Stockholm History, Sweden

It was between the years 1322 and 1332 that the first mention of Stockholm was heard in Eric’s chronicle. This is where it is mentioned that it was Birger Jarl who had actually founded the city of Stockholm in the year 1252.

The name Stockholm means, the town between bridges; and it is its location that had lead to this naming of the city. City houses were then constructed using timber and were elementary in architecture. However besides these houses, there were some elaborate structures found in Stockholm in that era.

Stockholm was a very crowded city, and this is what had led to the frequent fires in the city. And this in turn is what made life dangerous in Stockholm. Houses that were burnt down were replaced by similar houses to give the present medieval impression to the city.

The growth of Stockholm

The city started growing quickly in the 14th and 15th centuries, with the introduction and addition of the cities, Normalm and Sodermalm. The Old Town of Stockholm has signs of the German descent of the city; but it was Gustav Vasa who was responsible for making Sweden the absolute sovereign it is now. And it was he who declared Stockholm to be the  political front of Sweden. This was however not until the year 1634.

Stockholm saw more changes towards the last of the 17th Century with the construction of large fortresses and manors by rich businessmen, royal ambassadors and horsemen. With this, Stockholm had many quarters and saw an increase in the immigration to the city. Stockholm grew into an international trading center in the 18th century with the centers for steamships and railways.

Trolleys were used abundantly for conveyance during the 19th Century. Numerous public buildings were erected and the laborers were moved into the residential areas. However the rich moved to Djursholm, with the erection of villas here.

Stockholm-the Capital of Culture of Europe

However the transformation of Stockholm into the large cosmopolitan city of Greater Stockholm you find now was only in the 20th century with the additional of several areas. Stockholm was declared the ‘Capital of Culture in Europe’ in 1998 because of its beauty and multi faceted cultural life.

And this is why today there are more than 60 museums, 70 dancing, opera, mime and dancing theatres and lots of art galleries in Stockholm. With the various parks, majestic buildings and wonderful archipelago around Stockholm, you can tell that Stockholm is indeed a city with a great history, bellowing an impression of grace and majesty.

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• Stockholm excursion to the Vasa Museum
  review by miacolley posted more then 30 days ago
  If you ever go to Stockholm, Sweden, try to have one of your excursions at the Vasa Museum.It is a famous tourist attraction place where you will see the Original Vasa Battleship that sank just 20 minutes on its first voyage 380 years ago. It was only recovered 47 years ago. The reason why it...

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