Gothenburg
Encyclopedia
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden
and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries
. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area. Gothenburg is classified as a global city
by GaWC, with a ranking of Gamma−.
The City of Gothenburg was founded in 1621 by King Gustavus Adolphus. It lies by the sea at the mouth of Göta Älv
—the river running through the city—and is the largest seaport in the Nordic countries
.
Gothenburg is home to many students, as the city includes both the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology
. Volvo Cars
was founded in Gothenburg in 1927. The city is a major centre in Sweden for sports and home to the IFK Göteborg
, GAIS
and Örgryte IS
association football teams as well as the Frölunda HC
ice hockey team.
Gothenburg is served by Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport
, located 30 km (18.64 mi) southeast of the city centre. It is the second largest airport in Sweden.
, Gotar, Gøtar, Götar), the inhabitants of Gothia, now southern Sweden—i.e. "Defence of the Geats". The river on which the city sits is the Göta Älv or Gothia River. Göta borg "Gothia Fortress" is the fort on the Göta River, built to protect the port, which was intended to be Sweden's commercial window to the west.
In Dutch
, Scots
and English, all languages with a long history of being spoken in this trade and maritime-oriented city, the name Gothenburg has traditionally been used for the city as in the Gothenburg Film Festival
. The French form of the city name is Gothembourg. Gottenburg can also be seen in some older English texts. These traditional forms are now sometimes replaced with the use of the Swedish Göteborg, for example by the Göteborgsoperan and the Göteborg Ballet. However, Göteborgs universitet, previously designated as Göteborg University in English, changed to the University of Gothenburg in 2008. The municipality of Gothenburg has also reverted to the use of the English name in international contexts. Other old variations in Swedish are Götheborgh, and the more common, Götheborg. One English text written in the late 15th century states the name as "Guthaeborg".
In the 16th and 17th century, the configuration of Sweden's borders made Gothenburg strategically important as the Swedish gateway to the west, lying on the west coast in the narrow area between the territories of Denmark–Norway
. After several failed attempts, Gothenburg was successfully founded in 1621 by King Gustavus Adolphus
(Gustaf II Adolf). The site of the first church built in Gothenburg, subsequently destroyed by Dutch invaders, is marked by a stone near the north end of the Älvsborg Bridge
in Färjenäs park. The church was built in 1603 and destroyed in 1611. The city was heavily influenced by the Dutch. Dutch city planners were contracted to build the city as they had the skills needed to build in the marshy areas around the city. The town was designed like Dutch cities such as Amsterdam
. The plan of the streets and canals of Gothenburg closely resembles that of Jakarta
, which was built by the Dutch around the same time. The Dutchmen initially won political power and it was not until 1652, when the last Dutch politician in the city's council died, that the Swedes
acquired political power over Gothenburg. During the Dutch period the town followed Dutch town laws and there were propositions to make Dutch the official language in the town. Heavy city walls were built during the 17th century. These city walls were torn down after about 1810, because the development of cannon
s made such walls less valuable as a defence.
Along with the Dutch, the town also was influenced by Scots
who came to settle in Gothenburg. Many became people of high profile. William Chalmers
was the son of a Scottish immigrant and donated his fortunes to set up what later became Chalmers University of Technology
. In 1841 the Scotsman Alexander Keiller founded the Götaverken
shipbuilding company that still exists today. His son James Keiller donated Keiller Park to the city in 1906. The Scottish influence can still be felt in Gothenburg in the present-day with names like Glenn
and Morgan
, which in the rest of Sweden are rare, are not uncommon in Gothenburg, as is the use of a Scottish sounding "r" in the local dialect.
The Gothenburg coat of arms was based on the lion of the coat of arms of Sweden
, symbolically holding a shield with the national emblem, the Three Crowns
, to defend against its enemies.
In the Treaty of Roskilde
(1658) Denmark-Norway ceded the then Danish province Halland
, to the south, and the Norwegian province of Bohus County or Bohuslän
to the north, leaving Gothenburg in a less exposed position. Gothenburg was able to grow into an important port and trade centre on the west coast thanks to the fact that it was the only city on the west coast that was granted, together with Marstrand
, the rights to trade with merchants from other countries.
In the 18th century, fishing was the most important industry. However, in 1731 the Swedish East India Company
was founded, and the city flourished due to its foreign trade with highly profitable commercial expeditions to Asian countries.
The harbour developed into Sweden's main harbour for trade towards the west, and with Swedish emigration to North America increasing, Gothenburg became Sweden's main point of departure. The impact of Gothenburg as a main port of embarkation for Swedish emigrants is reflected by Gothenburg, Nebraska
, a small Swedish settlement in the United States.
With the 19th century, Gothenburg evolved into a modern industrial city that continued on into the 20th century. The population increased tenfold in the century, from 13,000 (1800) to 130,000 (1900). In the 20th century major companies that developed included SKF
(est. 1907) and Volvo
(est. 1926).
In 2001, major protests occurred
in the city during the EU summit and the visit by U.S. president
George W. Bush
.
Gothenburg is located on the west coast, in Southwestern Sweden, approximately half way between the capitals Copenhagen
, Denmark, and Oslo
, Norway. The location at the mouth of the river Göta älv
, which feeds into Kattegatt, an arm of the North Sea
, has helped the city grow in significance as a trading city
. The archipelago
of Gothenburg consists of rough, barren rocks and cliffs, which also is typical for the coast of Bohuslän
. Due to the Gulf Stream
the city has a mild climate and quite a lot of rain.
The Gothenburg Metropolitan Area (Stor-Göteborg) has 816,931 inhabitants and extends to the municipalities of Ale, Härryda
, Kungälv
, Lerum
, Mölndal
, Partille, Stenungsund
, Tjörn
, Öckerö
in Västra Götaland County
, and Kungsbacka
in Halland County
.
Angered
, a suburb outside Gothenburg, consists of Hjällbo, Rannebergen, Hammarkullen, Gårdsten and Lövgärdet. It is a Million Programme
part of Gothenburg, like Rosengård
in Malmö and Botkyrka in Stockholm. Angered has 40,000 inhabitants in total. It lies north from Gothenburg and is isolated from the rest of the city. Bergsjön
is another Million Programme suburb north of Gothenburg, Bergsjön has 14,000 inhabitants. Biskopsgården is the biggest multicultural suburb on the island Hisingen
, which is a part of Gothenburg separated by the river.
according to Köppen climate classification
. Despite its high northern latitude, temperatures are quite mild throughout the year and much warmer than places in similar latitude, or even somewhat further south, mainly because of the moderating influence of the warm Gulf Stream
. During the summer, daylight extends 17 hours, but lasts only around 7 hours in late December.
Summers are warm and pleasant with average high temperatures of 19 to 20 °C (66.2 to 68 F) and lows of 10 to 12 °C (50 to 53.6 F), but temperatures of 25 – occur on many days during the summer.
Winters are cold and windy with temperatures of around -5 C, even though it rarely drops below -10 °C. Precipitation is regular but generally moderate throughout the year. Snow mainly occurs from December to March, but is not unusual in November and April and can sometimes occur even in October and May.
Typical temperatures and precipitation for each month:
Selection of parks:
(see Points of interest). Another fact related to the industrial heritage of the city is that many of the cultural institutions, as well as hospitals and the university, were created thanks to donations from rich merchants and industrialists, for example the Röhsska Museum.
There are many free theatre ensembles in the city, besides institutions like Gothenburg City Theatre
, Backa Theatre
(youth theatre), and Folkteatern
. On 29 December 2004, the Museum of World Culture
was opened in Gothenburg, located near Korsvägen
.
The Gothenburg Film Festival
, held each year, is the largest film festival in Scandinavia. Similarly, the Gothenburg Book Fair, held every year in September, is the largest such event in Scandinavia.
Citing the Financial Crisis the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
has announced that Gothenburg will host the 2010 World Library and Information Congress, previously to be held in Brisbane
, Australia.
The first major architecturally interesting period is the 18th century when the East India Company
made Gothenburg an important trade city. Imposing stone houses with a Classical
look were erected around the canals. One example from this period is the East India House, which today houses Gothenburg’s City Museum
.
In the 19th century, the wealthy bourgeoisie begun to move outside the city walls which had protected the city when the Union of Denmark and Norway was still a threat. The style now was an eclectic, academic, somewhat over decorated style which the middle-class favoured. The working class lived in the overcrowded city district Haga
, in wooden houses.
In the 19th century the first important town plan after the founding of city was created, which led to the construction of the main street, Kungsportsavenyn
. The perhaps most significant type of houses of the city, Landshövdingehus
en, were built in the end of the 19th century; three storey-houses with the first floor in stone and the other two in wood.
A very important period in the architectural history of the city was the early 20th century, when the National Romantic style dominated. Among the many monumental building erected the Masthugget Church
can be mentioned.
And in the beginning of the 1920s, when the city celebrated its 300th anniversary, the Götaplatsen
square with its Neo-Classical
look was built.
After this the predominant style in Gothenburg and rest of Sweden was Functionalism
which especially dominated the suburbs like Västra Frölunda and Bergsjön
. The prominent Swedish functionalist architect Uno Åhrén
served as the city planner here from 1932 through 1943. In the 1950s, the big stadium Ullevi
was erected when Sweden hosted the 1958 FIFA World Cup
.
The modern architecture of the city is being formed by such architects as Gert Wingårdh
who started as a Post-Modernist in the 1980s.
A further remarkable construction is Brudaremossen TV Tower, one of the few partially guyed tower
s in the world.
]]
The Gothenburg Central Station
is in the heart of the city, just next to Nordstan and Drottningtorget. The building has been renovated and expanded numerous times since the grand opening in October 1858. In 2003 a major reconstruction was finished which brought the 19th century building in to the 21st century expanding the capacity for trains, travellers and shopping. Not far from the centralstation is Skanskaskrapan, or more common known as "The Lipstick". It's 86 meters high with 22 floors and coloured in red-white stripes. The skyscraper was designed by Ralph Erskine and built by Skanska
in the 1980s as the headquarter for the company.
By the shore of Göta Älv is the Gothenburg Opera
. It was completed in 1994. The architect Jan Izikowitz was inspired by the landscape and described his vision as "Something that makes your mind float over the squiggling landscape like the wings of a seagull.
Feskekôrka
, or Fiskhallen, is a fishmarket by the Rosenlundskanalen in the heart of Gothenburg. Feskekôrkan was opened on 1 November 1874 and the name comes from being compared with a church.
The Gothenburg Law Court
is in the Beaux-Arts.
