Gothenburg's Mysterious Devil Mask on Linnégatan: History and Legend

In Gothenburg, Sweden, there is a venerable main thoroughfare — Linnégatan. On the exterior of a building along this street sits an eye-catching devil mask. Behind it lies an intriguing slice of history and legend.

Local lore says that King Oscar II, when in Gothenburg, used an apartment on this street. The flat, on the second floor and never let to long-term tenants, was where the king secretly met his mistresses, who, it's said, sometimes appeared on the balcony. The devil mask installed on the building across the way was supposedly placed there in the late 19th century by a local developer — a silent moral protest against Oscar II's affairs.

The devil mask on Linnégatan today is a replica; an identical one sits on the building's facade. The original building was torn down in the 1980s, but the feature was later restored.

Through the years the devil mask has kept its gaze on the street. It is more than a quirky architectural detail — it's a symbol carrying Gothenburg's history, culture, and folklore. It adds a hint of mystery to this old street, drawing tourists and history buffs to dig into the story behind it. For history lovers and anyone simply pulled in by an air of mystery, the devil mask on Linnégatan is worth a look.

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