Didn’t Carl Michael Bellman immortalize this place? Lill-Jans Plan is more than just an open space. It is a place steeped in history and tales of old Stockholm.
Lill-Jans Plan sits at the crossroads of Valhallavägen and Engelbrektsgatan in Östermalm. Its story stretches back centuries. It is named after Lill-Jans krog. This tavern was run by Lill-Jan Persson. He was a forest keeper and court hunter. Lill-Jan also gave his name to Lill-Jansskogen.
Imagine Lill-Jan Persson in the late 1600s. He needed to supplement his income. So he opened a small tavern in his guardhouse. This guardhouse was near what is now Lill-Jans Plan. The tavern quickly became popular. Going to “Lill-Jans” became a common phrase.
The tavern was more than just a place to drink. It was a meeting point. Carl Michael Bellman even sang about it. He wrote about Lill-Jans krog in Fredman’s Epistle No. 32. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the tavern.
August Strindberg also mentioned the place. It appears in his debut novel The Red Room from 1879. Master Palm held his first meetings here. He was starting the labor movement. The tavern drew crowds. This made it a good business for the tavern owner.
The name “Lill-Jans” appeared on Petrus Tillaeus’ map of Stockholm as early as 1731. The tavern remained open well into the 1800s. The area around Lill-Jans Plan still carries echoes of this past.
Look at the Whitlock House at Lill-Jans plan 4. It is a protected building. The Tallen quarter’s name recalls Lill-Jans tavern. The tavern stood nearby.
Lill-Jans Plan has transformed over the years. It went from a simple crossroads by a popular tavern to an important place. Lill-Jans Plan is now an open space with historical roots. So next time you pass through Lill-Jans Plan remember its rich history. Think of Lill-Jan Persson and his popular tavern. Imagine Bellman singing and Palm organizing. Lill-Jans Plan is a small piece of Stockholm’s vibrant past.