The Gothenburg Synagogue
at Stora Nygatan, near Drottningtorget
, was built in 1855 according to the designs of the German architect August Krüger.
is the best known when it comes to classical music. Gothenburg also was the birthplace of the Swedish composer Kurt Atterberg
. Bands like The Soundtrack of Our Lives
and Ace of Base
are well known pop representatives of the city. There is also an active indie scene. For example, the musician Jens Lekman
was born in the suburb of Angered
and named his 2007 release Night Falls Over Kortedala
after another suburb (Kortedala
). Other internationally acclaimed indie artists include the electro pop duos Studio
, The Knife
, Air France
, The Tough Alliance
, songwriter José González
and pop singer El Perro Del Mar
as well as genre bending quartet Little Dragon
fronted by vocalist Yukimi Nagano
. Another son of the city is one of Swedens most popular singers, Håkan Hellström
, who often includes many places from the city in his songs.
Gothenburg's own commercially successful At the Gates
, In Flames
and Dark Tranquillity
are credited with pioneering melodic death metal
. Another well known band of the Gothenburg scene is The Haunted
. Progressive power metal band Evergrey
also originate from the city as do power metal bands HammerFall
and Dream Evil
.
The Metaltown Festival is a two day festival featuring heavy metal music
bands, held in Gothenburg. It has been arranged annually since 2004, taking place at the Frihamnen venue. The most recent festival in June 2010, included bands such as Coheed and Cambria
, Dark Tranquility, Rammstein
, Amon Amarth
, and In Flames
.
A popular place to buy fish ingredients is the Feskekôrka
("Fish Church"); an indoor fish market which got its name from the building's resemblance to a Gothic
church.
Five Gothenburg restaurants have a star in the 2008 Michelin Guide
: 28 +, Basement, Fond, Kock & Vin, Fiskekrogen and Sjömagasinet.
As in all of Sweden, a variety of sports are followed, including but not limited to football, ice hockey
, basketball, team handball
, and figure skating
. There is a varied amateur and professional sports clubs scene. Gothenburg is the birthplace of football in Sweden
as the first football match in Sweden
was played there in 1892. The city's three major clubs, IFK Göteborg
, Örgryte IS
and GAIS
share a total of 34 Swedish Championships between them. IFK has also won the UEFA Cup
twice. Other notable clubs include BK Häcken
(football), Pixbo Wallenstam IBK
(floorball
), multiple national team handball
champion Redbergslids IK
, and three time national ice hockey champion Frölunda HC
, Gothenburg has also a professional basketball team Gothia Basket
. The bandy
department of GAIS, GAIS Bandy
, played qualification matches to the highest division Elitserien
last season.
The city's most notable sports venues are Scandinavium
(ice hockey
), and Nya Ullevi (multisport) and the new-built Gamla Ullevi
(football).
Gothenburg has hosted a number of international sporting events including the 1958 FIFA World Cup
, the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup Final, an NFL preseason game on 14 August 1988 between the Chicago Bears
and the Minnesota Vikings
, the 1992 European Football Championship, the 1993 and the 2002 World Men's Handball Championship
, the 1995 World Championships in Athletics
, the 1997 World Championships in Swimming (Short track), the 2002 Ice Hockey World Championships
, the 2004 UEFA Cup
final, the 2006 European Championships in Athletics
, and the 2008 World Figure Skating Championships
. Annual events held in the city are the Gothia Cup
and the Göteborgsvarvet
.
Gothenburg will host the XIII FINA World Masters Championships 2010. Diving, swimming, synchronized swimming and open water competitions took place from 28 July to 7 August. The water polo events will be held on the neighboring city of Borås
.
.
Apart from trade, the second pillar of Gothenburg has traditionally been manufacturing, and industry which significantly contributes to the city's wealth. Major companies operating plants in the area include SKF
, Volvo
, and Ericsson
. Volvo Cars
is the largest employer in Gothenburg, not including jobs in supply companies. The blue collar industries which have dominated the city for long are still important factors in the city's economy, but they are being gradually replaced by high tech industries.
Banking and finance are also important trades as well as the event and tourist industry.
Gothenburg is the terminus of the Valdemar-Göteborg gas pipeline
, which brings natural gas from the North Sea
fields to Sweden, through Denmark.
Historically, Gothenburg was home base of the 18th century Swedish East India Company
and were from the founding of the city until the late 1970s a world leading city in ship building with shipyards as Eriksbergs Mekaniska Verkstads AB
, Götaverken
, Arendalsvarvet and Lindholmens varv.
and 9% from Iran
.
Gothenburg has two universities, both of which started off as colleges founded by private donations in the 19th century. The University of Gothenburg has approximately 25,000 students and is one of the largest universities in Scandinavia
and one of the most versatile in Sweden. Chalmers University of Technology
is a well known university located in Johanneberg 2 km south of the inner city, lately also established at Lindholmen in Norra Älvstranden, Hisingen
.
There are also four folk high school
s (Arbetarrörelsens Folkhögskola i Göteborg, Folkhögskolan i Angered, Göteborgs Folkhögskola, and Kvinnofolkhögskolan).
Gothenburg has some 25–30 high schools
. Four of the more notable schools are Schillerska gymnasiet, Donnergymnasiet, Hvitfeldtska gymnasiet
and Göteborgs Högre Samskola
. There are also some high-schools connected to big Swedish companies. One is SKF Technical high-school (belonging to SKF) and Gothenburg's technical high-school (belonging to Volvo).
Gothenburg is a popular destination for tourists on the Swedish west-coast, and offers a number of cultural and architectural highlights.
The main boulevard is called Kungsportsavenyn
(commonly known as Avenyn, "The Avenue"). It is about one kilometre long and starts at Götaplatsen
— which is the location of the Gothenburg Museum of Art
, the city's theatre, the city library as well as the concert hall— and stretches out all the way to Kungsportsplatsen
in the old city centre of Gothenburg, crossing a canal and a small park. The Avenyn was created in the 1860s and 1870s as a result of an international architecture contest, and is the product of a period of extensive town planning and re-modelling. Avenyn has Gothenburg's highest concentration of pubs and clubs.
Scandinavia's largest shopping centre, Nordstan
, is located in central Gothenburg. Gothenburg's Haga
district is known for its picturesque wooden houses and its cafés.
The Gothenburg Opera
house was inaugurated in 1994, and is an architectural landmark situated right next to the Göta älv
river. Museums include the Gothenburg Museum of Art
, Göteborgs Konsthall
, Röhss Museum
, and several museums of sea and navigation history, natural history, the sciences, and East India. The Museum of World Culture
was inaugurated in 2004. Aeroseum, close to the Göteborg City Airport
, is a unique aircraft museum in a former military under ground Air Force base.
The Gothenburg Botanical Garden is considered to be one of the most important botanical garden
s in Europe with three stars in the French Guide Rouge. Next to the botanical garden is Gothenburg's largest park, Slottsskogen
, where the Natural History Museum (Naturhistoriska Museet) is located. The park is also home to the city's oldest observatorie and a zoo.
The amusement park Liseberg
is located in the central part of the city. Liseberg is Scandinavia
's largest amusement park by number of rides, and the most popular attraction in Sweden by number of visitors per year (more than 3 millions). Located near Liseberg is a science discovery centre named Universeum
.
One of Gothenburg's most popular natural tourist attractions is the Southern Gothenburg Archipelago
, which is a set of many picturesque islands that can be reached by ferry boat. Within the archipelago Älvsborg Fortress
, Vinga
and Styrsö
islands are popular places to visit.
The Gunnebo House
can be seen South of Gothenburg, in Mölndal
. It was built in a neoclassical architecture
towards the end of the 18th century.
s around Gothenburg:
The Swedish company Stena Line
operates between Gothenburg/Frederikshavn
in Denmark and Gothenburg/Kiel
in Germany.
The "England ferry" (Englandsfärjan) to Newcastle over Kristiansand (run by the Danish
company DFDS Seaways
) ceased at the end of October 2006, after being a Gothenburg institution since the 19th century. DFDS Seaways' sister company, DFDS Tor Line, continues to run scheduled freight ships between Gothenburg and several English ports, and these have limited capacity for passengers and their private vehicles. There are also freight ships to North America and East Asia.
) and the Nils Ericson Terminal
with trains and buses to various destinations in Sweden, as well as connections to Oslo
and Copenhagen
(via Malmö
).
is the largest tram/light rail network in Scandinavia
. The bus network, however, is almost as important. There are also some boat and ferry services. The lack of a subway is due to the soft ground on which Gothenburg is situated. Tunneling is very expensive in such conditions. There is also a commuter rail
in Gothenburg servicing nearby some nearby cities and towns.
with:
Bergen
, Norway Turku
, Finland Aarhus Municipality
, Denmark Oslo
, Norway
Shanghai
, China Lyon
, France Chicago
, United States Cracow
, Poland
St. Petersburg, Russia Tallinn
, Estonia Rostock
, Germany Badalona
, Spain
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area. Gothenburg is classified as a global city
Global city
A global city is a city that is deemed to be an important node in the global economic system...
by GaWC, with a ranking of Gamma−.
The City of Gothenburg was founded in 1621 by King Gustavus Adolphus. It lies by the sea at the mouth of Göta Älv
Göta älv
The Göta is a river that drains lake Vänern into the Kattegat at the city of Gothenburg on the western coast of Sweden. It is located in Götaland, with the river itself being a site of early Geatish settlement. The length is 93 km. Often the combination of Göta älv and Klarälven is mentioned...
—the river running through the city—and is the largest seaport in the Nordic countries
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
.
Gothenburg is home to many students, as the city includes both the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology
Chalmers University of Technology
Chalmers University of Technology , is a Swedish university located in Gothenburg that focuses on research and education in technology, natural science and architecture.-History:...
. Volvo Cars
Volvo Cars
Volvo Car Corporation, or Volvo Personvagnar AB, is a Swedish automobile manufacturer founded in 1927, in Gothenburg, Sweden. It is owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. Volvo was originally formed as a subsidiary company to the ball bearing maker SKF. When Volvo AB was introduced on the Swedish...
was founded in Gothenburg in 1927. The city is a major centre in Sweden for sports and home to the IFK Göteborg
IFK Göteborg
IFK Göteborg is a Swedish professional football club based in Gothenburg. Founded in 1904, the club has won 18 national championship titles, five national cup titles, and two UEFA Cups....
