The House of Nobility

The House of Nobility, or Riddarhuset, is a 17th-century palace in Gamla stan, Stockholm. It was commissioned by the Swedish nobility and remains in their ownership, according to Visit Stockholm.

The Session Hall, known in Swedish as Riddarhussalen, has 2,332 coats of arms on its walls, according to the House of Nobility’s website. The shields offer a view of Swedish heraldry and history. The venue says Sweden’s House of Nobility has 656 living noble families, with about 28,000 people in total.

The institution’s history goes back to 1626, when King Gustav II Adolf signed the House of Nobility’s statutes, written by Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna. The statutes included a requirement to build a House of Nobility. Visit Stockholm dates the building to the 17th century.

The venue’s website lists concerts and lectures in its public programme and says everyone, whether or not they belongs to a noble family, is welcome. It also features a tour of the palace and its surroundings led by House of Nobility secretary Erik Drakenberg. The website does not give a visit duration or general entry schedule; check its public programme for events.