Riddarholmen

• Address: 111 28 Stockholm, Sweden

The shores of the Scandinavian peninsula are quaintly cut by incredible fjords and decorated with dozens of islands near the coast. Many cities in Sweden are located not only on land, but also on the coastal archipelagoes. For example, the metropolitan capital occupies 14 islands at once. Particularly worthy of note in Stockholm is the so-called Knight's Island.

Historical background

Riddarholmen is the name of a small island now part of the Old Town of Stockholm. The first buildings here were the buildings of the Franciscan monastery, built in the XIII century. Therefore, the island was originally called the Island of the Gray Monks. During the Swedish Reformation, by the order of King Gustav Vasa, the monastery was closed, and later all the buildings were almost completely destroyed: massive stones were required for the construction of castles . Only some elements of the local architecture have survived to this day, and the most important of them is the Riddarholmen Church.

Island in our days

It is here that the architectural roots of medieval Stockholm are located. Currently, there are only 16 buildings on the Knight's Island of Stockholm, each of which has its own number and is a protected and important monument of history and architecture. The island is completely uninhabited, the last person moved from here in 2010. In 15 houses are located administrative buildings of the judicial system, and the remaining structure - the Riddarholmena Church - is the oldest building in Stockholm.

Riddarholmen is connected by the Riddarholmsbron bridge to the neighboring capital island of Stadsholmen. Translated from Swedish, the name of the bridge is translated as "the bridge of a small knight's island". The island is less than 1 hectare. The main square of Riddarholmen is named the first ruler and founder of Stockholm, Jarl Birger.

Sightseeing of Knights' Island

Each of the houses here breathes history, each is unique in its own way:

1. The Riddarholmena church , built of red brick around 1280, is also a royal burial vault. The ashes of Charles XII, who was defeated near Poltava, were buried in the chapel. Traditional honorable burials were held here until 1950. It is the oldest medieval church in the Kingdom, in which only memorial services are held. Hotels located near the Riddarholmena Church - Victory Apartments, ApartDirect Gamla Stan II and Mälardrottningen Yacht Hotel & Restaurant.
2. House adviser King Hebbe (1628).
3. The old parliament building (1700). It is located on the site of a medieval monastery, now it is the Administrative Court of Appeal.
4. The eastern building of the gymnasium (1640). Partly consists of elements of the old monastery. Today, here is the administrative court of second instance. The second object is the Western Gymnasium building (1800). Attachment of a later time, in our time here operates the Chamber of Commerce for Freedom of Trade.
5. The Palace of Sparesk 1630 One of the oldest houses of the capital, now here is located the Supreme Administrative Court.
6. The building of the administrative court of second instance, restored in 1804 after a violent fire.
7. The Palace of Wrangel is one of the most beautiful buildings in Stockholm. At one time it was the residence of the royal family, after it housed the treasury. Now here is the Court of Appeal of Svealand.
8. Stenbock's Palace is the place where the first meeting of Freemasons took place in Sweden in 1735. Today the Supreme Administrative Court is located here.
9. The building of the old auction and pawnshop , where in the XVII century the poor could take a loan. Today, the building is the state institution of administrative services.
10. The Birger Jarl Tower , formerly a cannon tower on the fortress wall. For several centuries the tower bears the name of the founder of Stockholm. Here work units of the government archive and other structures, including staff of the Chancellor of Justice.
11. Administrative building Överkommissariens hus (1750).
12. The palace of Roshen, 1652-1656, in which the Appeal Court of Svea County currently operates.
13. The Norstedt building was built in 1882-1889. for the publishing house of the Collins family, which still works here.
14. The building of the old National Archives is a model of the culture of building its image in Europe, from 2014 it is rented out.
15. The palace of Hessensheyk is the second facility where the Svea County Court of Appeal is located.
16. The villa of financier Levin is now also an administrative building.

How to get to Riddarholmena?

The knight's island is accessible for tourists daily and round the clock. You can get here through the bridge on foot, by car or by water on mini-ferries and boats. The nearest bus stop to Riddarholmen is Riddarhustorget, where routes No.3, 53, 55, 57 and 59 stop . The nearest metro station is Gamla Stan.

The Riddarholmena church is accessible for visits only in the warm season from 10:00 to 16:00. The ticket costs € 5, for children from 7-15 years - € 2.5. Up to 7 years old - admission is free.