Gamla stan

The Stockholm Bloodbath (Swedish: Stockholms blodbad; Danish: Det Stockholmske Blodbad) was a trial that led to a series of executions in Stockholm between 7 and 9 November 1520. The event is also known as the Stockholm massacre.The events occurred after the coronation of Christian II as the new king of Sweden, when guests in the crowning party were invited to a meeting at Tre Kronor castle. Archbishop Gustav Trolle, demanding economic compensation for things such as the demolition of Almarestäket's fortress, questioned whether the former Swedish regent Sten Sture the Younger and his supporters had been guilty of heresy. Supported by canon law, nearly 100 people were executed in the days following the meeting despite promises of amnesty. Among those killed were many people from the aristocracy who had been supporting the Sture Party in the previous years. Thereafter King Christian II became known in Sweden as Kristian Tyrann ('Christian the Tyrant').

Stortorget (Swedish: [ˈstûːˌʈɔrjɛt], "the Grand Square") is a public square in Gamla Stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. It is the oldest square in Stockholm, the historical centre on which the medieval urban conglomeration gradually came into being. Today, the square is frequented by tens of thousands of tourists annually, and is occasionally the scene for demonstrations and performances. It is traditionally renowned for its annual Christmas market offering traditional handicrafts and food.

The Stock Exchange Building (Swedish: Börshuset) is a building originally erected for the Stockholm Stock Exchange between 1773 and 1778 from construction drawings by Erik Palmstedt. The stock exchange moved out of the building completely in 1998. It is located on the north side of the square Stortorget in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden, and owned by the city council. Since 1914 it has been the home of the Swedish Academy, which uses the building for its meetings, such as those at which it selects and announces the name of the recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature. The building also houses the Nobel Museum and the Nobel Library.

The Swedish Academy (Swedish: Svenska Akademien), founded in 1786 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. Its 18 members, who are elected for life, comprise the highest Swedish language authority. Outside Scandinavia, it is best known as the body that chooses the laureates for the annual Nobel Prize in Literature, awarded in memory of the donor Alfred Nobel.

Stadsholmen is the historical name of an island in the centre of Stockholm, Sweden. Stadsholmen is connected to the mainland via several bridges. Together with the small islands of Riddarholmen and Helgeandsholmen it forms Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm. The name Gamla stan can also refer to the island itself, as the name Stadsholmen is rarely used in daily speech.Stadsholmen is the location of Stockholm Palace, the official residence and working palace of the Swedish monarch, and used for ceremonial receptions. The offices of the King, the other members of the Swedish Royal Family, and the offices of the Royal Court of Sweden are located here.

The Nobel Library (Swedish: Nobelbiblioteket or, officially, Swedish: Svenska Akademiens Nobelbibliotek, e.g. "Nobel Library of the Swedish Academy") is the public library of the Swedish Academy instituted to assist the evaluation of Nobel laureates to the Prize in Literature and other awards granted by the academy. The library is located in the so-called Stock Exchange Building (Swedish: Börshuset) at 4, Källargränd, a short alley passing between Slottsbacken and Stortorget in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. Since its foundation in 1901, the primary task of the library is to acquire literary works and journals needed for the evaluation of the laureates, a task achieved by collecting works mainly in other languages than Swedish. As of 2007, the collection encompasses some 200,000 volumes and is thus one of the largest libraries devoted to literature in northern Europe. The library is offering loans to the general public and to other libraries in Nordic countries, as well as guided tours on request, lectures, and seminars.The library was founded on November 16, 1901 in connection to the inauguration of the Nobel Institute of the Swedish Academy. It was first accommodated in a ten-room-flat at Norra Bantorget in a building designed by Ferdinand Boberg, the so-called LO-borgen today accommodating the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) but at the time called Vasaborgen ("The Castle of Vasa"). The collection encompassed some 15,000 literary works after five years and within two decades the library had become cramped for space and was relocated to its present address.

Källargränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden, connecting Slottsbacken, the slope south of the Royal Palace, to the square Stortorget. It forms a parallel street to Trångsund and is intercepted by Trädgårdsgatan. The alley is named after the former tavern Storkällaren ("Great basement"), which in its turn derived its name from the nearby cathedral Storkyrkan. The tavern was located under the town house, where the present Stock Exchange Building is found. The town hall was relocated to the Bonde Palace at Riddarhustorget in 1730, and when the old building was demolished in 1767, the tavern moved to Svartmangatan. The name of the alley survived in various forms: Stora Källaregränden, St. Källarbrinken (1733), Stora Kiällare-Gränden (1740) and Källar-Gränd (1855). A new tavern was opened when the stock exchange was inaugurated, and this remained in business until 1906.The Swedish Academy and the Nobel Library are on number 4. Two sandstone sculptures, Hoppet ("Hope") and Försiktighet ("Guardedness") by Kortz Daniel from 1702 are located in the alley.

