Riddarhustorget

Riddarhustorget (Swedish: [²rɪdːarhʉːsˌtɔrjɛt], "Square of the House of Knights") is a public square in Gamla stan, the old town in central , Sweden, named after its location in front of House of Knights (Riddarhuset).

The present square, largely occupied by the through traffic to and from Munkbroleden and Vasabron, and surrounded by old palaces occupied by modestly extrovert state-level offices, is the faint remains of what used to be the centre of Swedish politics; the palace of the Swedish nobility standing face to face with the emergent Liberal press, the entire scene using the idyllic eastern canal as a backdrop.

A product of the redesign of the western parts of the city in the early 17th century, the square first appears in historical records as Riddare huuss platzen ("Knight's House Space", 1641), and Riddarehuus Torget (1662). In 1765, the nobility decided to transfer the southern premises of their lot to the city for the enlargement of the open space in front of the palace, and had the statue of King Gustav Vasa placed in the middle of it. When the square was redesigned in 1914-1916, the statue was moved to its present location immediately in front of the palace.

Increasing traffic loads during the early 20th century, resulted in over 20 proposals for a long bridge passing through central Stockholm over Gamla stan. Discussions in 1930 ending up in a temporary solution, by its customers dubbed Slingerbultsleden ("Dodge Route"), leading the north-bound through traffic around Riddarhustorget by means of two bridges to and from Riddarholmen. By the end of the 1950s, the southern bridge of the present more permanent solution Centralbron was completed, a few years later accompanied by its northern extension.

On the western side of the square is a scenic view of the bridge Riddarholmsbron stretching over Riddarholmskanalen and the motorway Centralbron to the islet Riddarholmen and some prominent buildings there, including Riddarholmskyrkan and a few of the palaces.

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Wikipedia