Riddarhustorget (, "Square of the House of Knights") 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, named after its location in front of the
House of Knights (''Riddarhuset'').
The present square, largely occupied by the through traffic to and from
Munkbroleden and
Vasabron
Vasabron (Swedish: "The Vasa Bridge") is a bridge over Norrström in central Stockholm, Sweden connecting Norrmalm to Gamla stan, the old city.
The bridge is, unintelligibly, named after King Gustav Vasa (1496–1560), perhaps because of the vic ...
, and surrounded by old palaces occupied by modestly extrovert state-level offices, is the faint remains of what used to be the centre of Swedish politics; the palace of the
Swedish nobility
The Swedish nobility ( sv, Adeln eller Ridderskapet och Adeln) has historically been a legally and/or socially privileged class in Sweden, and part of the so-called ''frälse'' (a derivation from Old Swedish meaning ''free neck''). The archaic term ...
standing face-to-face with the emergent
Liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
press, the entire scene using the idyllic eastern canal as a backdrop.
History
A product of the redesign of the western parts of the city in the early-17th century, the square first appears in historical records as ''Riddare huuss platzen'' ("Knight's House Space", 1641), and ''Riddarehuus Torget'' (1662). In 1765, the nobility decided to transfer the southern premises of their lot to the city for the enlargement of the open space in front of the palace, and had the statue of King
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 ...
placed in the middle of it. When the square was redesigned in 1914–1916, the statue was moved to its present location immediately in front of the palace.
Increasing traffic loads during the early-20th century, resulted in over 20 proposals for a long bridge passing through central Stockholm over Gamla stan. Discussions in 1930 ending up in a temporary solution, by its customers dubbed ''Slingerbultsleden'' ("Dodge Route"), leading the north-bound through traffic around Riddarhustorget by means of two bridges to and from Riddarholmen. By the end of the 1950s, the southern bridge of the present more permanent solution
Centralbron
Centralbron (, "The Central Bridge") is a major bridge in central Stockholm, Sweden, connecting the northern district Norrmalm to the southern Södermalm.
It is 1,200 metres long and consists of two viaducts passing over Söderström ("Southern ...
was completed, a few years later accompanied by its northern extension.
Setting
On the western side of the square is a scenic view of the bridge
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 ...
stretching over
Riddarholmskanalen and the motorway
Centralbron
Centralbron (, "The Central Bridge") is a major bridge in central Stockholm, Sweden, connecting the northern district Norrmalm to the southern Södermalm.
It is 1,200 metres long and consists of two viaducts passing over Söderström ("Southern ...
to the islet
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 some prominent buildings there, including
Riddarholmskyrkan
Riddarholmen Church ( sv, Riddarholmskyrkan) is the church of the former medieval Greyfriars Monastery in Stockholm, Sweden. The church serves as the final resting place of most Swedish monarchs.
Riddarholmen Church is located on the island o ...
and a few of the palaces.
On the eastern side, the street
Myntgatan passes between the arcades of two of the buildings of the
Parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. Th ...
,
Kanslihuset ("Chancellery House") and
Kanslihusannexet ("Annex of the Chancellery House") over to
Mynttorget
Mynttorget (, "the Coin Square") is a public square in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden.
Setting
From the square the bridge Stallbron leads over to the Parliament island Helgeandsholmen; to the west the street Myntgata ...
.
On the southern side of Riddarhustorget, the alley
Storkyrkobrinken leads up to the
Stockholm Cathedral and the
Royal Palace, while the street
Stora Nygatan passes through the western part of the old town and
Munkbroleden leads along the western waterfront past the neighbouring square
Munkbron.
North of the square the alleys
Rådhusgränd
Rådhusgränd (Swedish: "Town Hall Alley") is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. Stretching from the junction between the street Myntgatan and the square Riddarhustorget, and passing between the Bonde Palace an ...
and
Riddarhusgränd connects to the cast iron bridge
Vasabron
Vasabron (Swedish: "The Vasa Bridge") is a bridge over Norrström in central Stockholm, Sweden connecting Norrmalm to Gamla stan, the old city.
The bridge is, unintelligibly, named after King Gustav Vasa (1496–1560), perhaps because of the vic ...
from the 1870s.
Several prominent palaces are located around Riddarhustorget:
House of Knights
Occupying the northern side of the square and still dominating its environment is the House of Knights (''Riddarhuset''), a Swedish equivalent to the British
House of Lords
The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminste ...
. While the building was begun by the French-born architect
Simon de la Vallée
Simon de la Vallée (1590–1642) was a French-Swedish architect. The first architect in Sweden to have received formal academic training, he created the Swedish school of architecture.
Biography
Born in Paris, he was the son of Marin de la Val ...
in 1641 (a year before his dramatic death), the façade is largely the work of the Dutch architect
Justus Vingboons
Justus Vingboons (or ''Vinckboons'', ''Vinckeboons'') (c. 1620 – c. 1698) was an Amsterdam architect. He was the brother of the better-known architect Philips Vingboons. Like his brother, Justus built in the "Dutch Classicism" style.
Works
Th ...
(1620–1698) in 1652-1656, and the original roof the design of the son of the former
Jean de la Vallée
Jean de la Vallée (ca 1620 – 12 March 1696) was a Swedish architect.
Biography
Born in France, he was the son of architect Simon de la Vallée (ca 1595–1642).
