Gustaf Adolfs torg (Gothenburg)

Gustaf Adolfs torg is the historic central square of Gothenburg, named for the king who founded the city in the 17th century, whose bronze statue stands pointing to the ground where he is said to have chosen the site. The neoclassical town hall and other civic buildings frame the paved space, and a canal from the old Dutch-planned fortifications runs along one edge. Once the marketplace and site of executions, the square now serves as a setting for ceremonies and the annual celebration of the king's day.