Götgatan (Original

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 ...

''Göthegatan''*Stahre, Nils-Gustaf; Fogelström, Per Anders (1986). Stockholms gatunamn: innerstaden. Monografier utgivna av Stockholms stad (1st edition). Stockholm: Liber/Allmänna förlaget. Libris 7269073. for " Gothia Street") is the name of one of the longest streets in central Stockholm on the Southern Isle (

Södermalm Södermalm, often shortened to just Söder, is a district and island in central Stockholm. Overview The district covers the large island of the same name (formerly called ''Åsön''). Although Södermalm usually is considered an island, wa ...

) of the city. The street itself has existed since the 12th century, and has had its name since the 1640s, the name based on it being a part of the old

Göta highway Göta highway ( sv, Göta landsväg) was, up to the late-17th century, the only road between Stockholm and south of Sweden. Dating back at least to the middle ages, and some parts even back to the Viking Age, the highway is the oldest known road ...

. At its northern end behind Stockholm City Museum it connects to Södermalm Square at Slussen, and it runs due south from there to the former toll position of

Skanstull Skanstull is an area in Södermalm in Stockholm. Skanstull connects the traffic between the inner city and the south parts of Stockholm and its suburbs. Skanstull was originally the city's southern Toll road, toll station, but the toll station wa ...

and a high bridge (

Skanstullsbron Skanstullsbron (Swedish: "The Fortlet Tollgate Bridge") is a bridge in central Stockholm, Sweden. Overpassing the older bridge Skansbron, it connects the major island Södermalm to the southern district Johanneshov. The first proposal for an e ...

) leading over to

Globe Arena Avicii Arena, originally known as Stockholm Globe Arena and previously as Ericsson Globe, but commonly referred to in Swedish simply as Globen (; "the Globe"), is an indoor arena located in Stockholm Globe City, Johanneshov district of Stock ...

and mainland suburbs. Götgatan passes spacious Citizen Square ( Medborgarplatsen) and one of Stockholm's first skyscrapers popularly called Skatteskrapan (the ''Tax Scraper'') because until recently it housed Sweden's tax authority. In a country known for high tax rates, the term ''Barescraper'' has also been used for the building, and for decades taxpayers would traipse along Götgatan and line up ceremoniously to file their income tax forms on the day they were due.

Greta Garbo Greta Garbo (born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson; 18 September 1905 – 15 April 1990) was a Swedish-American actress. Regarded as one of the greatest screen actresses, she was known for her melancholic, somber persona, her film portrayals of tragic ch ...

was born a block west of Götgatan, and there is a bust of her on the (newer) building. A square named for her is located a few blocks east along park-like Katarina Bangata. Also a block away in either direction are the

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

Cathedral and the

Stockholm Mosque Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's Mosque ( sv, Zaid Ben Sultan Al Nahayans moské, ar, جامع زايد بن سلطان آل نهيان), commonly known as the Stockholm Mosque (''Stockholms moské'') or the Stockholm Grand Mosque (''Stockholms stor ...

. There are three

underground railway The Underground Railroad was a network of clandestine routes and safe houses established in the United States during the early- to mid-19th century. It was used by enslaved African Americans primarily to escape into free states and Canada. ...

stations along the street with two entrances for each. The northernmost stretch of Götgatan runs southward up a steep slope from intersecting Hornsgatan (another long street that also begins there) and then descends to level off before Citizen Square. That portion is pedestrian, called Götgatsbacken ("Goth Street Slope") and has become increasingly trendy in recent years. The Royal

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

Embassy is located there. Otherwise Götgatan and all of the Southern Isle have long been known as a less pretentious and more relaxed – and so less fashionable – area than other parts of Stockholm. The area has been home to many struggling artists and artisans, and working-class residents. One of the areas oldest restaurants, Den gröne Jägaren, opened in 1866 in a block still owned by the Catholic Church.

References

External links

Streets in Stockholm Shopping districts and streets in Sweden {{Stockholm-road-stub

See also

References

External links