Östergötland – a coastal region with a rich cultural identity

 Östergötland county spreads across the eastern coastline, two hours south of Stockholm. With something for everyone, it boasts outdoor activities aplenty and an interesting cultural heritage.

Did you know?

  • Rimforsa is a work bench from IKEA. However, it’s also a charming village in Östergötland. Discover the original Rimforsa and 20 other Swedish places reclaiming their name here.
  • The region’s Östgöta archipelago is a coastal paradise, encompassing nearly 9,000 islands.
  • Östergötland is the duchy of HRH Princess Estelle of Sweden, second in line to the Swedish throne. Her official title is the Duchess of Östergötland.

 

Whether you're into historic architecture, biking adventures or wellbeing in the shape of a reinvigorating coastal holiday, Östergötland delivers. Sweden's second largest county has a compelling past as an industrial hub and is home to the country’s iconic Göta Canal – one of Sweden's most popular attractions.

Linköping, the capital of the region, is studded with notable museums and historic buildings, including a medieval cathedral and castle. Further north, you'll find the city of Norrköping, where industrial heritage and beautiful nature coexist. It's also home to Kolmården, the largest wildlife park in the Nordic region.

A beauty spot on the coastline of Sweden, the Östgöta archipelago is one of the county's many highlights, attracting bathers and adventure-seekers alike.


 

Unforgettable outdoor activities on water and land

A good way to discover Östergötland's stunning scenery is to set off along the Birgittaleden pilgrimage route (St. Birgitta's Trail). This 145-kilometre, 7-section trail begins in Söderköping, winding its way through meadows and forest all the way to Vadstena. Idyllically set on the shores of Lake Vättern, this is the very spot in which 14th century St. Birgitta of Sweden founded her convent and order, still there today.

Flowing into Lake Vättern, north of Vadstena, you'll find Sweden’s famous Göta Canal. This 190-kilometre national icon was inaugurated in 1832, connecting Stockholm and Gothenburg via lakes and elaborately constructed canals with a total of 58 locks. Take a cruise and learn about the canal's fascinating history and beautiful surroundings. Choose between short excursions around Östergötland or longer trips, lasting for nearly a week and taking you across Sweden.

Göta Canal is also an ideal biking destination. Rent a bike in Borensberg and cycle along the 20-kilometre path, which will take you to the locks of Berg. Göta Canal's old tow paths stretch on for a total of 87 kilometres, so you might be tempted to extend your two-wheel adventure. Along the way, you'll find plenty of picnic spots, eateries and accommodation.


 

Discover the Östgöta archipelago

Don't miss the opportunity to spend some time in the Östgöta archipelago and its many islands off the Baltic coast. These are divided into three archipelagos – Arkösund, St. Anna and Gryt. Collectively, they consist of some 8,888 islands, allowing for some proper island hopping.

As for the identity of each archipelago, the island cluster connected to the lively village of Arkösund is a popular summer destination, with public boats departing from the dock. Canoeists and hikers will find the many quiet islands of St. Anna highly appealing – pick your favourite and pitch a tent for the night (Sweden's right to roam policy allows anyone to do so).

Gryt is a natural wonderland, known for its beautiful rocks and cliffs – the ideal setting for picnics and bathing. Outdoor company Ostkustenkajak offers kayak tours suitable for couples and small groups. Some of these excursions include an overnight island stay in cabin, guest house or ‘tree tent’.


 

Östergötland's city life – a varied, cultural experience

The historic city of Linköping is known as the capital of the region and has much to offer culturally, not least in terms of its historic architecture. The medieval cathedral, whose main building was completed in 1520 in Romanesque style, is a must-see landmark – and hard to miss with its 107-metre spire. Another highlight is Linköping Castle, parts of which date back to the 12th century, making it the oldest secular building in Sweden. Today, it houses Linköpings Slotts- & Domkyrkomuseum (Linköpings’s Castle & Cathedral Museum).

