RIDDARHOLMEN

Description

Essentials about Riddarholmen in brief

Not too many visitors to Stockholm’s old town Gamla stan make their way to the Riddarholmen peninsula in the north-west. This is a mistake, as the island is one of the most architecturally beautiful parts of the Swedish capital and has an important sight in the form of Riddarholmen Church.

The history of Riddarholmen

For a long time, Riddarholmen was used as a goat pasture. It was not until the 13th century that the island began to gain importance with the construction of a monastery, as several Swedish kings were buried there. In the 17th century, Riddarholmen finally took on its present appearance when a number of aristocrats settled on the island in the middle of Stockholm and built their private palaces here.

The palaces of Riddarholmen

Some of the time-honored buildings on the island are still in use today. Wrangel’s Palace, for example, is home to the largest of Stockholm’s six district courts and other buildings on Riddarholmen also house courts. This makes the island the center of justice in the Swedish capital.

Riddarholmen Church

However, the island’s landmark is undoubtedly the Riddarholmen Church. Built in the 13th century, the church is an impressive example of Swedish brick Gothic architecture and Stockholm’s only surviving medieval abbey church. It is the final resting place of over 45 Swedish monarchs, including Gustav Adolf, Charles XII and Gustav V, who died in the Thirty Years’ War. Some of the royal sarcophagi can be admired in the church.

Birger Jarls Torg

The main square of the small island is Birger Jarls Torg, named after the founder of the Swedish capital, who is also honored by a statue on the square. The Wrangel Palace, the von Stenbock Palace, the Hessenstein Palace and the Schering Rosenhane Palace are also located on the square.