Secrets in Kvarteret Bacchus of Stockholm's Old Town

Standing on the corner where Skottgränd meets Österlånggatan, Kvarteret Bacchus in Gamla stan, Stockholm, was once a large entity. Originally consisting of 15 buildings erected in 1729, it now features five, each with a history of its own. The name Kvarteret Bacchus, meaning 'Bacchus Quarter,' comes from the Roman god of wine, for whom many quarters in Gamla stan are named. The quarters in Gamla stan were created after the demolition of the Old Town wall in the 1640s, and the area was gradually developed with new buildings.

Bacchus 1, the largest of the lot, was once the residence of Nicodemus Tessin den äldre, a famous Swedish architect who designed the Palace of Versailles for King Louis XIV of France. The Tottie family, a prominent 18th-century merchant family, also took residence in the building, and the Lotskontoret, the local maritime administration, had its offices there in the 1880s. By 1901, the Tessinska huset was demolished to make way for Brandstodsbolagets hus, which stood until 1948. Today, the building is owned by Vasakronan and houses the Filippinernas ambassad and the Rumänska kulturinstitutet, among others.

Bacchus 5, spanning the entire width of the quarter, was the location of Källaren Riga, a famous tavern that operated from the 18th century until 1976. Its facade was changed in 1876, and its ground floor now houses Fartygsmagasinet, a store specializing in maritime artifacts.

Bacchus 6, a magazine building in four floors, retains its original winch system and dock for each floor. Built in 1818, it is one of the few remaining magazine buildings at the back of Skeppsbrons handelshus, now a national heritage building.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons