
Stockholm, Sweden
“Why did I dream about him, confused, discordant,
Born from the depths of not our times,
That dream about Stockholm…”
Nikolay Gumilyov
Stockholm at the same time evokes images from the Scandinavian sagas, medieval legends, the brilliant bourgeois era and the life of a modern European metropolis. The Swedish capital delights with its magnificent architecture and wonderful green parks, surrounded by the blue waters of Lake Mälaren and ancient bridges. In Stockholm, there is the world’s first National City Park – Ekoparken, which is a kind of “lung” of the city, purifying its air. The Nobel Committee, which decides the fate of the world’s most prestigious Nobel Prize, sits here. In the historical center of Stockholm – the Old Town there are numerous palaces, museums, historical and architectural sights. The city is full of rich cultural life, concerts, theatrical performances, exhibitions are held. There are many gourmet restaurants, cozy cafes,
And yet a very cozy atmosphere reigns here, and it is not at all surprising that Astrid Lindgren settled Carlson here – “on the roof of the most ordinary house on the most ordinary street in the city of Stockholm”…
Geography and location
Stockholm is the capital of Sweden, located on the eastern coast of Lake Mälaren, at the confluence of the lake into the Baltic Sea. The city is spread over 14 islands, connected by 57 bridges, and covers an area of 188 km2, on which more than 843 thousand people live. human.
Climate
According to Bridgat, Stockholm has a temperate maritime climate, fairly mild, neither too cold nor too hot, with an average summer temperature of +22 °C and slight frosts in winter. The rainiest months are July and August.
History of Stockholm
The name of the city – Stockholm (Stockholm) consists of two words and is interpreted in two versions. The first is from the Swedish words stock – “pile”, and holm – “island”, and translates as “island fortified with piles”. According to another etymology, the name comes from the Swedish word stack – “bay”, that is, “island in the bay”.
The history of Stockholm is more than 750 years old, but the first mention of the city was found in the ancient Viking sagas. In 1187, on the island of Stadsholmen, on the site of a fishing settlement, a fortified point began to be built, and in 1251 the first mention of Stockholm appeared, which, according to history, was founded by the founder of the Folkung dynasty, Jarl Birger, to protect Sweden from raids from the Baltic Sea. Due to its convenient geographical location, Stockholm developed rapidly and already in 1270 was known as the largest settlement in the kingdom. From the 14th century, Stockholm was inhabited by the Germans, and until 1471 the city fought for liberation from the Danes. At the beginning of the 17th century, a Russian merchant colony arose in Stockholm, called Stekolnya or Stekolny by Russian merchants. In the 17th century the city became one of the most powerful European powers, and in 1634 it became the official capital of the Kingdom of Sweden. In the 18th century, after the plague and the war with Russia in 1721, Stockholm loses its positions, and only in the 19th century does a new flourishing of the state and its capital begin. And in the 20th century, Stockholm again becomes a progressive and developed European capital. Since 1901, the Nobel Committee has been meeting in Stockholm, and in 1912 the Summer Olympics were held here. Today Stockholm is one of the major financial and cultural centers of Europe. The main residence of the Swedish king is located here, the world’s major companies Ericsson and Electrolux are based, and the Stockholm Stock Exchange is located.