, GAIS
GAIS
Göteborgs Atlet- och Idrottssällskap is a Swedish football club based in Gothenburg, currently playing in Allsvenskan. The club is commonly referred to simply as GAIS, while its fans also refers to the club as grönsvart or the mackerels because of the traditional shirt colours...
and Örgryte IS
Örgryte IS
Örgryte IS, also commonly referred to as ÖIS, is a Swedish football club based in Gothenburg.-History:The club was founded on 4 December 1887 and participated in the first football match in Sweden on 22 May 1892. Örgryte IS has won 12 national championship titles and one national cup title. After...
association football teams as well as the Frölunda HC
Frölunda HC
Frölunda Hockey Club, also known as the Frölunda Indians, are a Swedish professional ice hockey club based in Gothenburg. They are currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Elitserien, where they have played the majority of the seasons during its existence. The last time they played in the...
ice hockey team.
Gothenburg is served by Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport
Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport
Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport is an international airport serving the Gothenburg region in Sweden. With 4.3 million passengers in 2006 it is Sweden's second-largest airport...
, located 30 km (18.64 mi) southeast of the city centre. It is the second largest airport in Sweden.
Name
The city was named after the Geats (Swedish: Götar varied: Geatas, Gautar, GothsGoths
The Goths were an East Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin whose two branches, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, played an important role in the fall of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Medieval Europe....
, Gotar, Gøtar, Götar), the inhabitants of Gothia, now southern Sweden—i.e. "Defence of the Geats". The river on which the city sits is the Göta Älv or Gothia River. Göta borg "Gothia Fortress" is the fort on the Göta River, built to protect the port, which was intended to be Sweden's commercial window to the west.
In Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
, Scots
Scots language
Scots is the Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster . It is sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic, the Celtic language variety spoken in most of the western Highlands and in the Hebrides.Since there are no universally accepted...
and English, all languages with a long history of being spoken in this trade and maritime-oriented city, the name Gothenburg has traditionally been used for the city as in the Gothenburg Film Festival
Gothenburg Film Festival
Göteborg International Film Festival is an annual film festival in Gothenburg, Sweden, launched in 1979. The first year the festival showed 17 films on 3 screens, and had 3 000 visitors. Today, the film festival is the biggest in Scandinavia and takes place 10 days every year between January and...
. The French form of the city name is Gothembourg. Gottenburg can also be seen in some older English texts. These traditional forms are now sometimes replaced with the use of the Swedish Göteborg, for example by the Göteborgsoperan and the Göteborg Ballet. However, Göteborgs universitet, previously designated as Göteborg University in English, changed to the University of Gothenburg in 2008. The municipality of Gothenburg has also reverted to the use of the English name in international contexts. Other old variations in Swedish are Götheborgh, and the more common, Götheborg. One English text written in the late 15th century states the name as "Guthaeborg".
History
Denmark–Norway
Denmark–Norway is the historiographical name for a former political entity consisting of the kingdoms of Denmark and Norway, including the originally Norwegian dependencies of Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands...
. After several failed attempts, Gothenburg was successfully founded in 1621 by King Gustavus Adolphus
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
Gustav II Adolf has been widely known in English by his Latinized name Gustavus Adolphus Magnus and variously in historical writings also as Gustavus, or Gustavus the Great, or Gustav Adolph the Great,...
(Gustaf II Adolf). The site of the first church built in Gothenburg, subsequently destroyed by Dutch invaders, is marked by a stone near the north end of the Älvsborg Bridge
Älvsborg Bridge
The Älvsborg Bridge is a suspension bridge over Göta älv in Gothenburg, Sweden, which connects the north and the south part of the city. It was built in 1966 and designed by Sven Olof Asplund. The total length of the bridge is 933 metres and distance between the towers is 417 metres, while the...
in Färjenäs park. The church was built in 1603 and destroyed in 1611. The city was heavily influenced by the Dutch. Dutch city planners were contracted to build the city as they had the skills needed to build in the marshy areas around the city. The town was designed like Dutch cities such as Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. The plan of the streets and canals of Gothenburg closely resembles that of Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
, which was built by the Dutch around the same time. The Dutchmen initially won political power and it was not until 1652, when the last Dutch politician in the city's council died, that the Swedes
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
acquired political power over Gothenburg. During the Dutch period the town followed Dutch town laws and there were propositions to make Dutch the official language in the town. Heavy city walls were built during the 17th century. These city walls were torn down after about 1810, because the development of cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
s made such walls less valuable as a defence.
Along with the Dutch, the town also was influenced by Scots
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
who came to settle in Gothenburg. Many became people of high profile. William Chalmers
William Chalmers
William Chalmers was a Swedish merchant and freemason. He was born in Gothenburg in 1748 as the son of the Scottish merchant, William Chalmers, Sr., and his Swedish wife, Inga Orre. William Chalmers Jr. was the oldest amongst his brothers James, George Andreas and Charles Chalmers...
was the son of a Scottish immigrant and donated his fortunes to set up what later became Chalmers University of Technology
Chalmers University of Technology
Chalmers University of Technology , is a Swedish university located in Gothenburg that focuses on research and education in technology, natural science and architecture.-History:...
. In 1841 the Scotsman Alexander Keiller founded the Götaverken
Götaverken
Götaverken was a shipbuilding company that was located on Hisingen, Gothenburg. It was founded in 1841, and went bankrupt in 1989.The company was founded in 1841 by a Scottish businessman called Alexander Keiller under the name Keillers Werkstad i Göteborg, and was aimed at industrial production...
shipbuilding company that still exists today. His son James Keiller donated Keiller Park to the city in 1906. The Scottish influence can still be felt in Gothenburg in the present-day with names like Glenn
Glenn (name)
Glenn is a surname derived from the Irish/Scottish Gaelic word gleann. In the 19th century, Glenn also became common as a given name in English speaking cultures....
and Morgan
Morgan (given name)
Morgan, or Morgen, is a given name related to the modern Irish word móraigeanta, meaning magnanimous. One source gives the meaning of the feminine name as "great queen" and relates the name to the Morrígan, a goddess of war...
, which in the rest of Sweden are rare, are not uncommon in Gothenburg, as is the use of a Scottish sounding "r" in the local dialect.
The Gothenburg coat of arms was based on the lion of the coat of arms of Sweden
Coat of arms of Sweden
The greater national coat of arms and the lesser national coat of arms are the official coats of arms of Sweden.- Escutcheon :...
, symbolically holding a shield with the national emblem, the Three Crowns
Three Crowns
Three Crowns is a national emblem of Sweden, present in the Coat of Arms of the Realm of Sweden, and composed by three yellow or gilded coronets ordered two above and one below, placed on a blue background....
, to defend against its enemies.
Treaty of Roskilde
The Treaty of Roskilde was concluded on 26 February or 8 March 1658 during the Second Northern War between Frederick III of Denmark–Norway and Charles X Gustav of Sweden in the Danish city of Roskilde...
(1658) Denmark-Norway ceded the then Danish province Halland
Halland
' is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden , on the western coast of Sweden. It borders Västergötland, Småland, Scania and the sea of Kattegat.-Administration:...
, to the south, and the Norwegian province of Bohus County or Bohuslän
Bohuslän
' is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Götaland on the northernmost part of the country's west coast. It is bordered by Dalsland to the northeast, Västergötland to the southeast, the Skagerrak arm of the North Sea to the west, and the county of Østfold in Norway to the north...
to the north, leaving Gothenburg in a less exposed position. Gothenburg was able to grow into an important port and trade centre on the west coast thanks to the fact that it was the only city on the west coast that was granted, together with Marstrand
Marstrand
Marstrand is a seaside locality situated in Kungälv Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 1,432 inhabitants in 2005. It has held city privileges since 1200. The most striking feature about Marstrand is the 17th century fortress Carlsten, named after King Carl X Gustav of Sweden. The...
, the rights to trade with merchants from other countries.
In the 18th century, fishing was the most important industry. However, in 1731 the Swedish East India Company
Swedish East India Company
The Swedish East India Company was founded in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1731 for the purpose of conducting trade with the Far East...
was founded, and the city flourished due to its foreign trade with highly profitable commercial expeditions to Asian countries.
The harbour developed into Sweden's main harbour for trade towards the west, and with Swedish emigration to North America increasing, Gothenburg became Sweden's main point of departure. The impact of Gothenburg as a main port of embarkation for Swedish emigrants is reflected by Gothenburg, Nebraska
Gothenburg, Nebraska
Gothenburg is a city in Dawson County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Lexington, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,619 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, a small Swedish settlement in the United States.
With the 19th century, Gothenburg evolved into a modern industrial city that continued on into the 20th century. The population increased tenfold in the century, from 13,000 (1800) to 130,000 (1900). In the 20th century major companies that developed included SKF
SKF
SKF, Svenska Kullagerfabriken AB , later AB SKF, is a Swedish bearing company founded in 1907, supplying bearings, seals, lubrication and lubrication systems, maintenance products, mechatronics products, power transmission products and related services globally.-History:The company was founded on...
(est. 1907) and Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
(est. 1926).
In 2001, major protests occurred
Protests during the EU summit in Gothenburg 2001
The protests during the EU summit in Gothenburg 2001, parts of which are often called the Gothenburg Riots , took place in the Swedish city of Gothenburg during the three days of the EU summit and EU–US Summit, June 14–16, 2001...
in the city during the EU summit and the visit by U.S. president
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
Geography
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark, and Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway. The location at the mouth of the river Göta älv
Göta älv
The Göta is a river that drains lake Vänern into the Kattegat at the city of Gothenburg on the western coast of Sweden. It is located in Götaland, with the river itself being a site of early Geatish settlement. The length is 93 km. Often the combination of Göta älv and Klarälven is mentioned...
, which feeds into Kattegatt, an arm of the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
, has helped the city grow in significance as a trading city
Trading post
A trading post was a place or establishment in historic Northern America where the trading of goods took place. The preferred travel route to a trading post or between trading posts, was known as a trade route....
. The archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
of Gothenburg consists of rough, barren rocks and cliffs, which also is typical for the coast of Bohuslän
Bohuslän
' is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Götaland on the northernmost part of the country's west coast. It is bordered by Dalsland to the northeast, Västergötland to the southeast, the Skagerrak arm of the North Sea to the west, and the county of Østfold in Norway to the north...
. Due to the Gulf Stream
Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe, the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates at the tip of Florida, and follows the eastern coastlines of the United States and Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean...
the city has a mild climate and quite a lot of rain.
The Gothenburg Metropolitan Area (Stor-Göteborg) has 816,931 inhabitants and extends to the municipalities of Ale, Härryda
Härryda
Härryda is a locality situated in Härryda Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 861 inhabitants in 2005. Despite its name it is not the seat of the municipality, which is the much larger Mölnlycke....
