Page 68 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Stockholm

66  ST OCKHOLM AREA B Y AREA

1 Kungsträdgården dance performances. Many of wanted to provide two new
the events are free and enjoyed churches in Norra Malmen, as
Map 4 B1.  Kungsträdgården.
@ 2, 55, 62, 65, 76. by thousands of Stockholmers, the area was then called, and
who arrive with their picnics work to build the churches of
Once the royal kitchen garden and blankets. The park also St Jacob and St Klara (see p68)
in the 15th century, the “King’s hosts numerous exhibitions, started in 1580. St Jacob’s was
Garden” today is a popular food festivals, and live street consecrated first, in 1643. It has
meeting place for Stockholmers theatre. Local radio stations also been restored several times
– with something for everyone hold big festivals featuring a since then, in some cases rather
all year round. The park, which variety of home-grown and clumsily. However, several
is Stockholm's oldest, is in the international artists. In August, valuable items have been
heart of the city and encircled when the annual Gospel Choir preserved, including a baptis-
by avenues. At the Strömgatan Festival takes place, audiences mal font from 1634 and some
end of the park is a square, are invited to sing along, church silver, as well as porches
named after Karl XII, whatever their musical by stonemasons Henrik Blom
with Johan Peter abilities. At the and Hans Hebel.
Molin’s statue of the garden's centre is a The organ’s façade was
warrior king, unveiled in large cirular plaza, and created by the architect Carl
1868, in the centre. The during the winter months Hårleman, and the large paint-
statue was commissioned this is transformed into a ing on the west wall of the
to mark the 150th skating rink that attracts southern nave is by Fredrik
anniversary of the king's children and grown-ups Westin, Sweden’s most dis-
death. In Kungsträdgården alike. There is also a tinguished historical painter
itself there is a statue of Molin’s Christmas market held in in the early 19th century.
Karl XIII (1809–18) by Erik fountain the park every weekend
Göthe. Also here is Molin’s throughout December.
famous fountain, made from Kungsträdgården has several
gyp sum in 1866 and cast outdoor cafés, art galleries,
in bronze seven years later. such as Wetterling Galleri, and
The fountain is inhabited restaurants at the two ends
by mythological characters. of the garden.
During Erik XIV’s reign in
the 16th century, the kitchen
garden was transformed into 2 Jacobs Kyrka
a formal Renaissance garden, Västra Trädgårdsgatan 2. Map 4 B1.
and Queen Kristina had a stone Tel 08-723 30 38.  Kungsträdgården.
summer house built in it. The @ 2, 55, 62, 65, 76. Open 10am–5pm
17th-century house still stands Mon–Wed; 11am–6pm Thu, Fri &
at Västra Trädgårdsgatan 2, Sun; 10am–5pm Sat. 5 (in English) Altar in Jacobs Kyrka, partly dating from
next to the cobble-stoned Sun. Concerts 5pm Fri. the 17th century
Lantmäteribacken. 8 by arrangement. 7
Each year during the summer
months nearly 150 events are Even in medieval times there 3 Kungliga Operan
staged in Kungsträdgården. The was a small chapel where Gustav Adolfs Torg. Map 4 B1. Tel
covered, outdoor stage here is Kungsträdgården now lies. 08-791 44 00.  Kungsträdgården.
the setting for various open-air Dedicated to St Jacob, the @ 2, 43, 55, 62, 65, 71, 76. Ticket Office
concerts; Parkteatern, an patron saint of wayfarers, the Open noon–5pm Mon–Fri, noon–
outdoor theatre group, also chapel and another modest- 3pm Sat. 8 by arrangement. 7
puts on shows including sized church in the area were - = ∑ operan.se
musical productions, children's destroyed by King Gustav Vasa
theatre, flamenco and other in the 16th century. Johan III Opera has been performed in
Sweden since 18 January 1773,
when a production was staged
at Bollhuset at Slottsbacken.
Kungliga Operan (The Royal
Opera House) on Gustav Adolfs
Torg was inaugurated on 30
September 1782, but by the
late 19th century it had
become a fire hazard. The
architect Axel Anderberg
was commissioned to design
a new opera house, which was
View of Kungsträdgården, towards Hamngatan transferred to the State in 1898

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