The oldest square, a photo from Uppland, Svealand

Photographer's Note

This is Stortorget (Grand Square), the centre of Gamla stan (Stockholm's Old Town) and the largest and oldest square on "The island between the bridges", which used to be the official name of the Old Town.

I tried to make this photo slightly less obviously postcardish by including a working man and his van, plus two posters for a music festival, in the foreground. Looking through the TE archives I had expected to see dozens of photos from here, so I was surprised to find very few.

The red and orange twin buildings in the centre of the view were built in the 1650's (or rather rebuilt then into the present shape) and the 1520's respectively.

To the right is a glimpse of the former Stock Exchange, which is now the headquarters of the Swedish Academy and also houses the Nobel Prize museum and library.

Click at Map: view to see where I took this.

To most Swedes Stortorget is mainly known for the "Stockholm bloodbath" when about 80 persons were executed here during three days in 1520 as a result of a political and religious power struggle. A show trial that sentenced all these people to death took place immediately after the Danish King Kristian II had been coronated as King of Sweden. This political upheaval was soon followed by the Swedish exit from the Kalmar Union, which since 1397 had been an alliance between Sweden, Denmark and Norway, including their respective dependencies of Finland, Iceland, Faroe Island and Greenland, as well as the Orkney and Shetland Islands.

With the coronation of Gustav Vasa in 1523, Sweden won its complete independence after having been periodically ruled by Germans and Danes for hundreds of years. The religious power struggle that also lay behind the "bloodbath" lead to a break with the Catholic church during the reign of Gustav Vasa.

In the WS is a slightly related photo connected with the "Stockholm early music festival" advertised on the posters. For one week (ending yesterday) there were concerts of medieval, renaissance and baroque music in three churches in Gamla stan. There were limited, pre-booked audiences in the churches and live streaming.

PaulVDV, Fis2, ikeharel, pierrefonds, jhm, macjake, COSTANTINO, ktanska, jean113, worldcitizen, Royaldevon, adramad, mcmtanyel, aliabazari, ChrisJ oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

PaulVDV (62970) 2021-06-07 0:44

Hello Gert,
The square looks surprisingly quiet without the masses of tourists that walk around during normal times.
I think Stortorget is indeed the place where foreign visitors all take a picture. So it's really strange that you didn't find here more photos of it. But I see in my gallery that I also failed to show a picture of this square.
On the other hand, the buildings are among the most beautiful in Gamla Stan. Beautiful architecture and attractive colourful facades.
Benches to enjoy the views and lots of flowers making the square very cozy.
Best regards, Paul

pajaran (115963) 2021-06-07 0:53

Pozdrav.

Lep pogled, interesantan i dobar tekst ...
Lep trg i arhitektura, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama, kontrastom i perspektivom.
Lep deo starog grada i fotografija, dobro uhvacen trenutak.

Zelim vam lep i uspesan dan, sve najbolje u novoj nedelji koja je pocela.
Paja

Fis2 (170839) 2021-06-07 0:56

Witaj Gert my neighbour today again :)!
Nice square and its surroundings.
I like the tenement houses.
Interesting scene, probably morning?
I like framing, colors and light.
Well done.
Have a nice new week.
Krzysztof

ikeharel (113411) 2021-06-07 1:16

Well Gert, you are the only TE member now that can "fill" the gallery with pictures from Gamlastan and other places around your town.
As for this picture, the two buildings you had refered about were under bright daylight, enhanced the colors which made those stand out perfectly in contrast to other houses around.
Clera and distinct photo, cheerrs.
Have a nice new week,
Ike

Silvio1953 (221695) 2021-06-07 1:37

Ciao Gert, great perspective on fantastic square, wonderful colors, excellent clarity, splendid light and fine details, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

ChrisJ (171878) 2021-06-07 2:09

Hej Gert

This is the part of Central Gamla stan I mentioned was worth a look. It's not on Västerlĺnggatan (my mistake) but close to it. The posters at right leaves no doubt what city we are in. The delivery van driver reminds us that the restaurants, bars and shops need logistical support to function day to day. A scene that wouldn't look out of place in Wroclaw or Warsaw. Or vice versa ;-) Tfs!

kasianowak (17676) 2021-06-07 2:23

Hi Gert
I suspect you included the poster and the man to introduce splashes of red that match one of the old facades. That colour, not just the posters, connects this image with the WS in form of red balloons. Am I right? :-)
You've just made me realise I know more about the history of Iran than that of Sweden, which is an across-the-sea neighbour of Poland, which I found slightly disconcerting... I have heard of the Vasa dynasty of course, for obvious reasons. :-D
Have a nice week
Kasia

pierrefonds (114516) 2021-06-07 4:57

Hi Gert,

The posters are eyecatching. The point of view is showing the details of the buildongs around the square. The light is enhancing the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

jhm (211736) 2021-06-07 9:41

Hello Gert,

I try everything to understand about the combat almost 500 year ago.
My English are very bad, I like this type old squares.
A pity, today the people are alle better learned but not smarter, faith and politics, otherwise always brothers or enemies.
Sometimes with the dead result.
Nice depth and perspective too.
Your picture are sharp and clear photographed.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