, Kungälv
Kungälv
Kungälv is a city and the seat of Kungälv Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 21,139 inhabitants in 2005.-History:According to Swedish official sources the city was founded in 1612, when the former settlement at Kungahälla was moved to the Bohus Fortress...
, Lerum
Lerum
Lerum is a locality and the seat of Lerum Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 15,819 inhabitants in 2005.-Overview:Lerum has a station on the Gothenburg commuter rail system and is a suburb of Gothenburg....
, Mölndal
Mölndal
Mölndal is a part of the Gothenburg urban area on the west-coast of Sweden, and constitutes the administrative centre of Mölndal Municipality. About 40,000 of the municipality's 60,000 inhabitants live here.-Geography:...
, Partille, Stenungsund
Stenungsund
Stenungsund is a locality and the seat of Stenungsund Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 10,067 inhabitants in 2005.-Overview:Stenungsund was once only an idyllic bathing and vacation location on the Swedish west coast...
, Tjörn
Tjörn
Tjörn is the sixth largest island in Sweden. It is located on the Swedish West coast in the province of Bohuslän.-Geography:Tjörn is connected in the east to the town of Stenungsund on the mainland by the Tjörn bridge, and to the island of Orust in the north by theSkåpesund bridge. The largest town...
, Öckerö
Öckerö
Öckerö is an island and a locality and the seat of Öckerö Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 3,269 inhabitants in 2005.- References :...
in Västra Götaland County
Västra Götaland County
Västra Götaland County is a county or län on the western coast of Sweden.The county is the second largest of Sweden's counties and it is subdivided into 49 municipalities . Its population of 1,550,000 amounts to 17% of Sweden's population...
, and Kungsbacka
Kungsbacka
Kungsbacka is a locality and the seat of Kungsbacka Municipality in Halland County, Sweden, with 17,784 inhabitants in 2005.It is one of the most affluent parts of Sweden, in part due to its simultaneous proximity to stunning countryside and the large city of Gothenburg..-History:The first records...
in Halland County
Halland County
Halland County is a county on the western coast of Sweden. It corresponds roughly to the cultural and historical province of Halland. The capital is Halmstad....
.
Angered
Angered
Angered is a suburb in Gothenburg Municipality, Sweden. Angered is the biggest Million Programme area in Gothenburg, and one of the biggest in the country with 40 000 inhabitants....
, a suburb outside Gothenburg, consists of Hjällbo, Rannebergen, Hammarkullen, Gårdsten and Lövgärdet. It is a Million Programme
Million Programme
The Million Programme is the common name for an ambitious housing programme implemented in Sweden between 1965 and 1974 by the governing Swedish Social Democratic Party to make sure everyone could have a home at a reasonable price. The aim of the programme was to build a million new dwellings in a...
part of Gothenburg, like Rosengård
Rosengård
Rosengård, literally "Rose court", is a city district in Malmö, Sweden. As of 1 January 2007, the population was 21,955, of which 60 percent were born outside of Sweden. In 2008 a total 86% of the population in the city district was of foreign background...
in Malmö and Botkyrka in Stockholm. Angered has 40,000 inhabitants in total. It lies north from Gothenburg and is isolated from the rest of the city. Bergsjön
Bergsjön
Bergsjön is a district in eastern Gothenburg, Sweden. On January 1, 2011, Bergsjön and Kortedala together became the Eastern District of Gothenburg, as a part of a larger reorganization of the City of Gothenburg where the number of district councils has been halved to ten. Bergsjön, as part of...
is another Million Programme suburb north of Gothenburg, Bergsjön has 14,000 inhabitants. Biskopsgården is the biggest multicultural suburb on the island Hisingen
Hisingen
Hisingen is the fourth-largest island of Sweden , with an area of , and the most populous, forming part of Gothenburg Municipality, Västra Götaland County. It is bordered by the Göta älv in the south and east, the Nordre älv in the north, and the Kattegat in the west...
, which is a part of Gothenburg separated by the river.
Climate
Gothenburg has an oceanic climateOceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also called marine west coast climate, maritime climate, Cascadian climate and British climate for Köppen climate classification Cfb and subtropical highland for Köppen Cfb or Cwb, is a type of climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of some of the...
according to Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
. Despite its high northern latitude, temperatures are quite mild throughout the year and much warmer than places in similar latitude, or even somewhat further south, mainly because of the moderating influence of the warm Gulf Stream
Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe, the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates at the tip of Florida, and follows the eastern coastlines of the United States and Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean...
. During the summer, daylight extends 17 hours, but lasts only around 7 hours in late December.
Summers are warm and pleasant with average high temperatures of 19 to 20 °C (66.2 to 68 F) and lows of 10 to 12 °C (50 to 53.6 F), but temperatures of 25 – occur on many days during the summer.
Winters are cold and windy with temperatures of around -5 C, even though it rarely drops below -10 °C. Precipitation is regular but generally moderate throughout the year. Snow mainly occurs from December to March, but is not unusual in November and April and can sometimes occur even in October and May.
Typical temperatures and precipitation for each month:
Parks and nature
Gothenburg has many parks and nature reserves ranging in size from tens of metres to hundreds of hectares. There are many more green areas that are maintained on varying.Selection of parks:
- Kungsparken. 13 hectares, built between 1839–1861. Surrounds the canal that circles the city centre.
- TrädgårdsföreningenTrädgårdsföreningenTrädgårdsföreningen is a park and horticultural garden in central Gothenburg, Sweden. It is located next to Kungsportsavenyn.The park was founded in 1842 by the Swedish king Carl XIV Johan and on initiative of the amateur botanist Henric Elof von Normann....
. A park and horticultural garden, it is located next to KungsportsavenynKungsportsavenynKungsportsavenyn, commonly known as just Avenyn , is the main street of Gothenburg, Sweden, and a smaller counterpart of the Champs-Élysées. It was created in the 1860s and 1870s as a result of an international town planning competition...
. Founded in 1842 by the Swedish king Carl XIV Johan and on initiative of the amateur botanist Henric Elof von Normann. In the park there is an acclaimed rose garden with some 4,000 roses of 1,900 species. - SlottsskogenSlottsskogen-External links:*...
. 137 hectares, Created in 1874 by August Kobb. Has a free "open" zoo that includes seals, penguins, horses, pigs, deer, elk, goats and many birds. Hosts the Way Out West FestivalWay Out West FestivalWay Out West is a three-day music festival held in Gothenburg, Sweden, during August that plays host to a variety of popular music artists mainly from the rock, electronic and hip-hop genres...
. - Änggårdsbergens Naturreservat. 220 hectares. Bought in 1840 by Arvid Gren, a pharmacist, in 1963 donated to the city by Sven and Carl Gren Broberg who stated the area must remain a nature and bird reserve. Lies partly in Mölndal.
- Delsjöområdets Naturreservat. Approx. 760 hectares. In use since 17th century as a farming area, a lot of forest management was carried out in the late 19th century. Skatås gym & motionscentrum is situated here.
- Rya Skogs NaturreservatRya ForestThe Rya Forest is a nature reserve in Gothenburg, Sweden. It is located on the Hisingen island, on the northern bank of the Göta River. It has an area of 17 hectares...
. 17 hectares, in 1928 became a protected area. Contains remnants of a defensive wall built in the mid to late 17th century. - Keillers Park. James Keiller donated the park in 1906. He was the son of Scottish Alexander Keiller who founded GötaverkenGötaverkenGötaverken was a shipbuilding company that was located on Hisingen, Gothenburg. It was founded in 1841, and went bankrupt in 1989.The company was founded in 1841 by a Scottish businessman called Alexander Keiller under the name Keillers Werkstad i Göteborg, and was aimed at industrial production...
, a shipbuilding company. - S.A. Hedlunds Park. Sven Adolf HedlundSven Adolf HedlundSven Adolf Hedlund , also known as S. A. Hedlund, was a Swedish newspaper publisher and politician....
, newspaper publisher and politician bought the 15 hectare Bjurslätt farm in 1857, in 1928 it was gifted to the city. - Hisingsparken. Gothenburg's biggest park.
- Flunsåsparken. Built in 1950. Has many free activities during the summer such as concerts and theatre. See links.
- Gothenburg Botanical Garden. 175 hectares. Opened in 1923. Won an award in 2003 and in 2006 was 3rd in "The most beautiful garden in Europe" competition. Around 16,000 species of plant and tree. The greenhouses contain around 4500 species including 1600 orchids.
Culture
The sea, trade and industrial history of the city is evident in the cultural life of Gothenburg. The greatest attraction in the city is the amusement park LisebergLiseberg
Liseberg is an amusement park located in Gothenburg, Sweden, the park opened in 1923. Liseberg is one of the most visited amusement parks in Scandinavia, attracting around 3 million visitors annually. Among the noteworthy attractions is the wooden roller coaster Balder, voted twice as the Best...
(see Points of interest). Another fact related to the industrial heritage of the city is that many of the cultural institutions, as well as hospitals and the university, were created thanks to donations from rich merchants and industrialists, for example the Röhsska Museum.
There are many free theatre ensembles in the city, besides institutions like Gothenburg City Theatre
Gothenburg City Theatre
Gothenburg City Theatre opened in 1934 at Götaplatsen square in Gothenburg, Sweden. The theatre was drawn by Carl Bergsten who gave the exterior a Neo-Classical look with a touch of Streamline Moderne. The critics thought it to be a too old-fashioned building – the International Style had had a big...
, Backa Theatre
Backa Theatre
Backa Theatre is a theatre and theatre company in Gothenburg, Sweden, specialized in youth and children theatre. When it started in 1970's it was touring company, but after some years it settled in an old bolt factory which was renovated.. Backa theatre has a good reputation in Sweden and has been...
(youth theatre), and Folkteatern
Folkteatern
Folkteatern is a theatre in Gothenburg, Sweden. The big stage has 400 seats, while the smaller one have a capacity of 60 seats....
. On 29 December 2004, the Museum of World Culture
Museum of World Culture
The national Museum of World Culture opened in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2004. Its aim is to interpret the subject of world culture in an interdisciplinary way. The museum is situated next to the Universeum Science Centre and the amusement park Liseberg and close to Korsvägen."The museum interprets...
was opened in Gothenburg, located near Korsvägen
Korsvägen
Korsvägen is a public square, traffic junction and public transport hub close to Universeum, The Swedish Fair, The Museum of World Culture and the amusement park Liseberg in Gothenburg, Sweden. A major armament of the square/junction was made in the 1990s...
.
