Old Town, Stockholm Gamla Stan

Helgeandsholm, the nearest to the mainland of the three islands on which the first Stockholm settlement developed, is reached by way of the Norrbro (North Bridge). The east end of the island is occupied by a small park, Strömparterren, with a summer cafe, while the western half is dominated by the Riksdag (Parliament), a neo-Baroque building erected between 1898 and 1904, with the Riksbank (Swedish National Bank) beyond it to the west. The interior of the Riksdag was altered when Sweden adopted a single-chamber system in 1971.

At the south end of the Norrbro, on the island of Stadsholm, is the Royal Palace (Kungliga Slottet), a building in Renaissance style designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Younger (d. 1728) and completed by his son K. G. Tessin. It occupies the site of a medieval Vasa castle destroyed by fire in 1697. The palace contains some 500 rooms decorated in Baroque and Roccoco style. On the first floor are the apartments occupied by King Oscar II (d. 1907), the Bernadotte Våning, on the second floor the state apartments (Festvåning) and guest rooms (Gästvåning). In the south wing are the chapel and the Hall of the Estates (Rikssal).In the Treasury are the royal regalia, including the crown of Eric XIV. In the Armory are displayed magnificent suits of armor as well as coronation and ceremonial robes. Also in the palace are Gustavus III's Museum of Antique Sculpture and a museum containing models of the medieval castle (open only in summer).

Beyond the Royal Palace in Stockholm, to the southwest, stands the Cathedral (Storkyrka). After its consecration in 1306 building work continued for another 200 years, and between 1736 and 1743 it was remodeled in Baroque style. Here the kings and queens of Sweden are married and crowned. The church has a richly furnished interior. Near the altar, which has a beautiful reredos of silver and ebony (ca. 1640), is a Gothic sculpture in polychrome wood of St George and the dragon by the Lübeck master Bernt Notke (d. 1509), presented to the Cathedral by Sten Sture, Regent of Sweden, to commemorate the Swedish victory over the Danes in the battle of Brunkeberg (1471). The organ is 18th century.

To the south of the Stockholm Cathedral, in the center of the island of Helgeandsholm, is the Stortorg, a square surrounded by 17th and 18th century buildings. One of the finest of these is the Exchange (Börse), built by Erik Palmstedt in 1778, which now houses the Swedish Academy and the Nobel Library. In 1520 the Stortorg was the scene of the Stockholm Massacre, in which Christian II of Denmark executed 82 leading Swedes in order to strengthen his hold on the country.

Southeast of Stockholm's Stortorg is the German Church (Tyska Kyrka; St Gertrude's), which, more than any other church in the city, preserves the character and style of the 17th century. It has a richly gilded altar by Markus Hebel of Neumünster, a magnificent pulpit in ebony and alabaster designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, a royal pew and an organ (by the firm of Peter in Cologne) presented to the church in 1971 on the 400th anniversary of the German community in Stockholm.

To the east of the German Church in Stockholm's Old Town, in Österlånggatan, is the Gyldene Freden ("Golden Peace") restaurant, which has associations with the 18th century Stockholm poet Carl Michael Bellman, among whose best known songs are "Fredmans Epistlar".

To the west of Stockholm's Gamla Stan, Västerlånggatan runs south, lined by small shops, to the Järntorg. In this square is the old Riksbank (ca. 1670), one of the oldest bank buildings in the world.

At the northwest corner of Gamla Stan in Stockholm is Riddarhustorg, with a monument to Gustavus Vasa, who re-established the independent Swedish kingdom in 1523. On the north side of the square can be seen the Old Town Hall (17th C.), now occupied by the Supreme Court (Högsta Domstolen).

Stockholm's Riddarhus (Knights' House; by Justus Vingboons and Simon de la Vallée, 1641-74), in Baroque style with neo-classical features showing Dutch influence, is one of Stockholm's finest buildings. The facade, articulated by columns, is flanked by two wings facing Lake Mälar. The green copper roof is topped by gilded figures. The Knights' Hall, with the coats of arms of Swedish noble families, was until 1866 the meeting place of the Estate of the Nobility.

From the west side of Riddarhustorg in Stockholm a bridge leads on to the little island of Riddarholm. In Birger Jarlstorg are a column bearing a statue of Birger Jarl, the founder of Stockholm, and Birger Jarl's Tower (15th C.), from which there are fine views of Lake Mälar and the Town Hall. Also in the square is the High Court (Svea Hovrätt), housed in the old Wrangel Palace (ca. 1650), whose round tower is a relic of the old fortifications of Stockholm.

On the south side of the Birger Jarsltorg square in Stockholm is the Riddarholm Church (Riddarholmskyrka), which originally belonged to a Franciscan friary but was much altered in later centuries. The cast-iron steeple (1841), 90m/295ft high, is a prominent Stockholm landmark. The church, the burial-place of the Swedish monarchs, has been used since 1807 only for burials and memorial services.

The Almgren Silk-Weaving Mill has been in production for over 170 years. It was a large employer of women and has maintained many of the same looms for silk production.

The Stockholm City Museum is located in a 17th century building and features exhibits that highlight the history of Stockholm from a medieval port to the capital city it is today.

Moored off the west side of Riddarholm the former training ship "af Chapman" is used in summer as a youth hostel.