Bonde Palace, Baroque palace in Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden
Bonde Palace is a Baroque palace in Gamla Stan, Stockholm's old town, built around an H-shaped plan with two southern wings and two northern wings. It stands at Riddarhustorget 8, between the House of Knights and the Chancellery House, and today serves as the seat of the Swedish Supreme Court.
The palace was built between 1662 and 1673 as the private residence of Lord High Treasurer Gustaf Bonde. From 1730 onward it was converted into Stockholm's main court building, a role it has kept, in different forms, ever since.
The facade features Ionic pilasters, festoons, and carved portraits of Roman emperors, details that were meant to signal the owner's wealth and ties to European taste. Walking around Riddarhustorget, visitors can take in these decorative elements at close range without entering the building.
The palace sits in the heart of Gamla Stan and is easy to reach on foot from most points in the old town. The building works as an active court, so only the exterior and the surrounding square are open to visitors.
The northern corner cupolas date from the original 1660s construction and survived the 1710 fire that destroyed the main roof. They are now among the few visible parts of the building that have not been altered since it was first completed.
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