7.4.4 Sweden: Gothenburg
Description
This article is from the Nordic countries FAQ, by Antti Lahelma and Johan Olofsson, with numerous contributions by others.
7.4.4 Sweden: Gothenburg
Göteborg (Gothenburg), founded in 1621 by Gustav II Afolf on the site of an
earlier settlement, is Sweden's second largest city and chief seaport. It
prospered during especially during the Napoleonic Wars, when Göteborg
remained open while many other European ports were under the anti-British
trade blockade. Located where the Göta river empties into the Danish
straits, it was designed on Netherlandic fashion, with canals and bridges.
The Göta Gota Canal built in the 19th century runs between Stockholm and
Stockholm, and is a very scenic route indeed.
In the center of the city are Gustav Adolf's square, by which the old Stock
Exchange is located. The City Hall was designed by Nicholas Tessin the
younger in 1672. The Östra Hamngatan and Kungsportavenyn streets lead to
Götaplatsen (Göta Square), in the center of which is the statue of Poseidon
by Carl Milles; the city theatre, concert hall and art musem (Nordic, French
and Dutch art from 19th and 20th centuries) are located by the square.
Ostindiska Huset (the house of the East-Indian Company), built 1750, houses
historical, archaeological and ethnological collections. The city museum is
housed in the oldest house of the city, Kronhuset, from the year 1653.
Kronan is a fortress with a war museum. Off the city lies Älvsborgs Festning
(Ävsborg Fortress), 1670, which can be accessed by boat. The old parts of
the city contain the also the cathedral (1633), Kristine Church (1648), the
law courts (1672), and the opera house (1859). There's a university (1891)
and Chalmers Technical University. The sports stadium Ullevi, with seats for
52,000 people, is Sweden's biggest; the indoors stadium Scandinavium houses
14,000. Two bridges go over the wide Göta River, Götaälvbron and the newer
Älvborgsbron.
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