History
Old Town is probably the most popular part of Stockholm, and here you can experience both peace and tranquility, as well as a myriad of crowds and entertainment. All within walking distance. Our district has a rich history, and has served as both nest of sin, execution site and location of a grand royal wedding. To stroll through the streets is to travel through history.
The square
Just beyond Castanea is Brända Tomten (The Burned Site), a small square in the corner of Kindstugatan and Själagårdsgatan. Originally there was a building on this site. The building was destroyed by fire in 1728. In the 1760 census Brända Tomten is mentioned for the first time. Today it is a wonderful little place where you can sit down and rest your weary feet after a tour of the city, in the shade of the big chestnut tree.
The street
Initially Kindstugatan was just a path, used as a shortcut. It meandered between cabbage farms and barns and was a sparsely built area. In the mid-1400′s, the path was a significant “common street”, and was also given a name, Kindhästgatan (is the first known name). Kindhäst (cheek of a horse) and Kindpust (cheek puff) means slap in the face, perhaps referring to some fight. Kindstugatan has at times been a troublesome alley. There have been plenty of restaurants here. The most famous one is the restaurant Fimmelstången (drawbar on trolley) at No 14, where the poet Lasse Lucidor was stabbed to death in a duel with a lieutenant one night in August 1674.