Stockholm Photo Gallery - City Hall Guided Tour

In 1902, a competition was held to design a new courthouse for the growing city. Ragnar Östberg, who was famous for the Swedish National Romantic architectural style, won with a grand proposal. However, in 1907, it was decided that the design would be implemented for City Hall instead, with the courthouse adopting the runner-up's entry.

Construction started in 1911 and finished in 1923. I decided to take a guided tour of the interiors after being impresssed by the tower's beautiful view. It is not possible to roam around the building's interiors on your own.

City Hall's design revolves around 2 courtyards, which takes inspiration from Italian palaces.

The tour starts in the Blue Hall, which is used for banquets and is lined with red bricks. Initially, the plan was to install blue bricks, but that was changed. The 8 million bricks used in the building were made locally by hand.

Since 1974, the Nobel banquet has been held in this spot annually. 65 tables, 6730 pieces of orcelain, 5384 glasses, and 9422 pieces of cutlery are used for the meal. The menu choices are presented to the Nobel Foundation in September and the final decision is kept secret until the day of in December.

Heading up the grand marble staircase, which is perhaps inspired by Venice's Doge's Palace, we continued through a number of rooms and corridors.

The Stockholm City Council meets in the Council Chamber every third Monday. 101 members strong, the public and journalists have their own sections of gallery on opposite sides.

Past a room with a vaulted ceiling is the Oval Room, where you can book a wedding ceremony set amidst 17th century French tapestries. Civil weddings are conducted in either Swedish or English with 10 guests allowed per couple. Throwing rice is not allowed and blowing soap bubbles to congratulate the couple is encouraged instead.

The Prince's Gallery has a long stretch of windows facing the water.

Turning the corner, I pass a few more rooms before reaching the grand finale of this building.

The Golden Hall glitters from its wall mosaics that comprise 18.6 million pieces of glass and gold created by Einar Forseth that showcase Sweden's history. At the front is the Queen of Lake Malaren, Stockholm's human form. Following the Nobel banquet downstairs, guests would come here for the dance.