Into the Heart of Sweden

Sweden is known for introducing the world to a number of fine things such as Greta Garbo, Absolut Vodka, and everyone’s favorite, IKEA, along with some things that are probably best left alone to include the Volvo. After the Swedish Crown lost value, things sold in Sweden became more affordable.

In addition, Sweden is a country with a wonderful culture and some of the most incredible landscape in Europe. While many of the towns and cities have that small, cozy feel, the capital city of Stockholm (seen in the photograph) is actually becoming quite a progressive city. The countryside boasts a number of wonderful lakes and forests where you can go for a long walk, watch for wild moose, or enjoy water sports in the summer and ice-skating in the winter months.

Sweden currently has about 8 million people with Stockholm somewhere around 736,000 residents. Although the national language is Swedish, you will also find English spoken by most people. Through years of searching, documents have been discovered showing that in the Middle Ages, this part of the world had some civilization although expert historians believe people were in existence in the Bronze Age, after Indo-Europeans arrived bringing with them trade. In fact, today a number of places have been discovered in Sweden where rock paintings called Hallristningar survived to support this.

The area of the Malaren Valley was where the first trading posts were established and where numerous monuments were discovered with inscriptions. By the 9th century, the country was going through the Viking Age where large numbers of Byzantine, Arab, and Roman coins were found. These coins suggest that the Swedish Vikings were quite powerful and rich. Then, the Vikings traveled to the east, making an impression in Russia and Byzantine territories.

Around the 11th century, Christianity took hold, followed by internal unrest that decreased a large part of the Middle Ages. However, in 1397, Denmark interceded and with Norway, joined Sweden in the Union of Kalmar. The power in the monarch was undone in 1809 by aristocratic revolt and Finland losing to Russia. Also in 1809, Sweden created a constitution that divided powers of the parliament and the king. In 1814, military ensured the union with Norway would be the last involvement with the war for Sweden.

For hundreds of years, the Swedish people were involved in steel manufacturing, creating a growing, successful middle class group of people. In the early part of the 20th century, about 25% of all Swedes lived in cities and were involved in industry. When World War I broke out, Sweden stated they wanted to remain a neutral country but with shortages of food, the country began to experience unrest making consensus no longer an option. For the first time in the country’s history, a social democratic government took power. The rules put into place were barely changed until the early 1970s when the social goals of the Swedes started to feel pressure. At that time, their support of the social democracy began to waver and when the Prime Minister was assassinated in 1986, it left the country in turmoil.

From that time forward, there were a number of social democratic losses and as of today, Sweden has still not joined the single European currency plan or the European Union. However, with the gap of rich and poor widening, the country is feeling more tension. For people traveling into Sweden, fortunately, they are not really affected by the political scene. Instead, they can relax and enjoy a magnificent country that is definitely worth visiting. Therefore, we recommend you consider Sweden for your European trip since it has much to offer.

The food in Sweden is a little different compared to westernized food but tasty. For example, fish is a normal staple, which is typically fried or poached. However, a popular fish dish among the locals is pickled herring, which for some, takes a little getting used. Along with fish, delicious grown potatoes are commonly a part of every meal. If you enjoy beer, wine, and hard liquor, you will need to buy at outlets located in various cities, open only on the weekdays.

The country expands over 175,500 square miles making it the largest of all Scandinavian countries. In addition to glacial areas, you will also find 4,330 miles of coastline primarily in the west and close to the capital of Stockholm. In addition, more than 100,000 lakes exist along with several islands, which vary in topography. As an example, the Gotland and Oland Islands are flat limestone but with sandy beach areas, they have become great spots for vacationers. Then if you head to Norrland, you will find few people but a large area of the land being forest and river. Of course, Sweden also offers beautiful mountain ranges such as Mt. Kebnekaise, the highest peak in the country.

Throughout Sweden, common wildlife include the fox, deer, and moose although other groups of animals to include the wolf, brown bear, and lynx exist but have been decreased due to hunting and destruction of agriculture. Many people will go to Sweden just for the fishing, which is incredible. The northern streams and lakes are by far the most beautiful and the place to catch huge salmon. The best time to visit this European country is in the month of July when temperatures are around 70 degrees. At that time, there is plenty of warm sunshine and not much rain. Just remember if you travel to the mountain areas, even in the warmer months, temperatures can easily dip to 45 to 50 degrees.

Stockholm is an archipelago of 24,000 islands all protected by open seas. There, you can visit the hot spots of the city or head off to places like Gamla Stan, which is on the island of Stadsholmen, Stockholm’s oldest town. This particular town came to life in the 13th century and today, is an interesting mix of medieval streets with arches and stairways. Another place to visit while in Stockholm is the Royal Palace, which was just completed in the mid 18th century, a rebuilding of the original palace that burned to the ground in the 17th century.

However, one of the most pleasant towns to visit while in Sweden is Vattern. There, you will find the beautiful Lake Vattern, a wonderful harbor, a 15th century abbey that has both Gothic and Renaissance features, and Bjalboattens Palats, the old royal residence. Gothenburg is another great city and Sweden’s second city. Located on the west coast, Gothenburg has a gorgeous harbor and the world’s best amusement park, Liseberg, as well as several fine museums where paintings from Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Rubens are proudly on display.


Last Updated: 10/19/2006 3:14:00 PM

Gripsholm Castle
On the Lake Malaren shore, you cannot help but see an amazing castle called Gripsholm. Constructed from stone and brick fortification, this particular Swedish castle was built by King Gustav Vasa,
... continue >>

Karlskrona
Located in the southeast section of Sweden is Karlskrona, which was built on 33 islands, situated around the island of Trosso, which is in the Blekinge archipelago. This Baroque city was first founded in the mid 18th
... continue >>

Kinnekulle Mountain
Sweden has a number of beautiful mountains, offering quiet getaways, hiking, mountain climbing, camping, and more. One that you might visit is called the Kinnekulle Mountain, which is actually a plateau.
... continue >>