Munkbron (
Swedish
Swedish or ' may refer to:
Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically:
* Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland
** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...
: "Monk's Bridge") is a
public square
A town square (or square, plaza, public square, city square, urban square, or ''piazza'') is an open public space, commonly found in the heart of a traditional town but not necessarily a true geometric square, used for community gatherings. ...
on the western 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. Officially, but not colloquially, Gamla stan ...
, the old town in central
Stockholm,
Sweden. Connected to the square are
Stora Gråmunkegränd,
Gåsgränd,
Lilla Nygatan,
Yxsmedsgränd, and
Munkbrogatan; while the traffic route
Munkbroleden separates it from the canal
Riddarholmskanalen. The square is divided into a northern and a southern part by the block ''Aurora'' in which the so-called
Petersen House
The Petersen House is a 19th-century federal style row house located at 516 10th Street NW in Washington, D.C. On April 15, 1865, United States President Abraham Lincoln died there after being shot the previous evening at Ford's Theatre, locat ...
is found.
History
In the 15th century, the name 'Munkbron' referred to the bridge passing over to
Riddarholmen
Riddarholmen (, "The Knights' Islet") is a small islet in central Stockholm, Sweden. The island forms part of Gamla Stan, the old town, and houses a number of private palaces dating back to the 17th century. The main landmark is the church Riddarh ...
were the
Greyfriars abbey was located. As the latter islet, until the 1630s called ''Gråmunkeholmen'' ("Greyfriar's islet"), received its present name, 'Munkbron' was being used for the quay passing along the western waterfront of the city (see also
Riddarholmsbron
Riddarholmsbron (, "The Knights Islet bridge") is a bridge in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden, leading from the square Riddarhustorget on Stadsholmen to the smaller neighbouring island Riddarholmen
Riddarholmen (, "The Kn ...
). The present square, together with the quay passing along the shore and various present or historical spaces nearby, were known under several different names, including ''Muncke brons Hampnen'' ("Monk's Bridge Harbour", 1646), ''Våghusplatsen'' ("Weigh House Square", ?), ''Munkbrotorget'' ("Monk's Bridge Square", 1654) and ''Munkbrohamnsplatsen'' ("Monk's Bridge Harbour Square").
In 1921, when the squares Munkbron and
Mälartorget were called ''Övre/Nedre Munkbrotorget'' ("Upper/Lower Monk's Bridge Square"), it was suggested that the two should be renamed ''Munkbrotorget'' and ''Flugmötet'' ("Flies Meet"), in reference to the latrine heap located on the southern square) respectively. This proposal was however rejected in favour of the present name which was colloquially used.
See also
*
List of streets and squares in Gamla stan
This is an alphabetical list of streets, alley, squares, and other structures in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, including the islands Stadsholmen, Helgeandsholmen
Helgeandsholmen () is a small island in central Stockholm, Sweden. It ...
References
External links
hitta.se - Location map
Squares in Stockholm
{{Stockholm-geo-stub