“A well, a fountain, or a source of a stream.” That is the meaning of Brunn. We are in Brunn in Stockholm County. Brunn is a village in Värmdö Municipality.
Brunn has a population of 950 people. This was recorded in 2010. The area of Brunn is just under one square kilometer. That is about 0.37 square miles.
Brunn is not just a place. Brunn is also a common German surname. Hermann A. Brunn was an American coachbuilder. He founded Brunn & Company in Buffalo New York.
Let’s delve into the history of Tyska Brunnsplan. It is a small triangular public square. You can find it in Gamla Stan, the old town of Stockholm. Tyska Brunnsplan sits between two streets. These are Svartmangatan and Själagårdsgatan.
Tyska Brunnsplan means “German Well Square” in Swedish. In 1649, it was known as Tyske Brunnen meaning “German Well”. It was also called Stadsens brunn vid Gillestugan. This means “the city’s well by the guild homestead”. By 1863, it was named Tyska Brunsplan.
Until the early 18th century, a well stood here. It was quite large. Later, the city’s fire company wanted to prevent accidents. So, they needed turning spaces for horse-drawn vehicles. In 1783, a building was demolished to create more space.
Erik Palmstedt designed the new square, well and façades. He was the city architect. His Neoclassical ideas were limited by the Medieval landscape. This resulted in a small-scale design. The concave façade acts as a scenic background. It has windows of various sizes. The well features doric cast iron columns.
The first synagogue in Stockholm was founded on the square’s eastern side. This happened in the 19th century. The pharmacy Svanen once stood where the well is now. Svanen means “The Swan”. The pharmacy then moved across Svartmangatan. Its sign still hangs there today.
Now, let’s travel to Brunnsta Gård. It is a farm where you will find an ecological farm with grain production. The farm is home to sheep, a cat and a dog. Horses belonging to neighbours graze nearby. An energy forest of willow provides cover for wild animals.
Historic relics surround the village. These include burial grounds, rune stones and rock carvings. They speak of the area’s long history. Brunnsta Gård aims to preserve the old atmosphere of the houses. It combines old details with modern living.