Architecture

Many historical buildings, including townhouses, churches, and palaces, feature Swedish architectural design. When Romanesque cathedrals like Lund Cathedral and Alvastra monastery were constructed in the 12th century, stones were used as a construction material. Later, the Gothic architectural style was adopted, with bricks serving as the primary building material.

A few, like Visby's city walls, have been kept among the majority of the classic middle-age structures that have been repaired. The Swedish fathers of architecture are renowned builders like Simon De la Vallee and Nicodemus Tessin the Elder. Famous designs include the Stockholm Palace, Kalmar Cathedral, and Katarina Church.

The streets were laid out in a grid layout, and the cities had well-planned central squares. A national Romantic Style was adopted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The adoption of modern and postmodern architecture was prompted by population growth.