Ribbinska Huset

Stockholm’s old town, Gamla Stan, is a beautiful collection of historical buildings that really make you wish that walls could speak. Dating back to the 13th century, with many of its original buildings still intact, it is like a living museum on Sweden’s history. But the area also hides some darker stories from the country’s past, and this is one of them. 

On the Stortorget (literally meaning “Large Square”) there stands an unassuming dark red building, beautifully decorated with white bricks scattered throughout the facade. Called Ribbinska huset (“House of Ribbing”), it dates back to the 15th century. Most visitors would not look twice at this building, until they learn that each of the white stones in the red wall is said to represent the head of a murdered Swedish noble.