He made early trips in France and Italy where he studied the new baroque form ...
(1620–1696) in 1656-1674, the entire composition completed by
Carl Fredrik Adelcrantz
Carl Fredrik Adelcrantz (30 January 1716 – 1 March 1796) was a Swedish architect and civil servant. Adelcrantz's style developed from a rococo influenced by Carl Hårleman, the leading architect in Sweden in the early years of his career, to a ...
(1716–1796) in 1762. The entire composition reflects the decreasing influence of Swedish nobility during the transition from the era of
Swedish Empire
The Swedish Empire was a European great power that exercised territorial control over much of the Baltic region during the 17th and early 18th centuries ( sv, Stormaktstiden, "the Era of Great Power"). The beginning of the empire is usually ta ...
to the
Age of Liberty; the original intentions, including towers on the corners and wings, reduced to the present
Corinthian Corinthian or Corinthians may refer to:
*Several Pauline epistles, books of the New Testament of the Bible:
**First Epistle to the Corinthians
**Second Epistle to the Corinthians
**Third Epistle to the Corinthians (Orthodox)
*A demonym relating to ...
pilaster
In classical architecture, a pilaster is an architectural element used to give the appearance of a supporting column and to articulate an extent of wall, with only an ornamental function. It consists of a flat surface raised from the main wal ...
s projected on a plain bricked wall, centred on the temple gable motif. Before the small garden in front of the palace was created to the design of
Isak Gustaf Clason (1856–1930) in the 1910s, Riddarhuset formed the scenic background for what was the country's political centre.
In front of the building stands the statue of King
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 ...
.
Bonde Palace
East of the House of Knights is the Bonde Palace (''Bondeska palatset''), arguably the most prominent monument of the era of
Swedish Empire
The Swedish Empire was a European great power that exercised territorial control over much of the Baltic region during the 17th and early 18th centuries ( sv, Stormaktstiden, "the Era of Great Power"). The beginning of the empire is usually ta ...
. It was originally created as the private residence of
Gustaf Bonde (1620–1667) in the 1660s to the design by
Jean de la Vallée
Jean de la Vallée (ca 1620 – 12 March 1696) was a Swedish architect.
Biography
Born in France, he was the son of architect Simon de la Vallée (ca 1595–1642).
He made early trips in France and Italy where he studied the new baroque form ...
and
Nicodemus Tessin the Elder
Nicodemus Tessin the Elder () (7 December 1615 in Stralsund – 24 May 1681 in Stockholm) was an important Swedish architect.
Biography
Nicodemus Tessin was born in Stralsund in Pomerania and came to Sweden as a young man. There he met and wor ...
, however overtaken by the city in the early 18th century to serve as a city hall until the early 20th century and since WW2 accommodating the
Supreme Court. The
Ionic pilaster
In classical architecture, a pilaster is an architectural element used to give the appearance of a supporting column and to articulate an extent of wall, with only an ornamental function. It consists of a flat surface raised from the main wal ...
s of the main building still reflects the original design, while the top floor and roof are from the 17th century. The building has been destroyed by fire on several occasions and was much neglected during the 18th and early 19th centuries, but post-WW2 restorations have been focused on giving prominence to the oldest features of the building, today given the status as an historical monument of national interest.
Ryning Palace
The Ryning Palace (''Ryningska palatset''), located south of the square, was begun by the capable
Erik Ryning in the 1640s to the design of
Simon de la Vallée
Simon de la Vallée (1590–1642) was a French-Swedish architect. The first architect in Sweden to have received formal academic training, he created the Swedish school of architecture.
Biography
Born in Paris, he was the son of Marin de la Val ...
. The architect died within a year of starting so large parts of the palace were not completed until 1770, many years after the death of the original proprietor and in an apparently different style to the older parts. The new proprietor
Gottfried Sackenhielm used part of his palace to run a tavern and a brothel that was frequently visited by many notable men of the era, including the still popular troubadour
Carl Michael Bellman
Carl Michael Bellman (; 4 February 1740 – 11 February 1795) was a Swedish songwriter, composer, musician, poet and entertainer. He is a central figure in the Swedish song tradition and remains a powerful influence in Swedish music, as well ...
. Following the death of Sackenhielm, the property was taken over by
Johan Bergstrahl, who, except giving parts of the block their present names, raised the activities in the buildings to an unprecedented level, introducing social clubs, newspapers and café's. Today the building is occupied by the
Supreme Court and the
Labour Court
A labor court (or labour court or industrial tribunal) is a governmental judiciary body which rules on labor or employment-related matters and disputes. In a number of countries, labor cases are often taken to separate national labor high courts. O ...
.
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 ...
*
History of Stockholm
The history of Stockholm, capital of Sweden, for many centuries coincided with the development of what is today known as Gamla stan, the Stockholm Old Town. Stockholm's ''raison d'être'' always was to be the Swedish capital and by far the large ...
References
External links
Visit-Stockholm.com - Virtual walk at Riddarhustorget(
QTVR
QuickTime VR (also known as QTVR) is an image file format developed by Apple Inc. for QuickTime, and discontinued along with QuickTime 7. It allows the creation and viewing of VR photography, photographically captured panoramas, and the viewing ...
)
{{coord, 59, 19, 32.22, N, 18, 3, 58.61, E, region:SE, display=title
Squares in Stockholm
Odonyms referring to a building