Drottninggatan
Queen Street
Stockholm Sweden
2012

A stylish road block in Stockholm, in the Drottninggatan (Queen Street). Several lions like this one guard the almost 400-year-old street, turned meanwhile into a nice pedestrian and shopping area.

The stone lions on the streets of Stockholm, Sweden are a symbol of power and protection. They are often placed outside of important buildings, such as government buildings and museums, as a way to show the importance and strength of the institution. They have been used in Sweden since the Middle Ages, and continue to be a popular symbol in the city today.

Stockholm's stone (made of concrete) lions are pretty much the Swedish version of vehicle crash barriers.

They originally were rather dull and littered almost every city in Sweden. Called “betongsuggor” (literally “concrete sows”).

The first to get a bit creative was on Gotland where they had an artist design a concrete sheep instead. Sheep is in the coat of arms of Gotland. Stockholm thought it looked rather nice, and wanted to follow. After a while they decided to commission their own design, and got the Lions. Lions are part of the Swedish Coat of arms, and have been a symbol of Sweden for 500 years, so as the capital of Sweden, a lion seemed appropriate. (They also come in both Male and Female lions).

The public took these lions to heart, and soon almost every town or city followed with their own design, most often depicting something locally important or a symbol of the town/city. Yes, some cities went for more than one design.

There are Horses, Dala Horses, Other lions, Thor’s Goats, Boats, Aircraft, Planters, Pigs, hedegehogs, Chessboards, Checkerboards, Benches, Tables, flowers, Horses, Ducks, beach pebbles, SAAB cars, footballs and many more. Some are even painted.