Borgholm is a
cityThe Swedish term stad, which is the equivalent of both city and town has since 1971 in Sweden no administrative or legal significance, and even no commonly accepted definition.-History :...
and the seat of
Borgholm MunicipalityBorgholm Municipality is a municipality in Kalmar County, south-eastern Sweden, constituting the northern half of the island of Öland in the Baltic Sea...
,
Kalmar CountyKalmar County is a county or län in southern Sweden. It borders the counties of Kronoberg, Jönköping, Blekinge and Östergötland. To the east in the Baltic Sea is the island Gotland....
,
SwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe...
with 3,093 inhabitants in 2005. It is located on the
islandAn island or isle is any piece of land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls are called islets. A key or cay is another name for a small island or islet. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot, .There are two main types of islands:...
of
Öland' is the second largest Swedish island and the smallest of the traditional provinces of Sweden. Öland has an area of 1,342 km² and is located in the Baltic Sea just off the coast of Småland. There are 25,000 inhabitants on the island and it is connected to the mainland across the Kalmar Strait...
in the
Baltic SeaThe Baltic Sea is a brackish inland sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and the...
.
Borgholm is one of Sweden's historical towns with a former
city statusThe Swedish term stad, which is the equivalent of both city and town has since 1971 in Sweden no administrative or legal significance, and even no commonly accepted definition.-History :...
(
stad). The city is best known for its once-magnificent fortress which is now ruined. Borgholm is, despite its small population, for historical reasons normally still referred to as a
city.
Statistics SwedenStatistics Sweden, or Statistiska centralbyrån , is the government agency responsible for producing official statistics on Sweden. National statistics in Sweden date back to 1686 when the parishes of the Church of Sweden were ordered to start keeping records on the population...
, however, only counts localities with more than 10,000 inhabitants as cities.
Geography
The city is situated some 20 km north of the
Öland bridgeThe Öland bridge is a road bridge connecting Kalmar on mainland Sweden to Färjestaden on the island of Öland to its east. It is 6,072 m long, supported on 156 pillars, and has a characteristic hump at its western end – created to provide a vertical clearance of 36 m for shipping.A little to...
which connects the island with the city of
KalmarKalmar is a city in Småland in the south-east of Sweden, situated by the Baltic Sea. It had 35,170 inhabitants in 2005 and is the seat of Kalmar Municipality with a total of 61,321 inhabitants...
on the
mainlandMainland is usually the continental part of a region, as opposed to the islands nearby, or, if the region is entirely insular, the largest of the several islands comprising the region. Sometimes the residents are called "the Mainlanders"...
.
History
Borgholm is the main city of
Öland' is the second largest Swedish island and the smallest of the traditional provinces of Sweden. Öland has an area of 1,342 km² and is located in the Baltic Sea just off the coast of Småland. There are 25,000 inhabitants on the island and it is connected to the mainland across the Kalmar Strait...
, but remains one of the smallest cities in Sweden. The city received its
charterA charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
in 1816 and emerged as a
spaThe term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer thermal or mineral water for drinking and bathing. They also offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric...
-town in the shadow of the ruins of the once mighty
Borgholm CastleBorgholm Castle in Borgholm, Sweden, is today only a ruin of the fortress that was first built here in the second half of the 12th century and many times rebuilt in later centuries. It is linked to Halltorps estate, somewhat to the south...
, which burned down in 1806. So important and magnificent was this castle, that it has become the city arms, and the ruins are the best known attraction in the municipality, perhaps on the entire island of
Öland' is the second largest Swedish island and the smallest of the traditional provinces of Sweden. Öland has an area of 1,342 km² and is located in the Baltic Sea just off the coast of Småland. There are 25,000 inhabitants on the island and it is connected to the mainland across the Kalmar Strait...
. Slightly further south is
Halltorps EstateHalltorp is one of the earliest manor houses on the island of Öland, Sweden, dating from the 11th century AD. In early documents it is known as Hauldtorp, and it is cited as one of the early Viking settlements of Öland. In earlier times it has functioned as a royal farm associated with the...
, a historic royal estate linked to Borgholm Castle.
The city serves as centre of northern
Öland' is the second largest Swedish island and the smallest of the traditional provinces of Sweden. Öland has an area of 1,342 km² and is located in the Baltic Sea just off the coast of Småland. There are 25,000 inhabitants on the island and it is connected to the mainland across the Kalmar Strait...
, and is one of the most popular summer
resortA resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company. Such a self-contained resort attempts to provide for most of a vacationer's wants while remaining on...
s in Sweden.
Borgholm Castle has its modern counterpart outside Borgholm. The Swedish Royal Family has its official summer residence at
Solliden PalaceSolliden Palace is the summer residence of the Swedish Royal Family. It is situated on the island of Öland, southern Sweden....
a couple of kilometres outside the city centre. The Crown Princess
VictoriaVictoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Västergötland is the heiress to the Swedish throne...
's birthday is annually celebrated on July 14 at the Borgholm Sports Field.
Environs
There are small reaches of the
Stora AlvaretThe Stora Alvaret is a limestone barren plain on the island of Öland, Sweden. Because of the thin soil mantle and high pH levels, a great assortment of vegetation is found including numerous rare species. Stora Alvaret has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to its...
geological formation in the environs of Borgholm, which level exposures of limestone host a variety of
rare speciesA rare species is an organism which is very uncommon or scarce. This designation may be applied to either a plant or animal taxon, and may be distinct from the term "endangered" or "threatened species" but not "extinct"....
of butterflies and wildflowers, some of which are endemic to Öland.
External links