Drottninggatan

Drottninggatan (Queen Street) in Stockholm, Sweden is a major pedestrian street. It stretches north from the bridge Riksbron at Norrström, in the district of Norrmalm, to Observatorielunden in the district of Vasastaden.

Forming a parallel street to Vasagatan and Sveavägen, Drottninggatan is intersected by (south to north) Fredsgatan, Jakobsgatan, Herkulesgatan, Vattugatan, Klarabergsgatan, Mäster Samuelsgatan, Bryggargatan, Gamla Brogatan, Kungsgatan, Apelbergsgatan, Olof Palmes Gata, Barnhusgatan, Adolf Fredriks Kyrkogata, Wallingatan, Kammakargatan, Tegnérgatan, Rådmansgatan, Kungstensgatan and Observatoriegatan.

The major part of the street is car-free and lined-up with numerous stores and shops, one of the largest being the Åhléns City department store. During summer, the street is often crowded with tourists.

History

The street was laid out in the 1630s and 1640s when the surrounding area was built on a rectilinear grid plan, a significant innovation in Stockholm's urban environment. It was originally named Stora Konungsgatan ("Great King's Street") and was later renamed as Drottninggatan in honour of Queen Christina, who ruled from 1632 to 1654.