City Centre

Along the north end of the Kungsträdgård is Hamngatan, now regarded as Stockholm's main street. There are magnificent views of the city from the rooftop restaurant of the NK (Nordiska Kompaniet) department store. At Hamngatan 4 is the Hallwyl Palace, with a facade showing Spanish inspiration. Formerly the home of the Counts Hallwyl, this is now a museum (interior in turn-of-the-century style, collection of Countess Hallwyl), and is also used for theatrical performances. In Berzelius Park (named after the famous chemist J. Berzelius) is a very popular restaurant, Berns Salonger.

Sergelsgatan, a Stockholm pedestrian zone with many shops and an underground market hall, runs north, past five high-rise blocks, to the Hötorg, in which markets are held in spring, summer and autumn. In Hötorg is the Concert Hall (Konserthuset, 1962), home of the Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, in which the annual presentation of the Nobel Prizes takes place. In front of it can be seen the Orpheus Fountain (by Carl Milles, 1936).

From Hötorg Kungsgatan, one of Stockholm's principal shopping streets, runs east, with Sturegallerian, an exclusive shopping center, the PUB department store and two 17-story tower blocks, the Kungstornen ("King's Towers").

From Stockholm's Concert Hall a broad avenue, Sveavägen, runs northwest, passing on the left the Adolf Frederikskyrka (1774), which contains sculpture by the Swedish sculptor J. T. Sergel (d. 1814) and a monument to the French philosopher Descartes, who died in Stockholm in 1650 (his remains were taken to Paris in 1666). Towards the far end of Sveavägen are the Commercial College and the Municipal Library (Stadsbiblioteket), and at the end the Wenner-Gren Research Center (1961). From the Municipal Library Karlbergsvägen runs west to Karlberg Castle (17th C.), now a military academy, on the lake of the same name.

Parallel to Sveavägen in Stockholm is Drottninggatan, a busy shopping street. At No. 85, once the home of the dramatist August Strindberg (1849-1912), can be found the Strindberg Museum.

At the north end of Drottninggatan are the main buildings of Stockholm University (founded 1878). Near its south end stands the Klarakyrka, with a spire 104m/340ft high; in the churchyard is the grave of the 18th century poet C. M. Bellman. To the west is the Central Station.

Bergius Botanic Garden was founded in 1791 with a botanical garden and park on the waterfront. Exhibits include a herb garden, ponds, conservatory and Mediterranen flora, deserts and tropical plants. There are thousands of species through the eight hectares.