Birger Jarls Tower, Medieval fortified tower on Riddarholmen island, Stockholm, Sweden.
Birger Jarls Tower is a stone fortified tower on the northwest corner of Riddarholmen with thick walls and narrow defensive windows. The structure displays typical medieval fortress features and currently houses office spaces.
The tower was built around 1530 under King Gustav I of Sweden to replace earlier wooden fortifications destroyed by fire in 1525. Its construction was part of efforts to strengthen the city's defenses.
The tower is named after Birger Jarl, Stockholm's founder, even though it was built centuries after his lifetime. Visitors can see how it stands as a symbol of the city's early past within the medieval architecture of the island.
The tower is clearly visible from the outside on Riddarholmen island, where visitors can view the medieval structure from various angles. Since the building now houses private offices, interior access is not available to the public.
Builders used bricks from the demolished Saint Clare's Priory and nearby churches to construct the original tower structure. This shows how medieval builders in Stockholm recycled materials from older religious buildings.
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