The Old Town
This is where it all started 750 years ago - on the small Old Town Island, barely 500 meters in diameter. A great place for a leisurely walk. Several of the city's major sights are here too - the Royal Palace with the Crown Jewel Exhibition, the Royal Armoury and the Tre Kronor Museum, the Cathedral from the mid-13th century and the House of Nobilty. Other sights include the 16th century German Church, the Nobel Museum and the Royal Coin Cabinet.
Stockholm has not been involved in any war since 1520, so there has been no destruction by wars. The streets still follow the medieval layout, but numerous buildings have been added, re-built or extended, particularly in the 17th century when Sweden was one of Europe's major military powers and the centre of a vast empire that encompassed the whole of the Baltic Sea coastline. Most historic buildings date from that time, so Stockholm's Old Town has a distinct 17th century look and feel.
If you follow the two semi-circular shopping streets Västerlånggatan and Österlånggatan, you will walk the route that once went along the medieval city-wall. They connect at Järntorget (The Iron Market), once the world's #1 place for re-loading of iron, mined in central Sweden. On the square is also the old building for the Bank of Sweden, where the world's first bank-notes were printed.
Don't miss the interesting alleys that cross these streets. There is lots to explore here. Köpmangatan runs between the Great Market and Österlånggatan and is lined with antique shops.
Adjacent to the Old Town are two other small islands. To the west Riddarholmen ( The Island of Knights) with the Riddarholmen church from the 1280ies and to the north Helgeandsholmen (The Island of the Holy Spirit) with the Parliament building.
Gamla Stan is one of the largest and best preserved medieval city centers in Europe, and one of the foremost attractions in Stockholm. This is where Stockholm was founded in 1252.
All of Gamla Stan and the adjacent island of Riddarholmen are like a living pedestrian-friendly museum full of sights, attractions, restaurants, cafés, bars and places to shop. Gamla Stan is also popular with aficionados of handicrafts, curios and souvenirs. The narrow winding cobblestone streets, with their buildings in so many different shades of gold, give Gamla Stan its unique character. Even now cellar vaults and frescoes from the Middle Ages can be found behind the visible facades, and on snowy winter days the district feels like something from a story book.
There are several beautiful churches and museums in Gamla Stan, including Sweden’s national cathedral Stockholm Cathedral and the Nobel Museum. The largest of the attractions in the district is the Royal Palace, one of the largest palaces in the world with over 600 rooms. In addition to the reception rooms, there are several interesting museums in the Palace, including the Royal Armory, with royal costumes and armor. Don't miss the parade of soldiers and the daily changing of the guard.
Västerlånggatan and Österlånggatan are the district’s main streets. The city wall that once surrounded the city ran inside these streets along what is now Prästgatan. In the middle of Gamla Stan is Stortorget, the oldest square in Stockholm. Stortorget is the central point from which runs Köpmangatan, the oldest street in Stockholm, which was mentioned as early as the fourteenth century. Mårten Trotzigs gränd (Mårten Trotzigs alley) is hard to find. It’s the narrowest alley in Gamla Stan, only 90 centimeters wide at its narrowest point. Make sure not to miss Riddarholmen and the Riddarholmen Church. The church is a royal burial church, and was built as a Franciscan monastery for the so-called Grey Brother monks in the thirteenth century.
This is where it all started 750 years ago - on the small Old Town Island, barely 500 meters in diameter. A great place for a leisurely walk. Several of the city's major sights are here too - the Royal Palace with the Crown Jewel Exhibition, the Royal Armoury and the Tre Kronor Museum, the Cathedral from the mid-13th century and the House of Nobilty. Other sights include the 16th century German Church, the Nobel Museum and the Royal Coin Cabinet.
Stockholm has not been involved in any war since 1520, so there has been no destruction by wars. The streets still follow the medieval layout, but numerous buildings have been added, re-built or extended, particularly in the 17th century when Sweden was one of Europe's major military powers and the centre of a vast empire that encompassed the whole of the Baltic Sea coastline. Most historic buildings date from that time, so Stockholm's Old Town has a distinct 17th century look and feel.
If you follow the two semi-circular shopping streets Västerlånggatan and Österlånggatan, you will walk the route that once went along the medieval city-wall. They connect at Järntorget (The Iron Market), once the world's #1 place for re-loading of iron, mined in central Sweden. On the square is also the old building for the Bank of Sweden, where the world's first bank-notes were printed.
Don't miss the interesting alleys that cross these streets. There is lots to explore here. Köpmangatan runs between the Great Market and Österlånggatan and is lined with antique shops.
Adjacent to the Old Town are two other small islands. To the west Riddarholmen ( The Island of Knights) with the Riddarholmen church from the 1280ies and to the north Helgeandsholmen (The Island of the Holy Spirit) with the Parliament building.
Gamla Stan is one of the largest and best preserved medieval city centers in Europe, and one of the foremost attractions in Stockholm. This is where Stockholm was founded in 1252.
All of Gamla Stan and the adjacent island of Riddarholmen are like a living pedestrian-friendly museum full of sights, attractions, restaurants, cafés, bars and places to shop. Gamla Stan is also popular with aficionados of handicrafts, curios and souvenirs. The narrow winding cobblestone streets, with their buildings in so many different shades of gold, give Gamla Stan its unique character. Even now cellar vaults and frescoes from the Middle Ages can be found behind the visible facades, and on snowy winter days the district feels like something from a story book.
There are several beautiful churches and museums in Gamla Stan, including Sweden’s national cathedral Stockholm Cathedral and the Nobel Museum. The largest of the attractions in the district is the Royal Palace, one of the largest palaces in the world with over 600 rooms. In addition to the reception rooms, there are several interesting museums in the Palace, including the Royal Armory, with royal costumes and armor. Don't miss the parade of soldiers and the daily changing of the guard.
Västerlånggatan and Österlånggatan are the district’s main streets. The city wall that once surrounded the city ran inside these streets along what is now Prästgatan. In the middle of Gamla Stan is Stortorget, the oldest square in Stockholm. Stortorget is the central point from which runs Köpmangatan, the oldest street in Stockholm, which was mentioned as early as the fourteenth century. Mårten Trotzigs gränd (Mårten Trotzigs alley) is hard to find. It’s the narrowest alley in Gamla Stan, only 90 centimeters wide at its narrowest point. Make sure not to miss Riddarholmen and the Riddarholmen Church. The church is a royal burial church, and was built as a Franciscan monastery for the so-called Grey Brother monks in the thirteenth century.
