Brunnsparken, Gothenburg

Brunnsparken (Swedish for "well park") is a central square in Gothenburg, Sweden. It is located between Nordstan and Arkaden, and between two of Gothenburg's oldest streets, Norra Hamngatan and Södra Hamngatan (actually bordering Stora Hamnkanalen to the north). With its central location "Inom Vallgraven" and with numerous shopping centres it is a popular meeting place in Gothenburg.

Brunnsparken is dominated by tram stops, surrounding the square from three directions. Together with Drottningstorget right to the east, Brunnsparken functions as an important hub for the tram network, with almost every line passing through it. Together with the Gothenburg Central Station and the Nils Ericson Terminal, it forms the centre of all public transport in Gothenburg.

Brunnsparken is one of the most frequently trafficked hub in all of Sweden, with about 120 trams and 130 buses leaving per hour in rush hour traffic, which comes to about 4 trams or buses leaving per minute, from 10 stops.

In 1822, trees were planted on an island in Stora Hamnkanalen, and in 1834, the owner of the Kronan pharmacy, Hans Jacob Cavallin, founded a well house made of stone on the site, and this gave the square its current name.

This health well was frequently visited from 1834 to 1858, and one of the visitors was Esaias Tegnér who drank from the well in 1837. In 1858 the service was discontinued, but a wing from the well house was put to use as a warm bath house, up to 1879 when the buildings were torn down. On 23 July 1867, behind the bath house was opened "a little shop, which shall become a quite comfortable and frequently visited refuge in the days when the summer sun shines its golden rays from the cloud-free sky over passers-by. In this shop there shall be carbonated water, lemonade and other refreshments available to the public at prices lower than the usual". The building was designed by city architect Hansson, built by the Bark & Warburgs factory and painted by L. Rubenson "with the taste that always distinguishes his work". The first owner of "this comfortable installation" was J. G. Leufvenmark.

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Wikipedia