HOTORGET.COM
HISTORY OF HÖTORGET

Prior to the Early Middle Ages  the area of modern day Hötorget was home to a large and influential village known as Väsby. Väsby began the diminishing process around the 1200’s. During this time Hötorgettid was spread out over a much larger area.

1200’s During this era nearly every small town throughout Europe had a “Hay Market”. “Hötorget” (meaning in English Hay Market, Hay Square) the squared off modern version that we have now, was named in 1644. However, since the era of Magnus Ladulås Hötorget was a Hötorgettid (another way of saying Hay Square in Swedish). For at least 400 years and more than likely since the Early Middle Ages (throughout the Väsby era) the Hötorgettid expanded and shrunk weekly depending upon the number of vendors, events… while remaining in the general area.

1252 around the time the first known mentions of “Stockholm” have been found on dated letters.

May 1, 1436. The letter of privilege is considered to mark the beginning of Stockholm’s national political era and is usually used as a reference for the start of Stockholm’s role as the capital of the kingdom

1637 Anders Torstensson’s first plan for Norrmalm, contained the first known description of what is known today as the “Hötorget Square. However, in 1637 Anders referred to the “square” as an “axial square”. Thus making the first “square” of such in Sweden. However, the the less defined, fluctuating in size Hötorgettid (Hay Market) has been there since the Middle Ages and in one form or another since late Antiquity

1640’s By this time the “compacted” square is widely known by the name: Hötorget.

1670’s Hötorget starts getting it size confined with paving stones. At this time the square is surrounded by simple houses, housing for the animals, bourgeois housing (mid-upper class).

1734 Ingermanlandiae – Homanns Erben –The Great Northern War

1860 – 1934 Paul Urbanus Bergström founder of the department store PUB in Stockholm

1856 The trade of firewood & timber, hay and straw at Hötorget was halted and those transactions were moved to Norrmalmstorg.

1860 Vägvisare inom Stockholm av T. v. Mentzer

1880s and 1890s Paul U. Bergström set up shops in several houses around the square

1884 The first Hötorgshalen was built

1888 Amiral Häggs Flaggkarta

January 1, 1914 Trade of fresh (walking) & raw meat of; cattle, sheep, pigs & horses was banned from the Hötorget Square for sanitary reasons. Later in the year of,1914, fresh and skinned game, picked poultry, salted & smoked fish, cooked seafood, butter, cheese, bread, flour and grits and cooked food of any kind was also banned. At this time vendors started occupying the adjoining malls & halls.

1916 and 1924 The larege PUB house was built in phases. The PUB was converted in 2016 to a Scandic hotel called: “Hay Market” in honor of the Square’s history.

1923-1926 The concert hall with its blue facade was built with Ivar Tengbom as architect. It’s nice to note that the impressive classic column facade was placed against the crowded square as opposed to facing towards Sveavägen. The building is regarded as one of the foremost examples of Swedish 1920s classicism.

1926-1936 Sculptor Carl Milles’ bronze fountain, the Orfeus-brunnen (“the Orpheus Well”) Carl Milles 23 June 1875 – 19 September 1955) was a Swedish sculptor. His works include famous sculptures and fountains throughout Sweden and the United States.

1930-1939 En dokumentär om Stockholm – documentary 

1943 Deportation of Hans Eduard Szybilski – Link

1950’s Hötorgshallen (now called “Old Hötorgshalen”) is torn down and rebuilt.

1967 Dagen H – Sept. 3 YouTube video discussing the logistics of turning an entire country’s flow of traffic in the opposite direction.

1986 Murder of Prime Minster Olof Palme. CLICK HERE for more information

2012-2014 Hötorgshallen is remodeled into, what it is today

Today You will have a hard time buying hay, farm animals, skinned game… however, don’t despair most of the vendors just moved into the malls and halls surrounding the square (E.g. Hötorgshallen), & all week with the exception of Sundays there are many vendors in the square selling fresh produce, flowers,… On Sundays there is a large Loopis – also known as a “marché aux puces”, Flea Market… I just like to call it a good deal on a pre-owned appliance. Hötorget is famous for it shops, some of my favorite shopping is done on Sundays!