Järntorget (The Iron Square)

The second oldest square in Stockholm, slightly younger than Stortorget, is a small public square in Gamla Stan. Located in the southernmost corner of the old town.

Järntorget dates back to around 1300 and remained the city's most important trade centre for centuries, constantly busy and crowded, scents and noise intermixing while goods were transported from shore to shore across the square and up and down the attics of the surrounding buildings.

In the early 17th century, numerous taverns were located around the square. The city's official scales were relocated to Södermalm in 1662 and the entire area around the square underwent a transformation as wealthy people had taller and more prestigious buildings erected over merged lots.

The development was actively supported by the king who wanted the capital to be more representative, the medieval buildings thus disappearing together with medieval alleys. The development was further promoted by the construction of Södra Bankhuset , the national bank building on number 84 in 1680. The building remained the headquarters of the Bank of Sweden until the early 20th century.

The well centred on the square is made of cast iron, modeled to a british prototype, and was a donation from the National Bank 1829.

In front of the bank building is one of the famous sights, the statue of Evert Taube, which was inaugurated in 1985. The popular troubadour and composer in beret and sun-glasses, with music sheets in his hands.