Mynttorget (, "the Coin Square") 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. ...
in
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.
Setting
From the square the bridge
Stallbron leads over to the Parliament island
Helgeandsholmen
Helgeandsholmen () is a small island in central Stockholm, Sweden. It is located north of Stadsholmen, and east of Strömsborg, with which, together with Riddarholmen, it forms Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm. Helgeandsholmen contains the ...
; to the west the street
Myntgatan leads to
Riddarhustorget, while the quay
Kanslikajen stretches along the waterfront;
Västerlånggatan stretches south through the medieval old town; and eastward the ramps of the Royal Palace,
Lejonbacken, leads up to the palace's northern entrance, while the quay
Slottskajen passes along the canal
Stallkanalen. Overlooking the square is the terrace
Högvaktsterrassen.
Its central location between the
Parliament,
Kanslihuset ("The Secretariat House" or "The
Chancellery"), and the
Royal Palace, makes it a popular spot for political manifestations of various kinds.
On N.4
Stockholms Stads Brandförsäkringskontor ("The Stockholm Fire Insurance Office"), in short Brandkontoret, was established in 1746 as a result of the devastating fire at the Royal Palace in 1697. It is thus the oldest insurance company in Sweden, a company owned by its insured customers. In 1806 the building was acquired and the office of Brandkontoret has since then been located here.
The building was earlier known as the Rosendal Palace (''Rosendalska palatset''), designed by
C F Adelcrantz (1716–1796) and
Erik Palmstedt (1741–1803) in a transitional style bridging
Rococo
Rococo (, also ), less commonly Roccoco or Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and theatrical style of architecture, art and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpted moulding, ...
and
Gustavian Classicism, in 1773–1780 the location of the
Royal Academy of the Arts.
The insurance company
Skandia, today one of the dominant actors, was founded in 1855, originally occupying only three rooms in 1, Mynttorget, the building on the square's southern side.
The building is today occupied by the Parliament.
History
Mynttorget was named because of its proximity to the royal
mint (''Kungliga myntet''), which, during the period 1696–1850 was located by the square, and the name appears on a map dated 1733. While coins have been stamped in the capital since 1310 the original location of the royal mint is not known, the facility was located west of the palace
Tre Kronor in the early-15th century (e.g. directly south of the square), but was moved between the residences of the various Mint Masters during the late Middle Ages. During the regency of
Gustav Vasa
Gustav I, born Gustav Eriksson of the Vasa noble family and later known as Gustav Vasa (12 May 1496 – 29 September 1560), was King of Sweden from 1523 until his death in 1560, previously self-recognised Protector of the Realm ('' Riksför ...
, the mint was located on a former islet near today's
Nationalmuseum called
Kyrkholmen or even
Myntholmen. Later, it was relocated first 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 ...
and then
Helgeandsholmen
Helgeandsholmen () is a small island in central Stockholm, Sweden. It is located north of Stadsholmen, and east of Strömsborg, with which, together with Riddarholmen, it forms Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm. Helgeandsholmen contains the ...
.
As the northern gate of the city was rebuilt in the 17th century, a defensive tower, ''Norre port'', was demolished in 1672 to give space to a new mint by the square, which was completed in 1696. This latter building was however demolished in 1784, to be replaced by a new building housing the Government Offices, completed in 1790 and furnished with the four
doric columns today reused for the portico of Kanslihuset.
Being located near the Swedish Parliament, many demonstrations and protests have taken place there.
Greta Thunberg
Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg (; born 3 January 2003) is a Swedish environmental activist who is known for challenging world leaders to take immediate action for climate change mitigation.
Thunberg's activism began when she persuaded ...
sat there during many of her
school strikes for climate.
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 and virtual walk
{{Coord, 59, 19, 36.1, N, 18, 04, 7.2, E, type:landmark, display=title
Squares in Stockholm
Odonyms referring to a building