Gamla stan

Gamla stan (Swedish; actually staden gamla, " the old town " ) is situated on the island Stadsholmen old town of Stockholm, Sweden. It is located in the district of Södermalm. In Gamla stan, the the Younger built by Nicodemus Tessin Palace and the two churches is Storkyrkan ( St. Nicholas Church ) and Tyska kyrkan ( German church). In the Storkyrkan the outstanding medieval equestrian sculpture of St. George with the dragon fighting by Bernt Notke, which can be found in the old town in cast bronze work.

Architectural History

What is now known as Gamla stan, was for many centuries the actual Stockholm. Today's central districts Norrmalm, Södermalm and Östermalm, however, had more rural character. The first houses were built in the 13th century under the protection of the castle, the Birger Jarl had erected to monitor the entrance to the lake Mälaren. At the central square, Stortorget, a town hall was built and was behind the village church, which later became today's Nikolai Church. From the square were roads that were created by an irregular pattern to the various city gates. The oldest streets are occupied Köpmangatan ( first mentioned in 1323), Skomakargatan ( 1337) and Svartmangatan ( 1437).

In the Middle Ages the town was surrounded by a city wall which was above the road today Västerlånggatan and Österlånggatan. Already at the end of the 13th century, they began to expand the building of the city by auffüllte the beaches on the island with soil. The city wall was moved and the area newfound built with houses. After a devastating fire in 1625 that destroyed mainly the south-western parts of the city, comprehensive compensation works were carried out, resulting in the formation of straight streets, Stora and Lilla Nygatan Nygatan. At 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 were replaced by stone buildings. Later, the facades were redesigned by many medieval buildings. They received high gables and richly decorated portals. In the 18th century, the roof shapes of many of the buildings were changed and plastered facades uniform. In the following century the houses were representative showcase of the shopping streets. Today, there are visible behind the facade or a large number of medieval masonry. The buildings are often found medieval cellar vault frescoes of the 16th century, richly decorated ceiling beams of the 17th century, high-class interior in the Rococo style or exuberant decorations of the 19th century.

Traffic

The island of Gamla Stan is easily accessible by private transport and public transport. At the station Gamla stan keep the Gröna and Röda linjen the Stockholm subway. Furthermore, a number of bus ride across the island and there are bus stops. Individual transport the island and on the Vasabron, Norrbro and Strömbron from the direction of Norrmalm be reached. From Södermalm, Gamla Stan is reached via the Slussen transport interchange. The bridge Centralbron leads over the island, but it will have no additions or departure.

St. George and the Dragon (draft Bernt Notke )

Altstadtgasse

Altstadtgasse

Changing of the guard at the castle

Stortorget

Svenska Academies

Christmas Market

The metro station

Other buildings of Gamla Stan

• Axel Oxenstierna Palace
• Bond Esches Palais
• Noblemen
• Ticino cal Palais