Schantzska huset, Apartment building at Stortorget 20, Stockholm, Sweden
Schantzska huset is a red brick apartment building on Stortorget square featuring a gabled facade decorated with ornamental anchor stones and sculptural details from 1650. The structure spans multiple stories with characteristic window openings and retains its original interior elements from the 17th and 18th centuries.
The building takes its name from Johan Eberhard Schantz, a royal secretary who commissioned its construction during Sweden's period of architectural advancement. It was built when Stockholm was growing as a major trade and cultural center.
The limestone entrance portal displays carved Roman warriors alongside a German inscription from Psalm 37,5. This religious message reflects the beliefs of the wealthy family who lived in the building.
The building is located in Stockholm's Old Town and can be easily spotted from Stortorget square. Visitors can admire the facade and its details from street level while the residential building continues to function normally.
The facade contains 94 stones arranged around its windows, a number that local stories connect to victims of the Stockholm Bloodbath. This numerical connection makes the building a silent reminder of a dramatic event in Swedish history.
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