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Obelisk at Slottsbacken

Obelisk at Slottsbacken is an obelisk monument beside the Royal Palace on Slottsbacken in Stockholm’s Old Town, considered the centre point of the Swedish capital. Commissioned by King Gustav III, it commemorates the deeds of Stockholm’s citizenry during the Russo-Swedish War of 1788–1790. The neo-Egyptian design was made by Louis Jean Desprez and the monument was erected in 1800 by Jonas Lidströmer. After severe deterioration, the original obelisk was dismantled in 2017 and rebuilt with newly quarried Bohus granite, with the final top piece installed in June 2020.

The Obelisk at Slottsbacken rises from a cobblestone plaza with people gathered around it.
The Obelisk at Slottsbacken stands in Stockholm’s historic Gamla Stan, surrounded by visitors and nearby buildings.
August 2006 © · CC BY 2.0
The Obelisk at Slottsbacken stands in a paved square beside a long building under a clear blue sky.
The Obelisk at Slottsbacken in Stockholm, shown with a second monument nearby and a historic building in the background.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Obelisk at Slottsbacken stands on a dark tiered pedestal beside a pink and white church with a clock tower.
The Obelisk at Slottsbacken beside Storkyrkan in Stockholm.
March 2025 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Obelisk at Slottsbacken stands beside a large yellow building and metal fence under a cloudy sky.
The Obelisk at Slottsbacken in Stockholm, seen beside the Royal Palace and a cloudy sky.
© · CC BY 2.0
Ink wash drawing of the Obelisk at Slottsbacken with a pointed obelisk on a pedestal and stepped base.
Drawing of the Obelisk at Slottsbacken, showing the monument with its pedestal and stepped base.
January 1790 © Unknown authorUnknown author · CC0

Identification

TitleObelisk at Slottsbacken
TypeObelisk monument

Historical context

Year erected1800; according to other sources, 1799
Street-number significanceAll street numbers in Stockholm have their common origin from the obelisk, with a few exceptions
Exception to street-number originSome small streets originate from Birger Jarlsgatan
Unveiling dateOctober 1800
Unveiled byKing Gustav IV Adolf
DesignerLouis Jean Desprez
PurposeTo thank the citizens of Stockholm for their support while the king was leading the Swedish Navy and Army in the war
Ordered to commemoratethe deeds of Stockholm's citizenry during the Russo-Swedish War of 1788–1790
Decision to build27 January 1792
Commissioned byKing Gustav III

Creator

Erected byJonas Lidströmer
Erected byJonas Lidströmer, inventor and colonel-mecanicus

Materials

Original materialStone
Original granite sourceBelieved to have been quarried in nearby Ulfsunda
New materialBohus granite
New stone typeTossene Grå Bohus
New stone sourceAn area near Hunnebostrand; delivered from one of Hallindens Granit's quarries
Processing companyZaarstone, Vilshult

Physical characteristics

New constructionBuilt from solid stone rather than stone drums
New weight280 tons
Original heightNearly 22 meters, including a pedestal of unspecified height
Original constructionMade of 17 granite pieces
Height22 meters
Original weight150 tons

Technique

Construction methodMade of many heavy stone boulders rather than cut from one piece, unlike the typical method in classical antiquity

Appearance

Design styleNeo-Egyptian

Location and ownership

LocationSlottsbacken, Gamla Stan, Stockholm, Sweden
LocationAdjacent to the Royal Palace at the western end of Slottsbacken, in the northern part of the old town
Nearby building to the westSankt Nikolai Church
Geographic significanceConsidered to be the very centre point of the Swedish capital city

History and restoration

Assessment after removalThe stones were so damaged they could not be repaired
Capstone installed17 June 2020
RebuiltSpring 2020
Reconstruction beganApril 2020
Condition in 2012In poor condition, with significant deterioration from water entering cracks and joints and causing frost damage
Repair estimateAbout one year
Reason for dismantlingRepair and restoration work after age- and weather-related damage
DismantledJune 2017
Safety measure in 2012The area around the monument was fenced off to protect the public from possible falling stones and collapse

Significance

Commemorated eventThe Swedish-Russian War of 1788–1790
PurposeTo show gratitude to the burghers of Stockholm who guarded the city during the war