Kolmätargränd

Last updated
Kolmatargrand as viewed from Vasterlanggatan... Kolmatargrand March 2007.JPG
Kolmätargränd as viewed from Västerlånggatan...
...and from Brantingtorget. Kolmatargrand februari 2007.JPG
...and from Brantingtorget.
Kolmätargränd as viewed from Västerlånggatan and from Brantingtorget.

Kolmätargränd is a small alley in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. Passing under a low vault it connects the street Västerlånggatan to the square and courtyard Brantingtorget forming a parallel street to Klockgjutargränd and Stenbastugränd.

Alley narrow street

An alley or alleyway is a narrow lane, path, or passageway, often reserved for pedestrians, which usually runs between, behind, or within buildings in the older parts of towns and cities. It is also a rear access or service road, or a path, walk, or avenue in a park or garden.

Gamla stan urban district in Stockholm, Sweden

Gamla stan, until 1980 officially Staden mellan broarna, is the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Gamla stan consists primarily of the island Stadsholmen. Officially, but not colloquially, Gamla stan includes the surrounding islets Riddarholmen, Helgeandsholmen, and Strömsborg.

Stockholm Capital city in Södermanland and Uppland, Sweden

Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and the most populous urban area in the Nordic countries; 962,154 people live in the municipality, approximately 1.5 million in the urban area, and 2.3 million in the metropolitan area. The city stretches across fourteen islands where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea. Just outside the city and along the coast is the island chain of the Stockholm archipelago. The area has been settled since the Stone Age, in the 6th millennium BC, and was founded as a city in 1252 by Swedish statesman Birger Jarl. It is also the capital of Stockholm County.

Contents

Mentioned as Kholmetare Grenden in 1646 and Kåålmäterenss grändh in 1652, the alley is named after the assessor and magistrate Hans Kohlmeter (1626–1686), who according to a source dated 1661 had his house built over the alley. While this name seems to have been established around 1700, the commonly used name for the alley during the 17th century was Johan Sekreterares Gränd (Johannis secretereres grend, "Alley of Secretary John"), and a century earlier Herman Ruggens gränd (1584). [1]

History

The present alley is one of the shortest in the old town and it has reached an all but legendary status among a large number of Swedes through the still popular troubadour Carl Michael Bellman (1740–1795) and his 34th epistle named Till Movitz, när elden var lös i hans kvarter uti Kolmätargränden ("To Movitz, when fire ravaged his block in Kolmätargränden"). [1] The eleven verses of the song details how a fire among the brothels in the alley and the succeeding hullabaloo, embarrassingly unveils the presence of the otherwise distinguished customers, symbols for various prominent ranks left behind in the gutters, and, in the end, how Movitz escapes the scene, likened to Aeneas leaving the burning Troy, overburdened with all his musical instruments:

Carl Michael Bellman 18th-century Swedish poet, songwriter, composer and performer

Carl Michael Bellman was a Swedish songwriter, composer, musician, poet and entertainer. He is a central figure in the Swedish song tradition and remains a powerful influence in Swedish music, as well as in Scandinavian literature, to this day. He has been compared to Shakespeare, Beethoven, Mozart, and Hogarth, but his gift, using elegantly rococo classical references in comic contrast to sordid drinking and prostitution—at once regretted and celebrated in song—is unique.

Epistle The letters in the New Testament from Apostles to Christians are usually referred to as epistles

An epistle is a writing directed or sent to a person or group of people, usually an elegant and formal didactic letter. The epistle genre of letter-writing was common in ancient Egypt as part of the scribal-school writing curriculum. The letters in the New Testament from Apostles to Christians are usually referred to as epistles. Those traditionally attributed to Paul are known as Pauline epistles and the others as catholic epistles.

Movitz is a discontinued implementation of the programming language Common Lisp for computers with x86 processors. It runs with no underlying operating system and is intended as "a development platform for operating system kernels, embedded, and single-purpose applications".

Swedish English
Skådom nu Kolmätargränden, Now behold Kolmätargränden,
smal och smutsig, full med grus; narrow and filthy, filled with gravel;
rådstutaket syns vid änden, town house's roof seen on the end
sen blott krog och jungfruhus. thereafter merely taverns and brothels.
Ur ett bugnat fönstergaller From a bent window trellis
syns en nymf med skinnkarpus; is seen a nymph in a leather cap;
straxt burdus soon blunt
slagsmål och skvaller, rows and gossips
nakna hjässar, tomma krus. bald pates, empty jars
[...] [...]
En Aeneas lik vid Troja An Aneas' equal at Troy
Movitz utur porten går; Movitz walks out through the door;
klarinett, fiol, hoboja, clarinet, violin, oboe
allt i ljusan låga står. all caught in bright flames.
Elden fladdra i peruken, Fire licker's his periwig
sprutan han i nacken får; fire-extinguisher strikes his neck;
slangen slår the tube hits
Movitz på buken; Movitz on the belly
vatten sköljer ben och lår. water washing legs and thighs.

Furthermore, the extent of the alley was considerably tail-docked during WW2, when the planned enlargement of Kanslihuset (The "Chancellery House") caused the old blocks in the neighbourhood to be levelled to the ground, the so-called "Battle of Kolmätargränd" led by Vera Siöcrona ending in the current compromise, the circular courtyard (Brantingtorget) of the Chancellery annex ( Kanslihusannexet ) surrounded by the still intact remaining buildings. [1]

Brantingtorget square in Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Brantingtorget is the courtyard of the so-called Kanslihusannexet, acting as one of the public squares in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden.

