Östergötland

Östergötland is a historical province ( landskap Swedish ) in Sweden. It is bordered on the south by the historical province of Småland, Västergötland on the west, to the north by Orebro and Södermanland and to the east by the Baltic Sea.

Geography

Östergötland has share in the southern Swedish highlands and the Mid-Sweden Valley. In the center of the province Östergötland plain, which extends from east to west, a region of great economic importance lies. North of Östergötland plain is a fault zone with steeply ascending hills, which rolls down to the north, and deep lakes and valleys. South of the plane extend the foothills of the southern Swedish highlands, a hilly landscape with many lakes. A fourth landform form the coast and the numerous islets, which are remnants of glacial moraines. Östergötland largest river Motala ström is the, which drains the lake Vättern several lakes in the Baltic Sea.

On the Baltic coast Östergötland are many islands that form an archipelago. The coast is from deep in the land of bays, such as Bråviken in the north, and Gröpviken Slätbaken further south or Valdemarsviken on the border to Småland incised. Between Bråviken and Slätbaken lies about 600 km ² peninsula Vikbolandet. The coast to the south Vättern is high and steep, and is to the north flatter and shallower. There is also no islands near the beach, but these are such as Jungfrun Illegrundet, Fjuk, further into the lake. In the extreme north is the island Röknehufvud, which is separated by a narrow strait of belonging to the province of Orebro island Stora Röknen.

Östergötland has a mild for this latitude climate with an annual rainfall of 500-600 mm and an average temperature of -2 ° C in January and 16 ° C in July.

Östergötland most important cities Norrköping, Linköping, Motala, Finspång, Söderköping and Vadstena.

Economy

Östergötland is one of the most important agricultural areas of Sweden. Agriculture plays - highly rationalized - still an important role in the economy of the province. Industrial development was varied to industrial centers primarily the cities of Linköping (aircraft and defense industries, food industry ), Norrköping ( including Ericsson ), Finspång ( Metal industry ) and Motala have developed.

History

Testimonies of the oldest history mainly give the tombs, most of which are in the 1740 grave fields of the province. The oldest settlement is detectable mainly on the coast and in the Östergötland plain between the coast and Lake Vättern. From the Bronze Age grave mound originate around the lake takers and about 280 petroglyphs with over 3500 figures, most of the Motala River, especially in Norrköping, lie. Rich treasure and grave finds give a picture of the cultural development from the birth of Christ, rune stones, such as the famous Rök stone, complete the picture.

Already at the beginning of the empire-building in the Middle Ages played an important role in Östergötland; two dynasties, the Sverker and Folkunger, came from the region. They worked closely with the church. At the beginning of the 12th century Linköping bishop seat of a newly formed diocese, the Östergötland, Småland, Gotland and Öland was included. The first monastery was founded in Sweden in the mid-12th century in Alvastra, and with the establishment of Birgittaordens and its parent monastery in Vadstena in the 14th century created a new spiritual center. The Church also played an important role in politics. Östergötland was both politically and culturally relatively independently in the Middle Ages. It had a separate law ( Östgötalagen ), a private Thing and its own legal scholars ( lagman ). These came from the leading noble families and often had political key positions in the kingdom.

At the beginning of the 16th century dominated by the nobility and the church, but with the inauguration of Gustav Vasa and the subsequent reformation and recovery of ecclesiastical goods won the kingdom in power. This led to riots 1542-43, and in 1544 began the construction of a castle in Vadstena, to bring peace to the region. This Vadstena was also an important administrative center. It was not until 1719 Östergötland became a single province ( Östergötland County ). The province was also famous because of the requirements herein light cavalry and infantry troops, which brought to use Gustav Adolf of Sweden during the Thirty Years' War. Iron and copper discoveries led to the establishment of a metalworking industry in the 17th century. End of the 17th century and at the beginning of the 18th century, the textile industry, which was centered around Norrköping developed. The construction of the Göta Canal, the main railway line between Stockholm and Helsingborg and other railway lines led to an industrial boom in the region. In the 20th century, the industrial development continued (the share of employment in the secondary sector is well above the realm cut ), which evolved into the most important industrial city of Linköping.

Attractions

In the west, the province bordering Lake Vättern. Along the 150 km long coast there are a number of attractions in Vadstena, a spiritual and administrative center from the 14th to the 17th century, is the Birgittenkloster, the mighty castle and an intact old town. Vadstena is still a spiritual center of Sweden. North is Motala, which arose in connection with the construction of the Göta Canal. South of Vadstena is the Ombergs, a nature reserve, on the edge lies the ruins of the ancient monastery Swedish Alvastra. Not far away you will find Sweden's most famous rune stone, the Rök stone.

Linköping, Norrköping and Söderköping are three must-see cities. Linköping was since the Middle Ages the center of Östergötland, episcopal, residential city and college town. Worth seeing are the cathedral and the area bordering it, the large open-air museum, where more than 50 wooden houses from the 18th and 19th century, form a small city district and the provincial museum and an aviation museum. Norrköping is worth a visit especially for industry interested in history. In Norrköping also hundreds of rock carvings from the Bronze Age are with images of sun gears, axes, ships, among others Söderköping was one of the most important trade and port cities of Östergötland in the Middle Ages. It is a small town and has remained much get from her charm.

In Östergötland lived a number of important noble families. They have also built numerous castles, including Bjärka -Säby, Ekenäs, Finspång, Löfstad, Sturefors and Stegeborg that are all worth a visit.

Finally, it should also be advised of the coastline with its numerous islets here.

Landscape symbols

• Vogel: Mute Swan
• Flower: Cornflower
• Fish: pike
• Fungus: Speisetäubling
• Insect: hermit ( eremita Osmoderma )