Riddarhusgränd

Riddarhusgränd (Swedish: "House of Knights' Alley") is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. Stretching north from the square Riddarhustorget to the bridge Vasabron, it passes between the Swedish House of Knights ("Riddarhuset") and the Bonde Palace forming a parallel street to Rådhusgränd. On either side of its northern end are the quays Riddarhuskajen and Kanslikajen.

While the House of Knights was built to the design of Simon de la Vallée in 1641-1674, and the Bonde Palace was originally designed as a private palace by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder and Jean De la Vallée in 1662-1667, the alley passing between them and named after the vicinity to the former, first appears in historical records as "Riddarhuus Gränden" in 1718. It was initially intended as the northern extension of Stora Nygatan, a street stretching north through the old town to Riddarhustorget, and in turn the result of the reconstruction of the western part of the old town following the great fire of 1625.Ref Stockholm|Gatunamn| pages = 66-67 | chapter = Innerstaden: Gamla stan]

Before the bridge Vasabron was constructed in the 1870s, the alley was a peripheral passage leading to a remote quay and, as its width of 7 metres still knows to tell, it was not designed to take up heavy traffic loads. With the completion of the bridge things changed considerably, and, as intimated by the 18 metres wide bridge, intentions in the 19th century was to widen the alley at the expense of the Bonde Palace to give space to a second roadway. As these plans were never carried out, traffic is still forced to make a detour around the intact palace.Ref Stockholm|Dufwa| pages = 186 | chapter = Broar och viadukter: Vasabron]

The eastern façade of the House of Knights is one of the most elaborated of its kind in Sweden, richly decorated with acorns, oak leafs, and a great variety of flowers in sandstone, while the half metre tall letters on the frieze of the roof, ornamented in gold leaf proclaim DULCE ET DECORUM EST PRO PATRIA MORI ("Delightful and honourable it is to die for the Patrimony/Country"). The façade and all the details were carefully restored by specialists in 2004.cite web
author = Eva-Karin Gyllenberg | title = Räddningen för stadens stenfasader
date = 2004-07-28 | publisher = Dagens Nyheter
url = http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1298&a=282204
accessdate = 2007-02-27 | language = Swedish]

Lately, selected buildings and historical structures in central Stockholm have been the subjects for a project entitled "Projekt Nattljus" ("Project Night Light"), intended to give the city a face-lift by letting spotlights enlighten façades, bridges, fountains, etcetera. Riddarhusgränd is included in the project as part of the lighting design for Riddarhustorget.cite web
author = | title = Projekt Nattljus: Utvalda platser
date = 2006-04-11? | publisher = City of Stockholm
url = http://www.stockholm.se/Extern/Templates/PageWide.aspx?id=89819
accessdate = 2007-02-27 | language = Swedish]

References

See also

* List of streets and squares in Gamla stan

External links

* [http://www.stockholmskallan.se/index.php?sokning=1&action=visaPost&countPlace=0&mediaId=9425&start=0&fritext=Riddarhusgr%E4nd Stockholmskällan - Historical photo from the alley]
* [http://www.hitta.se/ViewDetailsPlace.aspx?SearchType=4&UCSB%3aWflWhite=1a1b&UCSB%3aWflPink=4a&UCSB%3aTextBoxWho=&UCSB%3aTextBoxWhere=Riddarhusgr%e4nd&StreetNumberId=100449870 hitta.se - Location map and virtual walk]