The Gothenburg Film Festival
Gothenburg Film Festival
Göteborg International Film Festival is an annual film festival in Gothenburg, Sweden, launched in 1979. The first year the festival showed 17 films on 3 screens, and had 3 000 visitors. Today, the film festival is the biggest in Scandinavia and takes place 10 days every year between January and...
, held each year, is the largest film festival in Scandinavia. Similarly, the Gothenburg Book Fair, held every year in September, is the largest such event in Scandinavia.
Citing the Financial Crisis the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions is the leading international association of library organisations. It is the global voice of the library and information profession, and its annual conference provides a venue for librarians to learn from one another...
has announced that Gothenburg will host the 2010 World Library and Information Congress, previously to be held in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Australia.
Architecture
There are very few houses left from the 17th century when the city was founded, since all but the military and royal houses were built of wood. One example is Skansen Kronan.The first major architecturally interesting period is the 18th century when the East India Company
Swedish East India Company
The Swedish East India Company was founded in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1731 for the purpose of conducting trade with the Far East...
made Gothenburg an important trade city. Imposing stone houses with a Classical
Classical architecture
Classical architecture is a mode of architecture employing vocabulary derived in part from the Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, enriched by classicizing architectural practice in Europe since the Renaissance...
look were erected around the canals. One example from this period is the East India House, which today houses Gothenburg’s City Museum
City Museum of Gothenburg
The City Museum of Gothenburg is located in an 18th century house originally built for the Swedish East India Company in the city centre of Gothenburg, Sweden. The museum itself was created in 1861 with the British Victoria and Albert Museum as model. The City Museum is a Cultural History museum...
.
Haga, Gothenburg
Haga is a city district in Gothenburg, Sweden, renowned for its picturesque wooden houses, 19th century-atmosphere and cafés. Originally a working class suburb of the city with a rather bad reputation, it was gradually transformed into a popular visiting place for tourists and Gothenburgers...
, in wooden houses.
In the 19th century the first important town plan after the founding of city was created, which led to the construction of the main street, Kungsportsavenyn
Kungsportsavenyn
Kungsportsavenyn, commonly known as just Avenyn , is the main street of Gothenburg, Sweden, and a smaller counterpart of the Champs-Élysées. It was created in the 1860s and 1870s as a result of an international town planning competition...
. The perhaps most significant type of houses of the city, Landshövdingehus
Landshövdingehus
Landshövdingehus is a building type unique for the Swedish city of Gothenburg. The history behind these buildings has its twists. 19th century city bylaws ruled that houses made of wood could be of maximum two storeys height, in order to protect against fires...
en, were built in the end of the 19th century; three storey-houses with the first floor in stone and the other two in wood.
A very important period in the architectural history of the city was the early 20th century, when the National Romantic style dominated. Among the many monumental building erected the Masthugget Church
Masthugget Church
Masthugget Church in Gothenburg, Sweden, was built in 1914. Its position on a high hill close to the city and near the Göta älv makes it a striking sight – the church tower is 60 meters high in itself. The church represents the national romantic style in Nordic architecture and was drawn by...
can be mentioned.
And in the beginning of the 1920s, when the city celebrated its 300th anniversary, the Götaplatsen
Götaplatsen
Götaplatsen is a public square in Gothenburg, Sweden, at the southern end of Kungsportsavenyn , the city's main street...
square with its Neo-Classical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
look was built.
After this the predominant style in Gothenburg and rest of Sweden was Functionalism
Functionalism (architecture)
Functionalism, in architecture, is the principle that architects should design a building based on the purpose of that building. This statement is less self-evident than it first appears, and is a matter of confusion and controversy within the profession, particularly in regard to modern...
which especially dominated the suburbs like Västra Frölunda and Bergsjön
Bergsjön
Bergsjön is a district in eastern Gothenburg, Sweden. On January 1, 2011, Bergsjön and Kortedala together became the Eastern District of Gothenburg, as a part of a larger reorganization of the City of Gothenburg where the number of district councils has been halved to ten. Bergsjön, as part of...
. The prominent Swedish functionalist architect Uno Åhrén
Uno Åhrén
Uno Åhrén was a Swedish architect and city planner, and a leading proponent of Functionalism in Sweden....
served as the city planner here from 1932 through 1943. In the 1950s, the big stadium Ullevi
Ullevi
Ullevi is a stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden. The stadium was built for the 1958 FIFA World Cup, but since then Ullevi has also hosted the 1995 World Championships in Athletics and the 2006 European Championships in Athletics, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup finals in 1983 and 1990, the UEFA Euro 1992...
was erected when Sweden hosted the 1958 FIFA World Cup
1958 FIFA World Cup
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European...
.
The modern architecture of the city is being formed by such architects as Gert Wingårdh
Gert Wingårdh
Gert Wingårdh is a Swedish architect whose company, Wingårdh arkitektkontor, maintains an international practice.- Personal life :Gert Wingårdh was born 1951 into a wealthy family in Skövde, Västergötland county, as the only child. His father owned the local cement factory and the family’s house...
who started as a Post-Modernist in the 1980s.
A further remarkable construction is Brudaremossen TV Tower, one of the few partially guyed tower
Partially guyed tower
A partially guyed tower is a tower structure which consists of a free-standing basement, in most cases of concrete or of lattice steel with a guyed mast on the top. The anchor basements of the guyed mast can be on the top of the tower or on the ground.-Use:...
s in the world.
Characteristic buildings
The Gothenburg Central Station
Gothenburg Central Station
Gothenburg Central Station is the main railway station of Gothenburg and the third largest railway station in Sweden after Stockholm Central Station and Malmö Central Station. The station opened in October the 4th, 1858. Approximately 40 000 travelers visit the station every day. The station is...
is in the heart of the city, just next to Nordstan and Drottningtorget. The building has been renovated and expanded numerous times since the grand opening in October 1858. In 2003 a major reconstruction was finished which brought the 19th century building in to the 21st century expanding the capacity for trains, travellers and shopping. Not far from the centralstation is Skanskaskrapan, or more common known as "The Lipstick". It's 86 meters high with 22 floors and coloured in red-white stripes. The skyscraper was designed by Ralph Erskine and built by Skanska
Skanska
Skanska AB, is a multinational construction and development company based in Sweden, where it also is the largest construction company. The company's head office is in Solna, north of Stockholm.-History:...
in the 1980s as the headquarter for the company.
By the shore of Göta Älv is the Gothenburg Opera
Gothenburg Opera
The Gothenburg Opera, , is an opera house in Gothenburg, Sweden. In marketing, the name is often spelled as "GöteborgsOperan", which however is not grammatically correct.- History :...
. It was completed in 1994. The architect Jan Izikowitz was inspired by the landscape and described his vision as "Something that makes your mind float over the squiggling landscape like the wings of a seagull.
Feskekôrka
Feskekôrka
Feskekôrka ) is an indoor fish market in Gothenburg, Sweden, which got its name from the building's resemblance to a Gothic church. It opened 1 November 1874 and was drawn by the city architect Victor von Gegerfelt...
, or Fiskhallen, is a fishmarket by the Rosenlundskanalen in the heart of Gothenburg. Feskekôrkan was opened on 1 November 1874 and the name comes from being compared with a church.
The Gothenburg Law Court
Gothenburg Law Court
The Gothenburg Law Court in Göteborg, Sweden is a Beaux-Arts style foundation structure which is used primarily as a law court....
is in the Beaux-Arts.
The Gothenburg Synagogue
Gothenburg Synagogue
The Gothenburg Synagogue at Stora Nygatan, near Drottningtorget, Gothenburg, Sweden, was built in 1855 according to the designs of the German architect August Krüger. The synagogue has 300 seats....
at Stora Nygatan, near Drottningtorget
Drottningtorget
Drottningtorget is a common name for public squares in Swedish cities, the three best known being:*Drottningtorget, Gothenburg*Drottningtorget, Malmö*Drottningtorget, Linköping...
, was built in 1855 according to the designs of the German architect August Krüger.
Music
Gothenburg has a diverse music community—the Gothenburg Symphony OrchestraGothenburg Symphony Orchestra
The Göteborgs Symfoniker is an orchestra based in Gothenburg, Sweden. Founded in 1905, it was granted the title of the "National Orchestra of Sweden" in 1997...
is the best known when it comes to classical music. Gothenburg also was the birthplace of the Swedish composer Kurt Atterberg
Kurt Atterberg
Kurt Magnus Atterberg was a Swedish composer. He is best known for his symphonies, operas and ballets. Atterberg once said that: "The Russians, Brahms, Reger were my ideals." His music combines their influences with Swedish folk tunes.-Biography:Atterberg was born in Gothenburg as the son of the...
. Bands like The Soundtrack of Our Lives
The Soundtrack of Our Lives
The Soundtrack of Our Lives, alternatively known as T.S.O.O.L. or Soundtrack, is a Swedish rock band that formed in 1995 after the dissolution of the punk band Union Carbide Productions....
and Ace of Base
Ace of Base
Ace of Base is a pop band based in Gothenburg, Sweden. Its original lineup consisted of Ulf "Buddha" Ekberg, and three siblings, Jonas "Joker" Berggren, Malin "Linn" Berggren and Jenny Berggren...
are well known pop representatives of the city. There is also an active indie scene. For example, the musician Jens Lekman
Jens Lekman
Jens Martin Lekman is a Swedish musician. His music is guitar-based pop with heavy use of samples and strings, with lyrics that are often witty, romantic, and melancholic. The English lyrics reflect an advanced knowledge of the language and its idioms...
was born in the suburb of Angered
Angered
Angered is a suburb in Gothenburg Municipality, Sweden. Angered is the biggest Million Programme area in Gothenburg, and one of the biggest in the country with 40 000 inhabitants....
and named his 2007 release Night Falls Over Kortedala
Night Falls Over Kortedala
Night Falls Over Kortedala is the second full length release by Swedish pop singer Jens Lekman. Announced on 25 July 2007, and advertised on Lekman's website as a "a collection of recordings 2004-2007", the album was released in Scandinavia on the label Service on 5 September 2007 and worldwide on...
after another suburb (Kortedala
Kortedala
Kortedala is a district, mainly residential , in the north-eastern part of Gothenburg in western Sweden. The area houses a population of around 10,000 inhabitants and is one of the typical 1950s suburbs of Gothenburg. The area is very lush and green with many trees and parks...
). Other internationally acclaimed indie artists include the electro pop duos Studio
Studio (band)
Studio is a Swedish electronic music band. They have been described as the missing link between The Cure and Lindstrøm - while simultaneously touching upon Can, Neu, Happy Mondays and The Smiths - in their creation of a "afrobeat-dub-disco-indie-pop" adventure...
