GAMLA STAN

Description

Essentials about Gamla stan in brief

Gamla stan (Old Town) in Stockholm is the starting point for most visitors on their city tour. The old town of the Swedish capital is undoubtedly one of the most architecturally beautiful in Europe. Many of the city’s most important sights are located here, including Stockholm Palace, Stortorget, Storkyrkan, the German Church and the Nobel Prize Museum. A stroll through the narrow and cozy alleyways of Gamla stan with its brightly painted houses is a very special experience.

The history of Gamla stan

What is now known as Gamla stan was for many centuries Stockholm proper. Today’s central districts of Norrmalm, Södermalm and Östermalm, on the other hand, had a more rural character. The first houses were built in the 13th century under the protection of the castle built by Birger Jarl, the founder of Stockholm, to guard the entrance to Lake Mälaren.

A town hall was built on the central square, Stortorget, and the village church, which later became today’s Storkyrkan, was built behind it. Streets laid out in an irregular pattern led from the square to the various city gates. The oldest documented streets are Köpmangatan (first mentioned in 1323) and Skomakargatan (1337).

In the Middle Ages, Gamla stan was surrounded by a city wall. As early as the end of the 13th century, the city’s building area began to be expanded by filling in the island’s beaches with earth. The city wall was moved and the newly gained area was built on with houses. After a devastating fire in 1625, which mainly destroyed the south-western parts of the city, extensive leveling work was carried out, which led to the formation of the dead-straight streets Stora Nygatan and Lilla Nygatan. By the end of the 17th century, the city walls had lost their significance and were consequently demolished.

The oldest buildings were probably wooden houses, but in the late Middle Ages most of them were replaced by stone houses. Later, the facades of many medieval buildings were remodeled. They were given high gables and richly decorated portals. In the 18th century, the roof shapes of many buildings were changed and the facades were uniformly plastered. In the following century, the houses on the shopping streets were given representative shop windows. Today, there is still a lot of medieval masonry behind the visible facades of many houses. The buildings often feature medieval vaulted cellars, richly decorated ceiling beams and high-class rococo-style interiors.

Eating and shopping in Gamla stan

As the tourist center of Stockholm, Gamla stan naturally has souvenir stores galore. If you want to buy a Stockholm shirt, a plush cup or a Swedish flag, you will undoubtedly find what you are looking for here.

In the narrow alleyways of Gamla stan, however, you will also find numerous stores selling genuine Swedish handicrafts. Glaus art and porcelain, paintings and drawings, tablecloths and fashion are among the most popular souvenirs from the Swedish capital.

If you need to take a break from shopping, you can do so in the countless cafés and restaurants in Stockholm’s old town. The only disadvantage of the densely built-up Gamla stan is that the space for outdoor dining is very limited. On warm summer days, however, the cafés and restaurants usually leave their windows open so that guests can enjoy the Swedish summer.

Major sights in Gamla stan

Stockholm Palace

For most visitors, Stockholm Palace is the main attraction of Gamla stan and one that is hard to miss. The castle stands on the highest point of the old town and is one of the largest royal buildings in Europe with over 600 rooms. Although the Swedish royal family is no longer at home here, the castle is still used for representative purposes. Many rooms in the huge building can be visited. The palace also houses three interesting museums. If you only want to see the beautiful building from the outside, don’t miss the very entertaining changing of the guard.

Stortorget

Stortorget (Great Square) is the oldest, historically most important and also the most beautiful square in Stockholm. The beautiful colorful houses that adorn the square on all sides are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful postcard motifs in Europe. The numerous cafés, bars and restaurants on Stortorget are also a great place to relax after a stroll through Gamla stan.

Storkyrkan

Storkyrkan is Stockholm’s cathedral church and one of the most important places of worship in Scandinavia. Located right next to Stockholm Palace, the church has seen numerous coronations and royal weddings in its 750-year history and is worth a visit, and not just for church fans, thanks to its impressive interior.

The German Church

The German Church (Tyska kyrkan) is not only the tallest building in Gamla stan, but also a living testimony to the history of the Germans in Stockholm. Its history dates back to the 14th century and services are still held in German today.

The Nobel Prize Museum

A trip to Stockholm also includes a visit to the Nobel Prize Museum. Located in the middle of Gamla stan, the museum is a real treasure trove for anyone interested in the development of chemistry, physics and medicine as well as peace, literature and economics.