The Gustaf Adolfs Torg in Gothenburg is the representative square in the center of the Swedish west coast metropolis. In its center stands the large statue of the city's founder, King Gustav II Adolf (1594 - 1632), as Gothenburg's oldest public work of art.
The Gustaf Adolfs Torg, which is now 6,300 square meters in size, is flanked on its north side by the Wenngrenska Huset, built in 1760, the city guard house (Stadshuset), completed in 1759, and the former stock exchange building, inaugurated in 1849. All three buildings now house the administration of Gothenburg Municipality. The west side of the square is bordered by the city's town hall, built in 1672.
The square itself has existed since the founding of Gothenburg in 1621, but has only been called Gustaf Adolfs Torg since the unveiling of the royal statue in 1854. Until then it was the Stortorget, the large central market square of Gothenburg, where the farmers from the The surrounding area offered their goods, most of which were brought in via the Stora Hamnkanalen located on the south side of the square.
Until 1865, the place had a tap for the public drinking water supply, which was fed via a five kilometer long wooden pipe from the Kallebäcks spring near the Delsjöområdet nature reserve. At the same time, the pillory was located on the Stortorget, where the public punishments imposed by the district court, which was still located in the town hall at the time, were carried out.