Fisketorget
Encyclopedia
Fisketorget or Fiskaretorget ("Fishermen's Square") is a historical public square
in Gamla stan
, the old town in central Stockholm
, Sweden
. It was once located on the east shore of the island Stadsholmen
, between the present streets Österlånggatan
and Skeppsbron
, and between the present alleys Nygränd
("New Alley") and Brunnsgränd
("Well's Alley").
As Stockholm grew rapidly during the 14th century, the city within the city walls became cramped for space, and the surrounding shores started to be built upon and subsequently by land fillings between the bridges extended into the water. Thus, elongated blocks appeared between narrow alleys along the eastern shore of the city, with the exception of the area outside the only eastern city gate
— the so called Köpmanporten ("Merchant's Gate") which extended Köpmangatan
("Merchant's Street) from the city's central square, Stortorget ("Large Square"), beyond the city wall over Köpmanbrinken
. Originally, the marketplace was called Fiskestrand ("Fishery Shore") and also encompassed a section of the shoreline stretching north up to the present alley Skeppar Karls Gränd
.
From 1413, the square was probably flanked by two defensive towers, some major building featuring stepped gables, and several one-storey buildings. In 1461, a blacksmith
named Henrik is mentioned as having forged on a water well
on the square, at the time the biggest in Stockholm. The well eventually gave the southern alley its name and was still found in the alley until the 19th century. The square was, however, was started to be built upon during the early 1520s, which eventually led to the present block on the location, Diana, which still contains the well.
Public Square
Public Square is the central plaza in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It takes up four city blocks; Superior Avenue and Ontario Street cross through it. Cleveland's three tallest buildings, Key Tower, 200 Public Square and the Terminal Tower, face the square...
in Gamla stan
Gamla stan
Gamla stan , until 1980 officially Staden mellan broarna , is the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Gamla stan consists primarily of the island Stadsholmen. The surrounding islets Riddarholmen, Helgeandsholmen, and Strömsborg are officially part of, but not colloquially included in, Gamla stan...
, the old town in central Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. It was once located on the east shore of the island Stadsholmen
Stadsholmen
Stadsholmen is the historical name of an island in the centre of Stockholm, Sweden. Together with the small islands Riddarholmen and Helgeandsholmen it forms the Old town of Stockholm....
, between the present streets Österlånggatan
Österlånggatan
Österlånggatan is a street in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Stretching southward from Slottsbacken to Järntorget, it forms a parallel street to Baggensgatan and Skeppsbron...
and Skeppsbron
Skeppsbron
Skeppsbron is both a street and a quay in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, capital of Sweden, stretching from the bridge Strömbron in front of the Royal Palace southward to Slussen....
, and between the present alleys Nygränd
Nygränd
Nygränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden, connecting Skeppsbron to Österlånggatan.Old names : Niia grenden , Nygrenden...
("New Alley") and Brunnsgränd
Brunnsgränd
Brunnsgränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. Connecting Skeppsbron to Österlånggatan, it forms a parallel street to Nygränd and Skottgränd...
("Well's Alley").
As Stockholm grew rapidly during the 14th century, the city within the city walls became cramped for space, and the surrounding shores started to be built upon and subsequently by land fillings between the bridges extended into the water. Thus, elongated blocks appeared between narrow alleys along the eastern shore of the city, with the exception of the area outside the only eastern city gate
City gate
A city gate is a gate which is, or was, set within a city wall. Other terms include port.-Uses:City gates were traditionally built to provide a point of controlled access to and departure from a walled city for people, vehicles, goods and animals...
— the so called Köpmanporten ("Merchant's Gate") which extended Köpmangatan
Köpmangatan
Köpmangatan is a street in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. A parallel street to Trädgårdsgatan, it is stretching from the central square Stortorget to Köpmantorget, intercepted by Trädgårdstvärgränd, Skeppar Olofs Gränd, Peder Fredags Gränd, Själagårdsgatan, Staffan Sasses Gränd,...
("Merchant's Street) from the city's central square, Stortorget ("Large Square"), beyond the city wall over Köpmanbrinken
Köpmanbrinken
Köpmanbrinken is a street composed of two slopes, in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. Both slopes connects the street Österlånggatan west up to the small Köpmantorget and the street Köpmangatan....
. Originally, the marketplace was called Fiskestrand ("Fishery Shore") and also encompassed a section of the shoreline stretching north up to the present alley Skeppar Karls Gränd
Skeppar Karls Gränd
Skeppar Karls Gränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Stretching from Skeppsbron to Österlånggatan, it forms a parallel street to Telegrafgränd and Bredgränd....
.
From 1413, the square was probably flanked by two defensive towers, some major building featuring stepped gables, and several one-storey buildings. In 1461, a blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
named Henrik is mentioned as having forged on a water well
Water well
A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...
on the square, at the time the biggest in Stockholm. The well eventually gave the southern alley its name and was still found in the alley until the 19th century. The square was, however, was started to be built upon during the early 1520s, which eventually led to the present block on the location, Diana, which still contains the well.
See also
- History of StockholmHistory of StockholmThe history of Stockholm, capital of Sweden, for many centuries coincided with the development of what is today known as Gamla stan, the Stockholm Old Town...
- List of streets and squares in Gamla stan
- Fru Gunillas GrändFru Gunillas GrändFru Gunillas Gränd is a historical alley in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden, once connecting Skeppsbron to Österlånggatan between Johannesgränd and Packhusgränd....