Stockholm City Hall: how to get there?

The Stockholm City Hall (Stockholm) is a magnificent building, a true architectural masterpiece of the last century. It is a symbol of the Swedish capital. The building is used not only as a place where the municipal council of Stockholm holds its meetings. There are social receptions, receptions, banquets and other events of great importance for the city and country. This monumental building can be called one of the key monuments of Swedish architecture.

The Town Hall building is a remarkable architectural monument, stylized by the Middle Ages, with exquisite interior and with a modest, not striking facade made of aged brick, embodying the traditions of Swedish Romanticism.

History of occurrence

In 1907, after the decision of the city authorities to erect a new building in Stockholm for the work of the city council in the country, a contest was announced for the best architectural design of the future structure. It was attended by many leading experts in Sweden. The winner was Ragnar Estberg, who was also instructed to lead the construction of an important building for the city. The Stockholm City Hall was built for more than ten years - beginning in 1911. The completion of the construction and the grand opening of the Town Hall took place in 1923. And in the process of erection, the original project underwent many significant changes.

Some historians of architecture believe that the inspiration for the eminent architect during the construction of the town hall was the Dodge Palace in Venice. The decoration of the interior of the municipal building was also attended by the best interior artists, craftsmen in textiles and furniture.

Place for various events

After the opening, the Stockholm City Hall became the venue for many solemn events that played an important role in the life of Swedish society. To them it is possible to carry:

• Annual, dedicated to the Nobel Prize ceremony;
• Solemn receptions held by the head of state;
• Political negotiations and international meetings, and so on.

By the way, the Stockholm City Hall is used very rarely by the city authorities as a meeting venue.

Description

What is this building? A magnificent red brick building. The Stockholm City Hall is a rectangular building decorated with a high 106-meter tower, on which there is an observation deck, considered the best in the city. From this place, you can see magnificent views of the capital, which ask for postcards and memorable photos about visiting this wonderful city. To be on the observation deck, you can use the elevator. But it is more interesting to overcome the ladder, consisting of 365 steps. In the tower there are premises of the city museum, in which copies of busts, samples of magnificent mosaics used in decoration of the Golden Hall, numerous statues and other cultural monuments of the Swedish people are exhibited. A special place among the masterpieces presented in the museum is the statue of St. Eric, intended for the original design of the architect to be located on the spot where the observation deck is now. The sculpture of a saint with a height of almost 7.5 meters affects the delicacy of silhouette lines and beauty.

Under the dome of the tower are hung nine bells, each of which is associated with the name of one of the saints. The spire of the tower is decorated with three gilded crowns, according to one version, also associated with the images of the saints and are a well-known emblem of Sweden. According to another version, each of these crowns symbolizes one of the ancient Scandinavian gods: Odin, Thor and Freyja.

Inside the Town Hall there are several magnificent halls, each of which has its own purpose.

Blue hall

The Blue Hall is the most popular and widely used room of the Town Hall in Stockholm. It is here that annual banquets are held, timed to coincide with the awarding of the Nobel Prize, at which cream of the world intellectual elite meets. The maximum capacity of the hall is about 1300 guests. And for each of them is allocated a space the size of half a square meter. Although the hall is called blue, in fact its color is represented by the color of the walls from the same red brick as the outer walls of the building. Elegance in a minimalist style is given by beautiful colonnades and a large staircase. In this room is located and the largest of all available in Scandinavia body, consisting of more than 10 thousand pipes.

Gold

The Golden Hall is considered the most chic room of the Town Hall. In its design, the Byzantine style is used, facing pieces of mosaic covered with pure gold. These mosaic paintings depict the main points of Swedish history. The main decoration of the hall is the painting with the image of Queen Melaren.

City Council Hall

The City Council Hall is intended for conducting various kinds of political and intergovernmental negotiations and meetings, as well as for holding sessions of the Stockholm municipality. Its special feature was an unusual ceiling in the form of an inverted Viking ship without a bottom. Therefore, the hall is located in the open air.

«Hall of the hundred»

In addition, the Town Hall has a "Hall of the hundred." In this walk-through room, the award winners and guests arriving at the Nobel banquet are greeted. The "Prince's Gallery" is intended for official receptions. "Oval Office" is used to register marriages.

Stockholm City Hall. Opening hours and ticket price

You can get acquainted with the interiors, interior decoration of the famous town hall only as part of an organized excursion group. Excursions are conducted several times during the day as the group is recruited in 30-40 people during the work of the town hall:

• From half past eight in the morning until four in the evening between October 16 and March 15;
• From 9:30 to 18:00 in the spring and autumn periods;
• From nine in the morning until seven in the summer.

The cost of visiting the brightest sights of the Swedish capital for adults is 70-100 SEK, depending on the season and 20 EEK for students aged 12-17. Children under the age of 12 can take part in the excursion and enjoy the beauty of the interior of the town hall for free. The ticket price includes a guide service, speaking in Swedish or English.

Visiting the observation deck is allowed only in the summer and is not included in the tour price, the ticket price is 40 SEK.

How to get there?

It is most convenient to reach the Town Hall by subway, as near to it there is a station Rådhuset. You can get to T-centralen and walk with a peshch somewhere 8-10 minutes. They reach the building and on buses No. 3, 62.

Where is the Stockholm City Hall (Stockholm)?

Address of the institution: Hannervkargatan, 1 (Ragnar Ostbergs Plan, 1), Stockholm, Sweden.
The Town Hall building is located on the eastern tip of Kungsholmen Island on Lake Mälaren in the immediate vicinity of the city center and faces Gamla Stan, which is the oldest part of the capital.

Conclusion

Now you know what the Stockholm City Hall is like, how to get to it. We hope that in this place you will have a good time.