Gothenburg

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Gothenburg is the fifth largest city of the Nordic countries and is the second biggest city in the country of Sweden, after Stockholm. It covers an area of one hundred and seventy-three miles and is home to over five hundred thousand people. It is located on the southern coast of Sweden at the opening of the Gota Alv River. The city is named after the residents of Gothia and its original purpose was a fort to protect the port located on the river. Gothenburg is home to a large immigrant population. About twenty-five percent of the total residents of this city are from some place else in the world. About ten percent of this total immigrant population is of Finnish descent and ten percent are of Iranian descent.

Gothenburg is a city that can trace its heritage back several thousand years, all the way back to the Stone Age. In fact, on the site of present day Gothenburg there existed a settlement from the Stone Age. The only remains of this settlement are the rock carvings that are still in the area around the city. Gothenburg, as we know it today, was founded in 1621 by Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus II. At the time the city was influenced by the Dutch, who were used to erect the city. The town was built on the typical Dutch model that used an extensive system of canals. During the seventeenth century, the city grew into an international port and center of trade. This continued until the eighteenth century when fishing became the city’s primary industry. Trade would, however, become the city’s number one economic activity after 1731 when the Swedish East India Company was established. Due to this, the city once again became a major trader center launching many highly lucrative trade expeditions to Asia. Today, Gothenburg is a modern industrial city. Though the city is developing high tech industries, trade continues to be its number one economic activity.

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Also important to the city’s financial health are its banking activities, as well as tourism.

The educational needs of the city are serviced by thirty high schools and two universities. Prominent high schools in the city include Arbetarrörelsens Folkhogskola i Goteborg, Hvitfeldtska gymnasiet, Folkhogskolan i Angered, Kvinnofolkhogskolan, Arbetarrorelsens Folkhogskola i Goteborg, Goteborgs Folkhogskola, Burgardens Utbildningscentrum, Schillerska gymnasiet and Goteborgs Högre.The universities in the city are Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg. Transportation in the city is accommodated by rail, air, bus and tram. The major airport in the city is the Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport. This airport services over four million passengers a year from both local and international travelers. The second airport in the city is Gothenburg City Airport. This airport accommodates over seven hundred thousand travelers a year. Gothenburg Central Station is the rail hub that connects Gothenburg with Copenhagen and Oslo, as well as other cities located within Sweden. The Gothenburg tram provides local transportation within the city thanks to over one hundred and fifty miles of double track.

One of the most popular attractions in Gothenburg is Castle Wood Park or Slottsskogen, as its known by its Swedish name. Slottsskogen is a wooded park that sits on one hundred and thirty-seven hectares. It contains a variety of ponds and is filled with oaks and conifers. It also contains a lookout tower, museum of natural history and a zoo. The park also contains a Swedish heritage area, a football field and also host the Way Out West Festival every year. Not far from Slottsskogen is the Shipping Museum. This museum contains artifacts that illustrate the rich history of fishing, shipping and shipbuilding in the area from the age of the Vikings, all the way to present times. Next to the museum is the Seamen’s Tower.

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This tower is one hundred and sixty feet high and is topped with Ivar Johnsson’s Woman of the Sea sculpture. This sculpture is a memorial to those seamen who lost their lives during the first world war. The top of the tower is an excellent place to get a great view of the city.

Another popular attraction in Gothenburg is the Liseberg Amusement Park. This amusement park was founded in 1923 and is one of the most visited parks in Scandinavia. Liseberg Amusement Park has a variety of rides which include roller coasters, bumper cars, water rides, carousels and children’s rides. Some of the more popular ones include Hanghai, SpinRock, Uppskjutet, Uppswinget, Waltzer, Fairy Tale Castle, Hojdskracken, Lilla Lots, Maxxima Pandavision and Trummeliten Carousel. Next to the park is the Scandinavium, which is an arena that can seat over twelve thousand people. For those who are looking to get a little taste of culture than a visit to the Goteborg Museum of Art is in order. This museum contains many works that include contemporary and Nordic art. Not far from this museum is the Rohsska Museum. The Rohsska Museum is a museum that chronicles the history of applied art and design. It was created by
August Rohss in 1916 and contains an impressive collection of Asian and Swedish art.

Other popular attractions in Gothenburg include Kristine Kyrka, the military museum, the industrial museum, Gustav Adolf Torgs, East India House, PostGirot Open, Langedrag, Nya Elfsborg, Iron Square, Lillia Torget, Gothernberg Exchange, Ostra Nordstan and Konserthuset. The city also has an excellent collection of restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels. Restaurants in the city include Brasserie Ferdinand, Brasserie Lipp, Cyrano, Figaro, Gamle Port, George du Wal, Goteborgs Bowlingkrog and Garlic. Hotels in Gothenburg include the Hotel Vasa, Clarion Collection Hotel Odin, Hotel Allen, Comfort Hotel City Center, Elite Plaza Hotel, Hotel Royal, Avalon Hotel, Rica Hotel Goteborg, Orgryte Hotel and the Spar Hotel.