Riddarhuset

Riddarhuset, or the House of Nobility, is a historic building and a ceremonial institution in Stockholm, Sweden. It is located on Riddarholmen in Gamla stan and serves as the headquarters for the Riddarhuset, the assembly of the Swedish noble families, as well as the keeper of noble genealogies, heraldry, and related archives.

The institution grew out of the medieval privilege of the nobility within the Swedish Riksdag. In the early modern period the noble estate gained formal representation and a distinct seat in national politics. The current Riddarhuset building was erected in the 1640s and is associated with the prominent architect Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, with later enhancements by successors. The brick façade and Baroque-inspired interiors reflect the era’s status-conscious design. The complex includes parlors, a central courtyard, and the ceremonial halls that housed noble functions for centuries.

Until 1866, the Riddarhuset served as the seat of the nobility’s chamber within the Riksdag of the Estates, which governed Sweden before the political reforms that established a more modern parliament. After the reform, political power shifted away from the estates, and the Riddarhuset continued mainly as a ceremonial body and as the guardian of hereditary records, coats of arms, and genealogical materials.

Architecture and contents include the Riddarsalen (Hall of the Nobility) and the Long Hall, with rooms displaying noble portraits and heraldic devices. The building also houses the Riddarhusarkivet (the archive) and a research library, which preserve the genealogies and heraldic registers of Sweden’s noble families.

Today, Riddarhuset operates as a private foundation, organizing official ceremonies and supporting research, while maintaining access to its historical archives and heraldic collections for scholars and, under established rules, the public.