Schwedengasse („Swedes‘ Alley“)

The Schwedengasse, right behind the „Steiner Tor“, runs parallelly to the former town wall. The reconstructed parapet walk gives a good impression of how the citizens of Krems tried to defense themselves in dangerous times.

In fact, the name Schwedengasse derives from such a historic episode: during the Thirty Years‘ War (1618 – 1648), Swedish troops occupied large areas of northern Lower Austria. By the end of March 1645, they also conquered the towns of Krems and Stein. After about a year of a state of siege, the imperial Austrian troops managed to make a breach in the town wall right where we find the Schwedengasse today. Thanks to this military success, Krems could be reconquered. Since the year 1902, the name of the alley commemorates this historic event.