, The Knife
The Knife
The Knife are a Swedish electronic music duo from Gothenburg, formed in 1999. The group consists of siblings Karin Dreijer Andersson and Olof Dreijer, who together also run their own record company, Rabid Records. They first received international attention after their song "Heartbeats", covered by...
, Air France
Air France (band)
Air France is a band from Gothenburg, Sweden composed of Joel Karlsson and Henrik Markstedt. They are signed to the record label Sincerely Yours, founded by The Tough Alliance. Air France's music has been described as "post-rave bliss", "beach foam pop", and "Balearic disco"...
, The Tough Alliance
The Tough Alliance
The Tough Alliance, or TTA, was an electronic pop music duo from Gothenburg, Sweden. The duo first came together in 2003 and consists of childhood friends Henning Fürst and Eric Berglund...
, songwriter José González
José González
José González is a Swedish-Argentine indie folk singer-songwriter and guitarist from Gothenburg, Sweden.González is also a member of Swedish band Junip, along with Elias Araya and Tobias Winterkorn.- Biography :...
and pop singer El Perro Del Mar
El Perro del Mar
El Perro del Mar is a musical project that was founded in December 2003 in Gothenburg, Sweden. The sole member of El Perro del Mar, Sarah Assbring, initially started as an MP3/CD-R artist and released her first songs through Hybris Records...
as well as genre bending quartet Little Dragon
Little Dragon
Little Dragon are a Swedish electronic band, formed in Gothenburg in 1996. It consists of Swedish-Japanese singer Yukimi Nagano and her close high school friends Erik Bodin , Fredrik Källgren Wallin and Håkan Wirenstrand .Little Dragon's first release was the double A-side 7" single...
fronted by vocalist Yukimi Nagano
Yukimi Nagano
Yukimi Nagano is a Swedish singer-songwriter. Nagano was born and raised in Gothenburg, Sweden to a Japanese father and Swedish-American mother; she grew up listening to American folk because of her mother, but always had an affinity for R&B.She is the vocalist of Gothenburg-based electronic band...
. Another son of the city is one of Swedens most popular singers, Håkan Hellström
Håkan Hellström
Håkan Hellström is a Swedish musician. He got his Swedish breakthrough in the year 2000 with the song "Känn ingen sorg för mig Göteborg"...
, who often includes many places from the city in his songs.
At the Gates
At the Gates is an extreme metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden, and a major progenitor of the Gothenburg death-metal sound. Their early albums lean towards a death metal sound, but later albums sound more like melodic death metal.Initially active from 1990 to 1996, the band reformed in 2007 for a...
, In Flames
In Flames
In Flames is a Swedish heavy metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990. Since the band's inception in 1993, they have released ten studio albums and one live DVD...
and Dark Tranquillity
Dark Tranquillity
Dark Tranquillity is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Gothenburg. They are one of the longest-standing bands from the original Gothenburg metal scene, and are one of the most integral pioneers of the melodic death metal genre of music....
are credited with pioneering melodic death metal
Melodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
. Another well known band of the Gothenburg scene is The Haunted
The Haunted
The Haunted is a Swedish metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1996.The original members were Anders & Jonas Björler, Peter Dolving, Adrian Erlandsson and Patrik Jensen...
. Progressive power metal band Evergrey
Evergrey
Evergrey is a progressive metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. The band was founded in 1995 and released its debut album The Dark Discovery in 1998. Their most recent album Glorious Collision was released in 2011.-Lyrical themes:...
also originate from the city as do power metal bands HammerFall
HammerFall
HammerFall is a power metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. The band was formed in 1993 by ex-Ceremonial Oath guitarist Oscar Dronjak.- Early days :...
and Dream Evil
Dream Evil
Dream Evil is a heavy metal band from Sweden, assembled and integrated by renowned musical producer Fredrik Nordström in 1999.-Biography:Producer Fredrik Nordström had the ambition of creating a power metal band of his own for a long time, but had difficulty finding anyone with musical ideals...
.
The Metaltown Festival is a two day festival featuring heavy metal music
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
bands, held in Gothenburg. It has been arranged annually since 2004, taking place at the Frihamnen venue. The most recent festival in June 2010, included bands such as Coheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria is an American progressive rock band from Nyack, New York. Formed in 1995, the group incorporates aspects of progressive rock, punk rock, metal and post-hardcore....
, Dark Tranquility, Rammstein
Rammstein
Rammstein is a German Neue Deutsche Härte band from Berlin, formed in 1994. The band consists of members Till Lindemann , Richard Z. Kruspe , Paul H. Landers , Oliver "Ollie" Riedel , Christoph "Doom" Schneider and Christian "Flake" Lorenz...
, Amon Amarth
Amon Amarth
Amon Amarth is a Swedish viking metal band from Tumba, Sweden founded in 1992, and takes its name from the Sindarin translation of Mount Doom, a location in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. The band comprises vocalist Johan Hegg, guitarists Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg, bassist Ted Lundström...
, and In Flames
In Flames
In Flames is a Swedish heavy metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990. Since the band's inception in 1993, they have released ten studio albums and one live DVD...
.
Food and drink
The city has a number of star chefs – over the past decade, seven of the Swedish Chef of the Year Awards have been won by Gothenburgers.A popular place to buy fish ingredients is the Feskekôrka
Feskekôrka
Feskekôrka ) is an indoor fish market in Gothenburg, Sweden, which got its name from the building's resemblance to a Gothic church. It opened 1 November 1874 and was drawn by the city architect Victor von Gegerfelt...
("Fish Church"); an indoor fish market which got its name from the building's resemblance to a Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
church.
Five Gothenburg restaurants have a star in the 2008 Michelin Guide
Michelin Guide
The Michelin Guide is a series of annual guide books published by Michelin for over a dozen countries. The term normally refers to the Michelin Red Guide, the oldest and best-known European hotel and restaurant guide, which awards the Michelin stars...
: 28 +, Basement, Fond, Kock & Vin, Fiskekrogen and Sjömagasinet.
Sports
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, basketball, team handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
, and figure skating
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
. There is a varied amateur and professional sports clubs scene. Gothenburg is the birthplace of football in Sweden
Football in Sweden
In Sweden, the most popular sport is association football, with over 240,000 licensed players—of which 56,000 are women—plus another 240,000 youth players. There are around 3,200 active clubs fielding over 8,500 teams, which are playing on the 7,900 pitches available in the country...
as the first football match in Sweden
First football match in Sweden
The first football match in Sweden was played at Heden, Gothenburg 22 May 1892 between Örgryte IS and Idrottssällskapet Lyckans Soldater. Örgryte IS won the game. The final score was 1-0.To memorize this event there is a stone at Heden with the inscription:...
was played there in 1892. The city's three major clubs, IFK Göteborg
IFK Göteborg
IFK Göteborg is a Swedish professional football club based in Gothenburg. Founded in 1904, the club has won 18 national championship titles, five national cup titles, and two UEFA Cups....
, Örgryte IS
Örgryte IS
Örgryte IS, also commonly referred to as ÖIS, is a Swedish football club based in Gothenburg.-History:The club was founded on 4 December 1887 and participated in the first football match in Sweden on 22 May 1892. Örgryte IS has won 12 national championship titles and one national cup title. After...
and GAIS
GAIS
Göteborgs Atlet- och Idrottssällskap is a Swedish football club based in Gothenburg, currently playing in Allsvenskan. The club is commonly referred to simply as GAIS, while its fans also refers to the club as grönsvart or the mackerels because of the traditional shirt colours...
share a total of 34 Swedish Championships between them. IFK has also won the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
twice. Other notable clubs include BK Häcken
BK Häcken
BK Häcken is a Swedish football club based in Gothenburg. The club, formed on 2 August 1940, is currently playing in the Swedish premier division, Allsvenskan after being promoted in 2008.- The beginning :...
(football), Pixbo Wallenstam IBK
Pixbo Wallenstam IBK
Pixbo Wallenstam Innebandyklubb, also known as Redfox or Pixbo IBK, is one of the most successful floorball clubs in the world. It is based in Mölnlycke, Västra Götaland and is widely recognized as the best floorball club in Sweden, more specifically, in the Swedish Super League...
(floorball
Floorball
Floorball, a type of floor hockey, is an indoor team sport which was developed in the 1970s in Sweden. Floorball is most popular in areas where the sport has developed the longest, such as the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. The game is played...
), multiple national team handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
champion Redbergslids IK
Redbergslids IK
Redbergslids IK, RIK, is a handball team from Gothenburg, Sweden founded in 1916. Redbergslid is the most successful in Swedish titles, with twenty titles...
, and three time national ice hockey champion Frölunda HC
Frölunda HC
Frölunda Hockey Club, also known as the Frölunda Indians, are a Swedish professional ice hockey club based in Gothenburg. They are currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Elitserien, where they have played the majority of the seasons during its existence. The last time they played in the...
, Gothenburg has also a professional basketball team Gothia Basket
Gothia Basket
Gothia Basket is a Swedish basketball club playing in Gothenburg, they play currently in ligan- Roster 2009-2010 :- External links :**...
. The bandy
Bandy
Bandy is a team winter sport played on ice, in which skaters use sticks to direct a ball into the opposing team's goal.The rules of the game have many similarities to those of association football: the game is played on a rectangle of ice the same size as a football field. Each team has 11 players,...
department of GAIS, GAIS Bandy
GAIS Bandy
GAIS Bandy is the Bandy section of sports club GAIS from Gothenburg and only started playing bandy in 2005. GAIS are already playing football in the highest national league in Sweden. GAIS play their home games at Heden in central Gothenburg. GAIS came close to winning their first tournament in...
, played qualification matches to the highest division Elitserien
Elitserien (bandy)
The Elitserien is since the 2007–08 season the highest bandy league in Sweden. It consist of 14 teams. The season ends with a final on Studenternas IP in Uppsala. From 2013 the final will be played in Swedbank Arena, Solna....
last season.
The city's most notable sports venues are Scandinavium
Scandinavium
Scandinavium is the primary indoor sports and event arena in Gothenburg, Sweden. Construction on Scandinavium began in 1969 after decades of setbacks, the arena was built in time for the 350th year anniversary celebration of the City of Gothenburg and was inaugurated on May 18, 1971.Scandinavium...
(ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
), and Nya Ullevi (multisport) and the new-built Gamla Ullevi
Gamla Ullevi (2008)
Gamla Ullevi is a football stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden that opened on 5 April 2009. The stadium replaced the city's previous main football stadium, also called Gamla Ullevi, and is the home ground of three football clubs: GAIS, IFK Göteborg and Örgryte IS. It is also the national stadium for the...
