Vänersborg

Vänersborg ( German outdated Wenersburg ) is the capital of the region of Västra Götaland and is located in the Swedish province of Västra Götaland County and the historic province of Västergötland.

The main town of the municipality Vänersborg is located at the southern end of Lake Vänern, at the outlet of the Göta älvs, about 85 km northeast of the provincial capital of Gothenburg.

History

Vänersborg is located on the site of an older settlement, which was renamed in Vänersborg in connection with the granting of town privileges in 1644. The city was not only an important trading city but also limit and garrison town, the älv checked the connection of the trade route along the Göta Vänern and protected. She was repeatedly occupied and destroyed in the wars of the 17th century.

1690 Vänersborg residence of the province Älvsborgs County, which merged in the new county of Västra Götaland County in 1998.

In 1800 Vänersborg was a medium-sized town with about 1,500 inhabitants, but grew strongly after the opening of Trollhättan Canal and the Göta Canal. In the 20th century, the city developed into a major service center for the region, while the nearby Trollhättan took the leading role in the industrial sector.

Cityscape

The layout of the city followed the regular, checkerboard floor plan of the 17th century. After a major fire in 1834, the central part has been converted into an esplanade, where the major public buildings, including residence, church and museum are located. The buildings of the city center dates from the second half of the 19th century or later, since only a few buildings survived the great fire. Nevertheless, the city " Little Paris " is named because it resembles the opinion of the well-known poet and singer Birger Sjöberg, the French capital.

Economy

Vänersborg is an important administrative center, as part of the provincial administration and the administration of the Province parliament still reside in the city. At the same time it is an important transport hub, both for inland navigation as well as a hub for the railway and the road network. To the south is the airport Vänersborg - Trollhättan.

Traffic

Highways

Vänersborg is located on the E45 west of Trollhättan. Since 2009, this road between the neighboring Trollhättan and Gothenburg as a four-lane highway expanded since Gothenburg for the car manufacturer Saab is the main export port and the government wants to act so positively to the development of the production facility in Trollhättan.

Also, south of the city begins the highway 44 which leads through to the E6 Uddevalla.

Rail transport

Near the center are both a bus station and the Vänersborg Central Station. Vänersborg is primarily served by regional trains of the regional railway company Västtrafik, isolated including high-speed trains (SJ X2000 ) to Stockholm at this station.

Airfield

In the neighboring Trollhättan Trollhättan, the regional airport located Vänersborgs Flygplats (IATA Code: THN). The airfield is located in close proximity to the Saab car works. The only one there is the active airline Golden Air, which with its Saab propeller aircraft performing scheduled flights to Stockholm -Bromma.

Despite the limited range of the airport is used intensively, both taxi companies and car rental companies are on site.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Agnes Carlsson ( singer )
• Andreas Johansson ( footballer )
• Birger Sjöberg ( poet and writer )
• Erik Saedén ( opera singer)
• Johan Emanuel Wikström ( botanist )
• Johan Fredrik Åbom (architect)
• Lewi Pethrus (Pastor )
• Sören Halldén (philosopher and logician )