Obelisk at Slottsbacken, Granite obelisk in Slottsbacken, Stockholm, Sweden
The Obelisk at Slottsbacken is a 30-meter-tall granite structure that stands beside the Royal Palace in Stockholm's Old Town. The monument is composed of large blocks of Bohus granite and dominates the appearance of this historic square.
King Gustav III commissioned the obelisk in 1788 to honor Stockholm citizens who defended the city during the Russo-Swedish War. The original structure was dismantled in 2017 due to deterioration and rebuilt in 2020 using contemporary methods.
This monument marks the central reference point from which most street numbers in Stockholm begin and organize the city's addressing system. The location represents how the city chose to structure itself spatially and symbolically around this core spot.
The monument sits on an active square in the Old Town and is easily reached on foot when exploring the Royal Palace area. The site is accessible from multiple directions and offers good sightlines from most angles.
The reconstruction involved specialized support structures built beneath the streets to transport and position the 42-ton base stone. This technical challenge reveals how contemporary methods were applied to restore this historic landmark.
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