries and churches. Construction was carried out by craftsmen using traditional techniques. The building was inaugurated on 23 June 1923, exactly 400 years after Gustav Vasa's arrival in Stockholm.
Stockholm from the City Hall Tower
The southeast corner of the city hall building, immediately adjacent to the shore, has a monumental tower crowned by the Three Crowns, an old national symbol for Sweden. The tower is 106 meters high and is accessible by an elevator or by a stair of 365 steps. We took the stairs.
Park Outside City Hall
Note the tower to the left, on the corner of city hall.
Also, note the people on the right (red shirt). They are standing around a carving in the ground... see the next picture.
