The alley of Mårten Trotzig is an alley in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. Leading from Västerlånggatan and Järntorget up to Prästgatan and Tyska Stallplan, the width of its 36 steps tapers down to a mere 90 centimetres (35 in), making the alley the narrowest street in Stockholm.
The alley of Mårten Trotzig is so narrow that two people cannot walk shoulder to shoulder without getting intimate. The alley can be quite daunting when the narrowness gets obvious.
As you take each step upwards towards the rising stairs, the street constricts. Stockholms Gamla Stan was never designed with cars in mind, and this is very clear from the width of the streets. It can be either magical or claustrophobic for some.
But who was – Marten Trotzig – He was what we would call now a days a German Expat. Marten was a wealthy merchant trading in copper and iron, hailed from Germany to Stockholm in 1581.
He owned two houses separated by an alley, which is just 90 metres wide at its narrowest point. This alley also has 36 stairs and that’s why, initially, it was known as the “stair alley”. Later it was renamed as the Marten Trotzig grand, the narrowest street of the old town of Stockholm.
He became one of the most powerful and richest man of Stockholm. But, sadly, while conducting business, he was attacked and murdered in 1617 in Falun in north-central Sweden. The alley did not have a name back then and quickly became named after him.
But – Where is the Mårten Trotzigs gränd?
Thank you for reading! If you would like to read another Blog Post – Klick here – Topic: Stockholm Winter Walk – Staying active during the cold days
Visit my son and me on Instagram =)
