Pictures of the old town

Vasterlanggatan

Vasterlanggatan stretches itself from Mynttorget to Jarntorget. Vasterlanggatan is the old towns number one tourist street. The street is packed with tourist shops that sell products of varying quality. The street gives the visitor an opportunity to experience the pulse of the old town. In the summer there are often so much people in the street that it can be difficult to stroll along the street.

The picture above shows Mynttorget from where Vasterlanggatan starts. Mynttorget lies between the house of parliaments and the royal castle. Mynttorget has old ancestry. During the end of 1700 century the square got its name. The house at the square was the new mint agency house's, it was built in the year 1696. The mint agency house embossed Sweden's coins until the year 1790.

During the summer period, their are often lots of people that go for a walk along Vasterlanggatan.

Stockholm was based in the middle of 1300 century. The town was at that time surrounded by a defense wall. Vasterlanggatan was then a beach path outside the town. The path reconciled the southern and the northern part of the town. At the beginning of the 1500 century a new wall was built that placed Vasterlanggatan inside the town.

Vasterlanggatan had originally the name” Allmänninggatan west wall”. The name was later changed to Vastralanggatan, in the end the name became become Vasterlanggatan.
(Vasterlangatan = The long street in the west)

During the 1500 century Vasterlanggatan was Stockholm's most used road. The road went from the internal port in the north, interior norrport ((Mynttorget)) and to the internal port at the south, internal Soderport (Jarntorget). All people that wanted to pass true Stockholm was forced to go thru both gates. (norrport and soderport).

Almost all ground floors along Vasterlanggatan has been converted to shops. This happened during the 1900 century when trade increased along Vasterlanggatan.

When artist or musicians performs there often becomes a crowd of people.
Beware of pickpockets.

The former premier minister of state Olof Palme lived in Vasterlånggatan 37. Olof Palme was killed by an assassin in the central of Stockholm in the year 1986.

The picture above shows Jarntorget. Vasterlanggatan goes between Mynttorget and Jarntorget. The streets Vasterlanggatan and Osterlanggatan come together in the square Jarntorget. The name Jarntorget is mentioned already in the year 1489. On Jarntorget stood for many years the town's official balance.

Homepage of the old Town
Links related to the old town

Coffeehouses and restaurants in the old town
Hotell in the old town
Museum in the old town
Shops in the old town

Art in the old town, part one
Art in the old town, part two
Art in the old town, part three
Art in the old town, part four
Art in the old town, part five

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© 2006 R.E.G.