(football).
Gothenburg has hosted a number of international sporting events including the 1958 FIFA World Cup
1958 FIFA World Cup
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European...
, the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup Final, an NFL preseason game on 14 August 1988 between the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, the 1992 European Football Championship, the 1993 and the 2002 World Men's Handball Championship
World Men's Handball Championship
The World Championship in team handball for men has been organized by the International Handball Federation since 1938.- History :In 1938, the first indoor handball world championship was played in the Deutschlandhalle in Berlin, Germany on 5 February and 6 February...
, the 1995 World Championships in Athletics
1995 World Championships in Athletics
The 5th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Ullevi Stadium, Gothenburg, Sweden between August 5 and August 13.This edition featured 1804 athletes from 191 nations....
, the 1997 World Championships in Swimming (Short track), the 2002 Ice Hockey World Championships
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
, the 2004 UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
final, the 2006 European Championships in Athletics
2006 European Championships in Athletics
The 19th European Athletics Championships were held in Gothenburg, Sweden, between 7 August and 13 August 2006. The competition arena was the Ullevi Stadium and the official motto "Catch the Spirit"...
, and the 2008 World Figure Skating Championships
2008 World Figure Skating Championships
The 2008 World Figure Skating Championships was the World Figure Skating Championships of the 2007–2008 figure skating season. The World Championships are an annual figure skating competition in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion. The event was open to figure skaters...
. Annual events held in the city are the Gothia Cup
Gothia Cup
Gothia Cup is a youth association football tournament held annually in Gothenburg, Sweden, open for both boys and girls of ages 11 to 19 years. With regards to the number of participants, it is the world's largest football tournament: in 2011, a total of 35,200 players from 1567 teams and 72...
and the Göteborgsvarvet
Göteborgsvarvet
Göteborgsvarvet is an annual half marathon running competition in Gothenburg, Sweden . It is the largest annual running competition in Sweden, with about 40,000 participants each year. It is also the largest half-marathon running competition in the world, with its 2011 figure of 43 026...
.
Gothenburg will host the XIII FINA World Masters Championships 2010. Diving, swimming, synchronized swimming and open water competitions took place from 28 July to 7 August. The water polo events will be held on the neighboring city of Borås
Borås
Borås is a locality and the seat of Borås Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 63,441 inhabitants in 2005.- Geography :Borås is located at the point of two crossing railways, among them the railway between Gothenburg and Kalmar, and is often considered the Swedish city gaining the...
.
Economy
Due to the Gothenburg's advantageous location in the centre of Scandinavia, trade and shipping have always played a major role in the city's economic history, and they continue to do so. Gothenburg port has come to be the largest harbour in ScandinaviaScandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
.
Apart from trade, the second pillar of Gothenburg has traditionally been manufacturing, and industry which significantly contributes to the city's wealth. Major companies operating plants in the area include SKF
SKF
SKF, Svenska Kullagerfabriken AB , later AB SKF, is a Swedish bearing company founded in 1907, supplying bearings, seals, lubrication and lubrication systems, maintenance products, mechatronics products, power transmission products and related services globally.-History:The company was founded on...
, Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
, and Ericsson
Ericsson
Ericsson , one of Sweden's largest companies, is a provider of telecommunication and data communication systems, and related services, covering a range of technologies, including especially mobile networks...
. Volvo Cars
Volvo Cars
Volvo Car Corporation, or Volvo Personvagnar AB, is a Swedish automobile manufacturer founded in 1927, in Gothenburg, Sweden. It is owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. Volvo was originally formed as a subsidiary company to the ball bearing maker SKF. When Volvo AB was introduced on the Swedish...
is the largest employer in Gothenburg, not including jobs in supply companies. The blue collar industries which have dominated the city for long are still important factors in the city's economy, but they are being gradually replaced by high tech industries.
Banking and finance are also important trades as well as the event and tourist industry.
Gothenburg is the terminus of the Valdemar-Göteborg gas pipeline
Pipeline
-Science and industry:* Pipeline transport, a conduit made from pipes connected end-to-end for long-distance fluid transport* Plastic Pressure Pipe Systems, for fluid handling* Milking pipeline, used on a dairy farm to transport fluid milk...
, which brings natural gas from the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
fields to Sweden, through Denmark.
Historically, Gothenburg was home base of the 18th century Swedish East India Company
Swedish East India Company
The Swedish East India Company was founded in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1731 for the purpose of conducting trade with the Far East...
and were from the founding of the city until the late 1970s a world leading city in ship building with shipyards as Eriksbergs Mekaniska Verkstads AB
Eriksbergs Mekaniska Verkstads AB
Eriksbergs Mekaniska Verkstads AB was a Swedish shipbuilding company based in Gothenburg. It was founded in 1850 by Christian Barchman under the name Ericsbergs metall och tackjerns-gjuteri. It delivered its last ship in 1979.-Introduction:...
, Götaverken
Götaverken
Götaverken was a shipbuilding company that was located on Hisingen, Gothenburg. It was founded in 1841, and went bankrupt in 1989.The company was founded in 1841 by a Scottish businessman called Alexander Keiller under the name Keillers Werkstad i Göteborg, and was aimed at industrial production...
, Arendalsvarvet and Lindholmens varv.
Demographics
Gothenburg, like most Swedish metropolitan areas, has a large immigrant population. According to Statistics Sweden in 2005, there are 108,480 immigrants resident in Gothenburg, which is about 20% of the population, out of which 10% are from FinlandFinland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and 9% from Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
Education
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
and one of the most versatile in Sweden. Chalmers University of Technology
Chalmers University of Technology
Chalmers University of Technology , is a Swedish university located in Gothenburg that focuses on research and education in technology, natural science and architecture.-History:...
is a well known university located in Johanneberg 2 km south of the inner city, lately also established at Lindholmen in Norra Älvstranden, Hisingen
Hisingen
Hisingen is the fourth-largest island of Sweden , with an area of , and the most populous, forming part of Gothenburg Municipality, Västra Götaland County. It is bordered by the Göta älv in the south and east, the Nordre älv in the north, and the Kattegat in the west...
.
There are also four folk high school
Folk high school
Folk high schools are institutions for adult education that generally do not grant academic degrees, though certain courses might exist leading to that goal...
s (Arbetarrörelsens Folkhögskola i Göteborg, Folkhögskolan i Angered, Göteborgs Folkhögskola, and Kvinnofolkhögskolan).
Gothenburg has some 25–30 high schools
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
. Four of the more notable schools are Schillerska gymnasiet, Donnergymnasiet, Hvitfeldtska gymnasiet
Hvitfeldtska gymnasiet
-External links:*...
and Göteborgs Högre Samskola
Göteborgs Högre Samskola
-Information:In 2006 the school had about 1350 students. The school has students aged 5 through 18 and has a Förskola, a Grundskola and a Gymnasium. The school consists of a series of buildings for the younger grades 1 through 6 and a separate building for the Middle and High school children...
. There are also some high-schools connected to big Swedish companies. One is SKF Technical high-school (belonging to SKF) and Gothenburg's technical high-school (belonging to Volvo).
Points of interest
The main boulevard is called Kungsportsavenyn
Kungsportsavenyn
Kungsportsavenyn, commonly known as just Avenyn , is the main street of Gothenburg, Sweden, and a smaller counterpart of the Champs-Élysées. It was created in the 1860s and 1870s as a result of an international town planning competition...
(commonly known as Avenyn, "The Avenue"). It is about one kilometre long and starts at Götaplatsen
Götaplatsen
Götaplatsen is a public square in Gothenburg, Sweden, at the southern end of Kungsportsavenyn , the city's main street...
— which is the location of the Gothenburg Museum of Art
Gothenburg Museum of Art
The Göteborg Museum of Art at Götaplatsen, Gothenburg, is renowned for its collection of Nordic art from around the close of the 19th century. A must see is the lavishly decorated Fürstenberg Gallery, named after a leading Gothenburg art donor, Pontus Fürstenberg and his wife Göthilda. Among the...
, the city's theatre, the city library as well as the concert hall— and stretches out all the way to Kungsportsplatsen
Kungsportsplatsen
Kungsportsplatsen is a square in the city centre of Gothenburg, Sweden. The square was constructed 1852 and got its name after the King's gate . The gate was the main entrance to the fortified city, which was and still is surrounded by a moat...
in the old city centre of Gothenburg, crossing a canal and a small park. The Avenyn was created in the 1860s and 1870s as a result of an international architecture contest, and is the product of a period of extensive town planning and re-modelling. Avenyn has Gothenburg's highest concentration of pubs and clubs.
Scandinavia's largest shopping centre, Nordstan
Nordstan
Nordstan is a shopping centre in Gothenburg, Sweden. It is one of the largest shopping centres in Scandinavia, with approximately 180 shops and 150 offices,...
, is located in central Gothenburg. Gothenburg's Haga
Haga, Gothenburg
Haga is a city district in Gothenburg, Sweden, renowned for its picturesque wooden houses, 19th century-atmosphere and cafés. Originally a working class suburb of the city with a rather bad reputation, it was gradually transformed into a popular visiting place for tourists and Gothenburgers...
district is known for its picturesque wooden houses and its cafés.
The Gothenburg Opera
Gothenburg Opera
The Gothenburg Opera, , is an opera house in Gothenburg, Sweden. In marketing, the name is often spelled as "GöteborgsOperan", which however is not grammatically correct.- History :...
house was inaugurated in 1994, and is an architectural landmark situated right next to the Göta älv
Göta älv
The Göta is a river that drains lake Vänern into the Kattegat at the city of Gothenburg on the western coast of Sweden. It is located in Götaland, with the river itself being a site of early Geatish settlement. The length is 93 km. Often the combination of Göta älv and Klarälven is mentioned...
river. Museums include the Gothenburg Museum of Art
Gothenburg Museum of Art
The Göteborg Museum of Art at Götaplatsen, Gothenburg, is renowned for its collection of Nordic art from around the close of the 19th century. A must see is the lavishly decorated Fürstenberg Gallery, named after a leading Gothenburg art donor, Pontus Fürstenberg and his wife Göthilda. Among the...
, Göteborgs Konsthall
Göteborgs Konsthall
Göteborgs Konsthall is a center for contemporary art in Gothenburg , Sweden, showing both Swedish and international art. It is placed in a classicistic building from 1923 at Götaplatsen in the center of the city...
, Röhss Museum
Röhss Museum
The Röhsska Museum in Gothenburg, Sweden, is a museum focused on design and applied arts. It was created through donations from Wilhelm and August Röhss and opened to the public in 1916; it has since expanded. The museum has a fine collection of Chinese art and craft and a permanent exhibition of...
