Perhaps you have been walking past it, the square located in the middle of a traffic roundabout? It’s known as Gustav Adolfs Torg (Gustav Adolf’s Square).
Located just by Norrbro, Regeringsgatan and Malmtorgsgatan lie Gustav Adolfs Torg (Google Map Link here). The square is named after a Swedish King called Gustav II Adolf, who reigned from 1611 – 1632. He was known as “the lion of the North”. He died in Lützen 1632, and for a few hundred years after his death, he was remembered as a hero. The square got its name in 1805.
In the middle of the square, you’ll see a huge statue (seen from far away even). That is Sweden’s first equestrian statue. It was molded in 1778 and places on the square in 1791. Surrounding him you can also spot two lions in bronze. These have been here since 1926, and are copies of an original piece that was sculptured already in the 300s – the originals are to be found in the Vatican Museums in Rome.
What’s kinda spectacular about this square is that it, unlike many other cities in Sweden, works as a geographical midpoint for setting distances to and from Stockholm. Most Swedish cities count their distances from the railway or bus station. So next time you’re in town, make sure you cross the roundabout and check out the square.