macjake (98456) 2021-06-07 9:59

Hi Gert
funny to hear you say you deliberately tried to make the scene less postcard like. There are people like Mariusz who really only take postcard shots and loves it. I have to admit, I love postcard shots too. I have so many questions for you.
these buildings...do locals live here? do families occupy one floor or maybe a family occupies a couple of floors? how does it work? 2nd...do locals view this is a 'touristy' side of Stockholm and avoid it like the plague? I'm surprised at the depth of that building on the left, the green one, it just goes on and on and on, several windows deep. So what is that? more appartments? Terrible history here with the 80 people who have died...wow. As you know I was in Stockholm many years ago, and I remember this square, but I was taking a break from photography at the time and I only brought a cheap point and shoot camera, and I wasn't taking many photo's anyways. I'll have to go through my old shots to see if I have any. thanks for this one
cheers
Craig

jmdias (115230) 2021-06-07 12:26

gert

a nice view of the old square, I didn't know your country was ruled by germans for so much time. I liked the colors here and the samples of architecture we can identify. curiously most of european towns are very old, but most of the buildings aren't so old, usually most of them are newer than 400 years old.

take care

jorge

lousat (139308) 2021-06-07 12:53

Hi Gert,so you have few pictures in your archive of this pizza, maybe you have been so used to seeing it that it seemed a foregone and obvious thing to take pictures of it ... ehhee..beautiful scene with ancient facades and something as modern as man with the van, which takes us to our times, after a long history, even a bloody one, lived in this place. The WS is also very original, the entrance is magical, almost like the lady, perhaps a homeless person, who in the composition is like a fairy. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

Tue (92442) 2021-06-07 12:54

Hej Gert,
Sikke et dejligt billede med Stortorget og de smukke, gamle og farverige huse omkring det. De ser bare sĺ godt ud i det klare sollys. Skyggerne i forggrunden fĺr dem til at se endnu bedre ud. Manden og bilen er ogsĺ godt kommet med for lidt dagligdags atmosfćre.
Lars

ifege (48135) 2021-06-07 21:16

Hi Gert
Another good one boosting your collection of Swedish photos on TE. A touch street photo but it is really about the architecture.
cheers
Ian

COSTANTINO (116560) 2021-06-07 22:59

Hello dear Gert and have a nice day
and a happy evening
i like reading about old places
like this one which is the
largest and oldest square on
.....the island between the
bridges...
a peaceful and quiet landscape
regards
Costantino

ktanska (44790) 2021-06-08 9:56

Hej Gert,
Those colourful and narrow houses are quite beautiful. Music festival posters catch my attention too. They are sort of signs of times slowly getting to normal (although I've got a feeling that Swedes may have been a bit too eager trying to live normal life).
Kari

GyurMaster (24838) 2021-06-09 5:31

Dear Gert,

It looks like a nice place in broad daylight too. I just saw Paul's nocturne taken at the same place. This one too offers a lot of details to observe eg. the multiple advertising boards with the little girl. For me, it was hard to discover the fountain on your version, which is dominant on Paul's photo.

Best Wishes,
Gy.

jean113 (27893) 2021-06-09 9:45

Hello Gert, the buildings are really beautiful, each in their own way.
I like the inclusion of the man and van, and the posters; as you suggest it shows life as it goes on,( not a true postcard, which I have nothing against!)
Your notes are very informative, thank you.
Kind regards, Jean.

worldcitizen (16086) 2021-06-09 17:14

Hello Gert,
Those oldest buildings are really charming, and the others are attractive, too. There's so much history in this spot, some of it bloody as I learned from your interesting note. It looks so empty and quiet while you were there. NYC is almost back to looking like it did pre-COVID, and it's getting a bit too crowded for my taste. The pandemic is not completely over yet, and I hope COVID doesn't spike again in the fall...

Royaldevon (85932) 2021-06-10 5:48

Hello Gert,

No, this is not touristy, but the red posters, sandwiching the workman with the red cap, anchor the f/g nicely and guide us into the b/g of rather beautiful buildings, surrounding the square!
This square has witnessed some violent deeds but seems very sunny and tranquil at this moment!

You couldn't get a lady in red in your w/s but you did find a lady and the balloons supplied all the red you needed!

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

adramad (73006) 2021-06-11 10:07

Hi Gert.
How wonderful these beautiful old houses, which you have captured in a magnificent moment, illuminated by the sun I only managed to take the photo with a flat sky, this square is wonderful with the building of the old Stock Exchange and the fountain.
A fantastic photo, with beautiful natural colors, very good lighting and excellent sharpness.
Very well done. I like.
Enjoy the weekend.
Very best regards.
Luis.

mcmtanyel (68593) 2021-06-12 21:10

Hello Gert,
I love those box-like buildings and their warm colors.
Regards,
MT

aliabazari (22255) 2022-02-22 2:56

Hello Gert
Beautiful view of this square with colorful buildings. Good text about its history. Clarity and exposure are well done. I love the workshop photo, the statue of Christ on the door. Thanks for sharing