, and several museums of sea and navigation history, natural history, the sciences, and East India. The Museum of World Culture
Museum of World Culture
The national Museum of World Culture opened in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2004. Its aim is to interpret the subject of world culture in an interdisciplinary way. The museum is situated next to the Universeum Science Centre and the amusement park Liseberg and close to Korsvägen."The museum interprets...
was inaugurated in 2004. Aeroseum, close to the Göteborg City Airport
Gothenburg City Airport
Gothenburg City Airport or Göteborg City Airport , formerly known as Säve Flygplats, is Gothenburg's second international airport, located north-west from the centre of Gothenburg on the island of Hisingen, Bohuslän, Sweden. It is located within the borders of Gothenburg Municipality, hence its...
, is a unique aircraft museum in a former military under ground Air Force base.
The Gothenburg Botanical Garden is considered to be one of the most important botanical garden
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
s in Europe with three stars in the French Guide Rouge. Next to the botanical garden is Gothenburg's largest park, Slottsskogen
Slottsskogen
-External links:*...
, where the Natural History Museum (Naturhistoriska Museet) is located. The park is also home to the city's oldest observatorie and a zoo.
The amusement park Liseberg
Liseberg
Liseberg is an amusement park located in Gothenburg, Sweden, the park opened in 1923. Liseberg is one of the most visited amusement parks in Scandinavia, attracting around 3 million visitors annually. Among the noteworthy attractions is the wooden roller coaster Balder, voted twice as the Best...
is located in the central part of the city. Liseberg is Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
's largest amusement park by number of rides, and the most popular attraction in Sweden by number of visitors per year (more than 3 millions). Located near Liseberg is a science discovery centre named Universeum
Universeum
Universeum is a public science centre in Gothenburg, Sweden that opened in 2001. It is a part of Evenemangsstråket, the thoroughfare of events – close to Korsvägen and Skånegatan – which includes sights of interest like Scandinavium, Ullevi, Svenska Mässan , Liseberg and the Museum of World...
.
One of Gothenburg's most popular natural tourist attractions is the Southern Gothenburg Archipelago
Southern Gothenburg Archipelago
The Southern Gothenburg Archipelago lies off the coast of Gothenburg, Sweden's second-largest city. It has 5,000 permanent and another 6,000 summer residents. The archipelago is completely car free....
, which is a set of many picturesque islands that can be reached by ferry boat. Within the archipelago Älvsborg Fortress
Älvsborg Fortress
Älvsborg, also Elfsborg Fortress, is a sea fortress located in today's Gothenburg , Sweden. Situated on the mouth of the Göta Älv river, it served to protect Sweden's access to the Atlantic Ocean and the nearby settlement of today's Gothenburg and its four predecessors. The fortress was relocated...
, Vinga
Vinga (Gothenburg)
Vinga is a small island ten nautical miles outside Gothenburg's harbour entrance in Sweden. The 19th century Vinga Lighthouse is famous not only as a beacon in the waterway of the Swedish west coast, but also as the place where the Swedish poet laureate Evert Taube grew up. Today Vinga is a tourist...
and Styrsö
Styrsö
Styrsö is a small island and a locality situated in Göteborg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 1,331 inhabitants in 2005.It lies in the Southern Göteborg Archipelago of Sweden with about 1,400 inhabitants. Regular ferries connect the island to Gothenburg and a bridge links Styrsö...
islands are popular places to visit.
The Gunnebo House
Gunnebo Slott
Gunnebo slott is a château located outside Gothenburg, in Mölndal Municipality, between Mölndal and Pixbo in Sweden.- History :...
can be seen South of Gothenburg, in Mölndal
Mölndal
Mölndal is a part of the Gothenburg urban area on the west-coast of Sweden, and constitutes the administrative centre of Mölndal Municipality. About 40,000 of the municipality's 60,000 inhabitants live here.-Geography:...
. It was built in a neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
towards the end of the 18th century.
Air
There are two international airportInternational airport
An international airport is any airport that can accommodate flights from other countries and are typically equipped with customs and immigration facilities to handle these flights to and from other countries...
s around Gothenburg:
- Gothenburg-Landvetter AirportGothenburg-Landvetter AirportGothenburg-Landvetter Airport is an international airport serving the Gothenburg region in Sweden. With 4.3 million passengers in 2006 it is Sweden's second-largest airport...
is located 20 km east of Gothenburg, and is the largest international airport serving the Gothenburg region in Sweden. With 4.3 million passengers in 2006 it is Sweden's second-largest airport. It is operated by the Swedish Civil Aviation Administration (Luftfartsverket). It has connections with about 40 scheduled destinations.
- Gothenburg City AirportGothenburg City AirportGothenburg City Airport or Göteborg City Airport , formerly known as Säve Flygplats, is Gothenburg's second international airport, located north-west from the centre of Gothenburg on the island of Hisingen, Bohuslän, Sweden. It is located within the borders of Gothenburg Municipality, hence its...
is located 15 km northwest of the city centre. It was formerly known as Säve Flygplats, and today it is Gothenburg's second international airport and Sweden's 7th largest airport. It is located within the borders of Gothenburg MunicipalityGothenburg MunicipalityGothenburg Municipality is a municipality in Västra Götaland County in western Sweden. Its seat is located in the city of Gothenburg....
. In addition to commercial airlines, the airport is also operated by a number of rescue services, including the Swedish Coast Guard, and is used for other general aviationGeneral aviationGeneral aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
. Most civil air traffic to Gothenburg City Airport is Low-cost airlines such as RyanairRyanairRyanair is an Irish low-cost airline. Its head office is at Dublin Airport and its primary operational bases at Dublin Airport and London Stansted Airport....
and Wizzair. It has connections with 23 scheduled destinations.
Sea
Stena Line
Stena Line is one of the world's largest ferry operators, with ferry services serving Scotland, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Norway, England, Wales, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. Stena Line is a major unit of Stena AB, itself a part of the Stena Sphere, a grouping of Stena AB,...
operates between Gothenburg/Frederikshavn
Frederikshavn
This article is about a Danish town. For the German town, see Friedrichshafen, and for the Finnish town, see Fredrikshamn .Frederikshavn is a Danish town in Frederikshavn municipality, Region Nordjylland on the northeast coast of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark. Its name translates to...
in Denmark and Gothenburg/Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
in Germany.
The "England ferry" (Englandsfärjan) to Newcastle over Kristiansand (run by the Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
company DFDS Seaways
DFDS
DFDS is a Danish shipping company. It is one of the world's largest ferry operators. The companies name is an acronym of Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab DFDS is a Danish shipping company. It is one of the world's largest ferry operators. The companies name is an acronym of Det Forenede...
) ceased at the end of October 2006, after being a Gothenburg institution since the 19th century. DFDS Seaways' sister company, DFDS Tor Line, continues to run scheduled freight ships between Gothenburg and several English ports, and these have limited capacity for passengers and their private vehicles. There are also freight ships to North America and East Asia.
Rail and intercity bus
Other major transportation hubs are Centralstationen (Gothenburg Central StationGothenburg Central Station
Gothenburg Central Station is the main railway station of Gothenburg and the third largest railway station in Sweden after Stockholm Central Station and Malmö Central Station. The station opened in October the 4th, 1858. Approximately 40 000 travelers visit the station every day. The station is...
) and the Nils Ericson Terminal
Nils Ericson Terminal
The Nils Ericson Terminal is a major bus terminus in Gothenburg, Sweden. It is placed in the city centre just next to Gothenburg Central Station , and across the street from the main Nordstan shopping centre. The main street and most hotels are within walking distance from the terminal.The...
with trains and buses to various destinations in Sweden, as well as connections to Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
and Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
(via Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
).
Freight
Gothenburg is a logistic centre, with transports by train and truck from Sweden and Norway to Gothenburg harbour which is by far the largest port in Scandinavia with a cargo turnover of 36.9 million tonnes a year (2004).Public transport
With over 80 km of double track the Gothenburg tramGothenburg tram
The Gothenburg tram network is part of the public transport system organised by Göteborgs Spårvägar AB, controlled by Västtrafik in the Swedish city of Gothenburg...
is the largest tram/light rail network in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
. The bus network, however, is almost as important. There are also some boat and ferry services. The lack of a subway is due to the soft ground on which Gothenburg is situated. Tunneling is very expensive in such conditions. There is also a commuter rail
Gothenburg commuter rail
Gothenburg commuter rail or Göteborgs pendeltåg is the commuter rail system associated with Gothenburg, Sweden. The trains go on the main-line tracks, shared with long-distance trains and freight trains. They are operated with X11 electric multiple units....
in Gothenburg servicing nearby some nearby cities and towns.
Twin towns and sister cities
Gothenburg is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, Norway Turku
Turku
Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
, Finland Aarhus Municipality
Aarhus Municipality
Aarhus Municipality, also commonly known by its Danish spelling Århus Municipality, is a municipality on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in central Denmark. The municipality covers an area of , and has a total population of 307.000...
, Denmark Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, China Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, France Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, United States Cracow
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, Poland
St. Petersburg, Russia Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
, Estonia Rostock
Rostock
Rostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
, Germany Badalona
Badalona
Badalona is a city in eastern Catalonia, Spain. It is located in the comarca of the Barcelonès, near the city of Barcelona and part of its metropolitan area. It is situated on the left bank of the small Besòs River and on the Mediterranean Sea, backed by the Serra de la Marina mountain range...
, Spain
See also
- Metropolitan Gothenburg
- Gothenburg archipelago
- Gothenburg Protocol (on acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone)Multi-effect ProtocolThe 1999 Multi-effect Protocol is a multi-pollutant protocol designed to reduce acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone by setting emissions ceilings for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and ammonia to be met by 2010.The Protocol is part of the Convention...
- Largest European metropolitan areasLargest European metropolitan areas__FORCETOC__This is a list of metropolitan areas in Europe, with their population according to five different sources. The list includes metropolitan areas that have a population of over 1 million....
- Largest cities of the European Union by population within city limitsLargest cities of the European Union by population within city limitsThis is a list of the largest cities in the European Union by population within city limits which have more than 300,000 inhabitants. It deals exclusively with the areas within city administrative boundaries as opposed to urban areas or metropolitan areas, which are generally larger in terms of...
External links
- Goteborg.se – City of Gothenburg website
- GothenburgGuide.com – Gothenburg tourist guide
- Goteborg.com – Gothenburg tourism portal
- VisitSweden – VisitSweden's profile of Gothenburg