As you navigate the charming streets of Linköping, you'll come across a number of other quality museums, like the Flygvapenmuseum (Swedish Airforce Museum). Voted a top museum by the Tripadvisor community, it boasts an impressive collection of 300 aircrafts from Sweden and beyond. The Swedish DC-3 model – shot down in the 1950s and salvaged fifty years later – is one of many star attractions.

The city of Norrköping also has its fair share of cultural establishments. Many are located within the city’s well-preserved industrial district – visit Arbetets museum (The Museum of Work), housed in a former cotton mill, and Norrköpings stadsmuseum (Norrköping City Museum), much celebrated for its innovative exhibitions. A tuneful destination, Norrköping has served as a UNESCO City of Music since 2017 and is home to the Louis De Geer Concert and Congress Hall.


Natural eats – enjoy the pantry of Östergötland

Sustainable in its approach, the culinary profile of Östergötland centres on local ingredients foraged in nature or sourced from nearby farms and food artisans. You'll find a cluster of these along Kinda Canal, selling everything from locally farm-reared meat to freshly harvested vegetables and homemade ice cream. At Fresons Bageri & Trädgård (Fresons Bakery and Garden) you can have a coffee while you pick up some fresh bread.

Local produce is the order of the day at Norrköping’s fine dining restaurant GIN and over in Linköping, restaurant Stångs Magasin will give you an equally rounded flavour of Östergötland's foodie scene. With fresh, organic produce on the menu, it focuses on European and Swedish fare.

Restaurang Jord in Linköping also makes the most of mother nature's gifts, with delicious tasting menus that are prepared using seasonal ingredients.


 

 SOURCE

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Investment Objective and Strategies - Anthony Norman

Image
Investment Objective The investment objective of the Marathon Value Portfolio (the “Fund”) is to provide shareholders with long-term capital appreciation in a well-diversified portfolio. Principal Strategies The Fund primarily will provide the investor broad exposure to what the Fund’s advisor, Kovitz Investment Group Partners, LLC, believes are the best opportunities or values in common stocks of U.S. companies. These opportunities or values typically will be stocks of companies that, in the advisor’s opinion, do not reflect the intrinsic value of the companies. The advisor intends that the Fund will invest primarily in common stocks of U.S. companies that have potential “value” in the advisor’s judgment. The advisor believes that determining value involves an effort to understand a company’s assets and business strengths and to compare those to the current price of the company’s stock. It is worth noting that in today’s economy, assets are often intangible. A value in
Read more

Wantage residents warned about 'scam' tree cutting service - Anthony Norman

Image
  PEOPLE are being warned about a group of men offering tree cutting services in Wantage . The men are allegedly going by the name “Oaklands Tree Care” and have been knocking on doors offering services.  However, in a post on Facebook group Wantage and Grove Community, residents have warned others that the service is a scam to “prey on the old and vulnerable”.  One resident commented: “I had a knock on my door yesterday saying they were cutting trees down for a neighbour and did I want mine done, I said no and the guy got a bit huffy.   “Then he walked off and noticed he was with someone else, they definitely looked a bit dodgy.”Another added: “They have lied and coerced their way in – do not allow this to happen to your family.”  SOURCE
Read more

Vanlife – a new type of ‘all-inclusive’ travel

Image
 The vanlife trend offers all the perks of an ‘all-inclusive’ trip – without the crowds and with a feeling of total freedom. Sweden’s accessible nature and varied landscape make it the perfect destination for you and your campervan.   Whilst most people might require that the ‘all inclusive’ experience must include such things as poolside sipping an ice-cold drink in the comfort of a luxurious hotel, a new type of ‘all-inclusive’ travellers are making a mark on the international travel scene. However, instead of seeking the full menu of a 24/7 room service, this community of travellers seek the experience of total self-sufficiency to the limits of all they can include in a single camper. The ongoing trend of vanlife travellers, whose recorded encounters with nature have found their way into our feeds these days, shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, the demand for “vanlife” is booming at a faster rate than ever. Not only in terms of how many people are looking for insp
Read more