Stockholm's narrowest street, Alley in Gamla Stan, Stockholm, Sweden
Mårten Trotzigs gränd, known as the narrowest alley in Stockholm, is a pedestrian passage located in the historic district of Gamla Stan. It runs as a stairway connecting two street levels, with 36 steps going from bottom to top.
The alley takes its name from Mårten Trotzig, a German merchant who came to Stockholm in the 16th century and acquired property in the area. In earlier times it was called Trångsund, a Swedish word meaning narrow strait, and the current name was officially adopted in the mid-20th century.
Mårten Trotzigs gränd takes its name from a German merchant who lived in Stockholm in the 16th century and owned several buildings nearby. Visitors walking through can reach out and touch both walls at the same time, which gives a direct sense of just how narrow the passage really is.
The alley is located in Gamla Stan, close to Järntorget square, and is easy to reach on foot from there. Because the stairway is so narrow, it is best to walk through it one direction at a time and be aware of others coming from the opposite end.
Despite being less than about 3 feet (90 centimeters) wide, the alley is still registered as an official street with its own address. In the evening it is lit by gas lamps, giving it an appearance that has changed little over the past few centuries.
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