Trångsund (Swedish for 'Narrow Strait'; Swedish pronunciation: [trɔŋˈsɵnːd];) is a short, narrow street in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Stretching from Stortorget in front of Storkyrkan to Storkyrkobrinken, it is intercepted by Ankargränd and Spektens Gränd and forms a parallel street to Prästgatan and Källargränd. In the 15th century the name Trångsund was used for a narrow street in the southern end of Gamla stan, possibly Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, but by the end of the 16th century it was used for the formerly nameless alley. As the church used to be surrounded by a graveyard, Trångsund used to be much narrower before both the graveyard and the wall around it were demolished in 1816. Notable buildingsNr 1, Storkyrkan, oldest parts dating from the 12th century. Nr 2, Asplundska huset, built in the 1650s. Nr 4, Robeckska huset, built during the 17th century, medieval basement. Nr 5, Stockholm Stock Exchange Building, built in 1778. Nr 6, Stuténska huset, built during the 17th century. Nr 10, Sundmanska huset, built in 1638. Nr 12, Knorringska huset, built during the 17th century.

Skomakargatan (Swedish: "The Shoemaker Street") is a street in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden, Stretching between the square Stortorget and the streets Kindstugatan and Tyska Brinken, it forms a parallel street to Prästgatan and Svartmangatan. Together with Köpmangatan, Skomakargatan is the oldest preserved street name in Gamla stan. In 1337 it is referred to as (in Latin) in vico sutorum ("on the street of the shoemakers"), and the street remained the established quarters for the trade until the early 18th century.The royal weaving mill was located on the street in the 16th century, as were two guild lounges (gillehus) dedicated to St Olof (Saint Olav) and Helga Lekamen (The Holy Body of Christ). (See also Helga Lekamens Gränd.) Before Tyska kyrkan (the German Church) was built in the early 17th century, the street south of Skomakargatan was called Skomakarebrinken ("The Shoemakers Slope") or, in reference to the local city gate, Skomakarporten ("Shoemaker's Gate").Skomakargatan is also one of the main sceneries in the story of The Member of Parliament and the Beautiful Dalecarlian Girl, a story about a young woman, Pilt Carin Ersdotter (1814–1885), who came to Stockholm from Dalarna to work as a milkmaid, and quickly became famous for her beauty. A count Rudolph fell madly in love with her, and she was regularly invited to parties otherwise only attended by wealthy people. At one occasion the police even interrogated her because she blocked the street with her beauty, however freeing her over the charges because "beauty is not a crime". She resisted all admirers in the capital to return to her fiancé in Dalarna, and became the subject for many songs and tales long after her departure.

The Nobel Prize Museum (formerly the Nobel Museum [Swedish: Nobelmuseet]) is located in the former Stock Exchange Building (Börshuset) on the north side of the square Stortorget in Gamla Stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. (The Swedish Academy and the Nobel Library are also in the same building.) The Nobel Prize Museum showcases information about the Nobel Prize and Nobel prizewinners, as well as information about the founder of the prize, Alfred Nobel (1833–1896). The museum's permanent display includes many artifacts donated by Nobel Laureates, presented together with personal life stories.

Uppland Runic Inscription 53 is a runestone built into a wall in the intersection between the thoroughfares Prästgatan and Kåkbrinken in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden.

Solgränd (Swedish: "Sun Alley") is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. It connects the Stortorget square to the street Prästgatan. It is a parallel street to Storkyrkobrinken, Ankargränd, Spektens gränd, and Kåkbrinken. Solen ("The Sun") was the name of several taverns in Gamla stan, and in a list dated 1671 three taverns and inns are said to bear the name, one of which is called Solen vid Prästgatan ("The Sun at Prästgatan"). A tavern probably located in the corner of Prästgatan gave the alley its name. The popular troubadour Carl Michael Bellman (1740–1795) mentions the alley in his lyrics. The tavern mentioned in his epistle n:o 79 Charon i Luren tutar however, dedicated to a mor Maja Myra i Solgränden vid Stortorget, anno 1785 ("mother Maja Myra in the Solgränd by Stortorget, in the year 1785"), is referring to a tavern next door to Solen, in epistle n.o 56 called Förgyllda Bägaren ("The Gilt Cup").