See also

Related Research Articles

Trädgårdsgatan alley in Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Trädgårdsgatan is a small street in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. It stretches west from Skeppar Olofs Gränd to Källargränd, just south of the Royal Palace and north of the square Stortorget. Forming a parallel to Slottsbacken and Köpmangatan, it is intercepted by Trädgårdstvärgränd. On the northern side of the street are gates leading to Bollhustäppan. It is named after the royal gardens once located along its northern side.

Spektens Gränd alley in Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Spektens Gränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Located just west of Storkyrkan church, it connects the streets Trångsund and Prästgatan. It runs parallel to Storkyrkobrinken, Ankargränd, Solgränd and Kåkbrinken streets.

Österlånggatan street in Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Österlånggatan is a street in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Stretching southward from Slottsbacken to Järntorget, it forms a parallel street to Baggensgatan and Skeppsbron. Major sights include the statue of Saint George and the Dragon on Köpmanbrinken and the restaurant Den Gyldene Freden on number 51, established in 1722 and mentioned in Guinness Book of Records as one of the oldest with an unaltered interior.

Bredgränd alley in Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Bredgränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Stretching from Skeppsbron to Österlånggatan, it forms a parallel street to Skeppar Karls Gränd and Kråkgränd.

Mårten Trotzigs Gränd alley in Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Mårten Trotzigs gränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Leading from Västerlånggatan and Järntorget up to Prästgatan and Tyska Stallplan, the width of its 36 steps tapers down to a mere 90 centimetres (35 in), making the alley the narrowest street in Stockholm.

Lilla Hoparegränd alley in Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Lilla Hoparegränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Passing between Skeppsbron and Österlånggatan, it forms a parallel street to Ferkens Gränd, Gaffelgränd, Pelikansgränd, and Johannesgränd.

Tullgränd alley in Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Tullgränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden, connecting Skeppsbron to Österlånggatan. It forms a parallel street to Packhusgränd and Norra Bankogränd.

Bedoirsgränd alley in Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Bedoirsgränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Stretching from Västerlånggatan to Stora Nygatan, it forms a parallel street to Kåkbrinken and Skräddargränd.

Gåsgränd alley in Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Gåsgränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. Connecting the streets Västerlånggatan, Stora Nygatan, and Lilla Nygatan, it forms a parallel street to Ignatiigränd and Överskärargränd, and leads down to the square Munkbron on the western waterfront of the old town. On the upper stretch of the alley is a small square, Gåstorget.

Helga Lekamens Gränd alley in Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Helga Lekamens Gränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. Connecting Västerlånggatan to Stora Nygatan, it forms a parallel street to Stora Gråmunkegränd and Göran Hälsinges Gränd.

Salviigränd street in Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Salviigränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. Stretching from Västerlånggatan to Myntgatan, it is the northern-most alley of the former street.

Lejonstedts Gränd alley in Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Lejonstedts Gränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town in central stockholm, Sweden. Stretching from Stora Nygatan to Mälartorget and crossed by Lilla Nygatan, it forms a parallel street to Tyska Brinken and Kornhamnstorg. It is named after the Country marshal (lantmarskalk) and Councillor of the Realm Anders Lejonstedt (1649–1725). Lejonstedt who before knighthood was named Volimhaus, owned the block taking up the north-eastern part of the street in the late-17th century together with his brother Jakob.

Klockgjutargränd alley in Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Klockgjutargränd is a small alley in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. Passing under a low vault, it connects the street Västerlånggatan to the public square and courtyard Brantingtorget, forming a parallel street to Salviigränd and Kolmätargränd.

Staffan Sasses Gränd alley in Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Staffan Sasses Gränd is a blind alley in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. Stretching north from Köpmangatan, it forms a parallel street to Bollhusgränd and Peder Fredags Gränd.

Stenbastugränd alley in Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Stenbastugränd is a small alley in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. Connecting Västerlånggatan to the square Brantingtorget, it forms a parallel street to Kolmätargränd and Storkyrkobrinken.

Riddarhusgränd street in Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Riddarhusgränd 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.

Rådhusgränd street in Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Rådhusgränd is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. Stretching from the junction between the street Myntgatan and the square Riddarhustorget, and passing between the Bonde Palace and Kanslihuset, it leads north to the bridge Vasabron, while forming a parallel street to Riddarhusgränd. Along the waterfront north of the alley passes the quay Kanslikajen.

Fisketorget or Fiskaretorget is a historical public square in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. It was once located on the east shore of the island Stadsholmen, between the present streets Österlånggatan and Skeppsbron, and between the present alleys Nygränd and Brunnsgränd.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Innerstaden: Gamla stan". Stockholms gatunamn (in Swedish) (2nd ed.). Stockholm: Kommittén för Stockholmsforskning. 1992. p. 56. ISBN   91-7031-042-4.
Wikisource Wikimedia project, an online digital library of free content textual sources on a wiki

Wikisource is an online digital library of free content textual sources on a wiki, operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. Wikisource is the name of the project as a whole and the name for each instance of that project ; multiple Wikisources make up the overall project of Wikisource. The project's aims are to host all forms of free text, in many languages, and translations. Originally conceived as an archive to store useful or important historical texts, it has expanded to become a general-content library. The project officially began in November 24, 2003 under the name Project Sourceberg, a play on the famous Project Gutenberg. The name Wikisource was adopted later that year and it received its own domain name seven months later.

Coordinates: 59°19′33.6″N18°04′06.9″E / 59.326000°N 18.068583°E / 59.326000; 18.068583

Geographic coordinate system Coordinate system

A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system that enables every location on Earth to be specified by a set of numbers, letters or symbols. The coordinates are often chosen such that one of the numbers represents a vertical position and two or three of the numbers represent a horizontal position; alternatively, a geographic position may be expressed in a combined three-dimensional Cartesian vector. A common choice of coordinates is latitude, longitude and elevation. To specify a location on a plane requires a map projection.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.