Birger Jarls Torg

Birger Jarls Torg is a historic public square located on the island of Riddarholmen in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. The square was formerly known as Riddarholmstorget, but was renamed in the mid-19th century in honour of Birger Jarl (c. 1210–1266), the Swedish statesman and regent traditionally credited with founding Stockholm around 1252. A bronze statue of Birger Jarl, sculpted by Bengt Erland Fogelberg and financed by the Governor of Stockholm, was unveiled on the square in 1854, depicting him in a commanding pose clad in armour with a shield at his feet. The square is enclosed by six palaces, today largely occupied by governmental authorities, as well as Riddarholmskyrkan to the south — the medieval burial church of the Swedish monarchs. The entire island of Riddarholmen is separated from the rest of the city by the arterial road Centralbron, lending the square a distinctly quiet and somewhat isolated character.