Stora Gråmunkegränd
Encyclopedia
Alley
An alley or alleyway is a narrow lane found in urban areas, often for pedestrians only, which usually runs between or behind buildings. In older cities and towns in Europe, alleys are often what is left of a medieval street network, or a right of way or ancient footpath in an urban setting...
in Gamla stan
Gamla stan
Gamla stan , until 1980 officially Staden mellan broarna , is the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Gamla stan consists primarily of the island Stadsholmen. The surrounding islets Riddarholmen, Helgeandsholmen, and Strömsborg are officially part of, but not colloquially included in, Gamla stan...
, the old town in central Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Stretching west from Västerlånggatan
Västerlånggatan
Västerlånggatan is a street in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Stretching southward between the squares Mynttorget and Järntorget, it follows the course of the city's now demolished 13th century defensive wall....
down to Munkbron
Munkbron
Munkbron is a public square on the western waterfront of Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. Connected to the square are Stora Gråmunkegränd, Gåsgränd, Lilla Nygatan, Yxsmedsgränd, and Munkbrogatan; while the traffic route Munkbroleden separates it from the canal...
and Munkbroleden
Munkbroleden
Munkbroleden is a densely trafficked street passing along the western waterfront of Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden...
, it is crossed by Stora Nygatan
Stora Nygatan
Stora Nygatan is a street in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden.Old names : nyegatun , nyia gaatan, den nya Konnungsgatun, stora konungsgatun , den store Nye gatan , Konnungsgatun , Nye gaten, KongsGaten , Kongs- eller stoora Nygatan, stora Kongs- el' Nygatan , Stora...
, and forms a parallel street to Storkyrkobrinken
Storkyrkobrinken
Storkyrkobrinken is a street in Gamla stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden.Leading from Högvaktsterrassen near the Royal Palace down to Myntgatan and Riddarhustorget it forms a parallel street to Salviigränd and Stora Gråmunkegränd and is crossed by Trångsund, Prästgatan, and...
and Helga Lekamens Gränd
Helga Lekamens Gränd
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....
.
The alley is named after the defensive tower Gråmunketornet ("Greyfriar's Tower") located in the city wall which used to pass along the eastern side of today's Västerlånggatan, in its turned named after the Greyfriar
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
s abbey on Riddarholmen
Riddarholmen
Riddarholmen is a small islet in central Stockholm, Sweden. The island forms part of Gamla Stan, the old town, and houses a number of private palaces dating from the 17th century...
, at the time called Gråmunkeholmen ("Greyfriar's Islet"). It appears in historical records as grabroder strate ("grey brother's street") in 1420 and gramunka grendenne ("[the] grey monk's alley") in 1456. The first element, however, doesn't appear until 1728 when the alley south of it (Helga Lekamens Gränd
Helga Lekamens Gränd
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....
) was being referred as Lilla Gråmnukegränd ("Smaller Greyfriars Alley"), and the part of the alley west of Lilla Nygatan was named Schaleri Gränd after the doctor Peter Schallerus Gripenflycht who owned the property in the western end. The name have been used for the entire extent of the alley since 1885.
On number 5, is a flat with preserved wall paintings and a coffered ceiling from 1580. While sparsely used by the Stockholm Beauty Council
Stockholm Beauty Council
The Stockholm Beauty Council , colloquially the Beauty Council , and officially Council for the Protection of the Beauty of Stockholm is an advisory council of the Stockholm Municipality which inspects city plans and requests for construction permits remitted by various municipal departments...
since the city took it over in 1973, as of 2006 the flat will hopefully be made available to the general public.