Page 58 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Stockholm

56  ST OCKHOLM AREA B Y AREA

floor, the Swedish Academy
(closed to the public) holds its
ceremonial gatherings, a tradition
maintained since Gustav III gave
his inaugu ration speech in 1786.

7 Tyska Kyrkan
Svartmangatan 16. Map 4 B3.
Tel 08-411 11 88.  Gamla Stan.
@ 2, 3, 43, 53, 55, 76. Open 1 May–
15 Sep: 11am–3pm daily; 16 Sep–
30 Apr: 11am–3pm Wed, Fri & Sat.
Closed during services. 5 11am Sun,
The imposing Stock Exchange on the north side of Stortorget German. 8 by appt in Swedish &
German. 7 ∑ svenskakyrkan.se
6 Stortorget the red Schantzska Huset (No. 20)
and the narrow Seyfridtska Huset The German church is an
Map 4 B3.  Gamla Stan. @ 2, 3, 43, were built in around 1650. The impressive reminder of the
53, 55, 76. Nobelmuseet Tel 08-534
818 00. Open Sep–May: 11am–8pm Schantzska Huset remains almost total influence that
Tue, 11am–5pm Wed–Fri, 10am–6pm unchanged and has a lovely lime- Germany had over Stockholm
Sun; Jun–Aug: 10am–8pm daily. stone porch adorned with figures during the 18th century. The
Closed 1 Jan, Midsummer eve (in Jun), of recumbent Roman warriors. Hanseatic League trading
24, 25 & 31 Dec. 8 in English daily. 7 The artist Johan Wendelstam organization was in con trol of
& 0 = - ∑ nobelmuseum.se was responsible for most of the the Baltic and its ports, which
notable porches in the Old explains why the basic layout
It was not until 1778, when the Town. The 17th-century gable of Gamla Stan resembled that
Stock Exchange (Börsen) was on the Grilska Huset (No. 3) is of Lübeck. Germany’s political
completed, that Stortorget, the also worth closer study. influence was only broken after
square in the heart of the Old The decision to construct the the Stockholm Bloodbath and
Town, acquired a more uniform Stock Exchange was taken in Gustav Vasa’s accession to the
appearance. Its northern side 1667, but many wars delay ed the throne in 1523 (see p18), but
had previously been taken up by start of the building by 100 years. its cultural and mercantile
several buildings that served as a The architect was the talented influence remained strong,
town hall. Since the early Middle Erik Palmstedt (1741–1803), who as German merchants and
Ages the square had been a also created the decorative cover craftsmen settled in the city.
natural meeting point, with a for the old well. However, 200 The church’s parish assembly,
well and market place, lined with years of trading on the floor of which today has some 2,000
wooden stalls on market days. the Stock Exchange came to an members, was founded in
A pillory belonging to the jail, end in 1990. Opened in 2001 to 1571. The present twin-nave
which was once sited on nearby mark the centenary of the Nobel church was built in 1638–42,
Kåkbrinken, used to stand on Prize (see p70), the Nobelmuseet as an extension of a smaller
the square. It is now in the Town explores the work and ideas of church that the parish had
Hall on Kungsholmen (see p114). 880 creative minds by means used since 1576.
The medieval layout is clear of short films, exhibitions and In German Late Renaissance
on Stortorget’s west side, where original artifacts. On the upper and Baroque style, the interior
has a royal gallery, added in
1672 for German members of
The Stockholm Bloodbath
Stortorget is intimately linked
with the Stockholm Bloodbath of
November 1520. The Danish King
Kristian II besieged the Swedish
Regent, Sten Sture the Younger,
until he capitulated, and the
Swedes chose Kristian as their
king. He promised an amnesty
and ordered a three-day feast at
Tre Kronor fortress. Near the end
of the festivities, the revellers were
sud denly shut in and arrested for
heresy. The next day more than 80
noblemen and Stockholm citizens Detail of a painting of the
were beheaded in the square. Bloodbath (1524) The royal gallery in the 17th-century
Tyska Kyrkan

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