Page 203 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden

GO THENBURG  201

further four equally large areas
for storing sets. Using advanced
technology, it is possible to
switch quickly between
productions, thus enabling
the Opera House to stage a
repertoire of opera, musicals
and contemporary dance.
Architect Jan Izikowitz
was inspired by Gothenburg’s
harbourside location, the
aim of his design being for
the “building to be possessed
by a lightness which
encourages thoughts to soar
like seagulls’ wings over the
mighty river landscape”.
Gustav Adolfs Torg flanked on its north side by Börsen, built in 1859
5 Kronhuset wares include pottery,
glass, clocks and homemade
Postgatan 6–8. v 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9,
10, 11, 13. @ 16, 42, 50, 52, 58, 60, 86, sweets. There is also an old-
90, 91, 99. - = 7 fashioned country store with
a café.
A grand brick building in
Dutch style, Kronhuset was
constructed in 1643–55 and is 6 Gustav Adolfs
Gothenburg’s oldest preserved Torg
secular building. This part of
town was originally a storage v 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13.
area for the artillery. The @ 16, 42, 50, 52, 58, 60, 86, 90, 91, 99.
ground floor was converted
into a chamber for the Gothenburg’s founder, Gustav
parliament of 1660. II Adolf, gave his name to the
The destroyer Småland, 1952, in Maritiman Today, the building is city’s central square. Since 1854
used regularly for popular Bengt Erland Fogelberg’s statue
4 Maritiman events such as concerts of the “hero king” has gazed
and exhibitions. imperiously over the square and
Packhusplatsen 12. Tel 031-10 59 50.
v 5, 10. @ 18, 19, 25, 50, 52, 86, 90, Around the square are Rådhuset (the town hall), Börsen
91, 96, 114, 194, 197. Open Apr: Sat & Kronhusbodarna (the Kronhus (the Stock Exchange) and
Sun; May & Sep: 11am–5pm daily; sheds), which create a pleasant Stadshuset (the City Hall).
Jun–Aug: 10am–6pm daily. & setting for crafts people whose On 6 November, the date on
∑ maritiman.se which the king died at the
Battle of Lützen in 1632, a
As the city’s new port facilities special marzipan cake is made
moved further out towards in his honour. It is topped with a
the sea, Gothenburg’s inner piece of chocolate in the shape
harbour became denuded of the king’s head.
of ships. Fortunately, the Rådhuset, closest to Norra
situation was rectified in 1987 Hamngatan, was designed by
when Göteborgs Maritima Nicodemus Tessin the Elder
Centrum was set up on the and completed in 1673. It has
harbour. The museum now a Functionalist extension
has 13 vessels at anchor, designed in 1937 by Gunnar
comprising what is said to Asplund (see p105).
be the world’s largest floating Both the 18th-century
ship museum. Stadshuset and Wenngrenska
Vessels include the destroyer Villa, located on the north
Småland, built in 1952 at side of the square, are used
Eriksbergs shipyard on the other by the city administration.
side of the river, the submarine Börsen, designed by P J Ekman
Nordkaparen (1962), and the in 1849, is the city’s main
monitor Sölve (1875), as well as Mid-17th-century Kronhuset, one of venue for receptions and
lightships, fireboats and tugs. Gothenburg’s oldest buildings council meetings.

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