The region

Linköping

Written reference to Linköping was made as early as in 1120 when the city was an episcopal see. The construction of the cathedral began in 1230, and a cathedral school was established in 1250. Four centuries later, one of Sweden’s first pre-university schools was founded. Contemporary Linköping continues its tradition as a seat of learning through Linköping University, founded in the 1960s.

Over the past fifty years, Linköping has expanded from a medium sized town to become the fifth largest city in Sweden, with approximately 137,000 inhabitants. It is home to industries specialising in fields ranging from aircraft manufacturing to emerging technologies.

Despite its rapid growth, Linköping has retained a small-town charm. An excellent network of cycle paths makes it easy to get around.

Linköping's many parks make it a green city during the warm months. Keep-fit devotees will find jogging paths, golf courses, lakes and waterways, indoor and outdoor tennis courts and athletics grounds in the surrounding area.

For those more interested in urban life, there are theatres, cinemas, libraries, and art galleries. There is also a large concert hall, an interesting county museum and a wide diversity of shops and restaurants.
For more information, see the Linköping website.

Norrköping

You will find Norrköping 45 kilometres to the northeast of Linköping where the river Motala ström meets the Baltic Sea. Norrköping, with a population of 124,000, has a tradition as an industrial centre going back to the 17th century. In recent decades, it has adapted itself to suit the modern telecommunications and computer technology markets.
Norrköping's main industries include transportation, logistics, computers, software, environmental technology, recycling, electronics, process engineering, pulp and paper packaging, metal working, and subcontracting.

Norrköping is a city steeped in history, clearly shown by more than 7000 rock carvings, most of them at Himmelstalund. Some of these carvings are more than 3000 years old.

On the waterfront of Motala ström, in the heart of Norrköping, what was once an industrial area with cotton and paper mills has now been transformed into an area for a modern economy, cultural life and the university’s city campus in Norrköping. Buildings have been meticulously restored and are well worth a visit.
Following the canal, Göta kanal, as it opens out into the Baltic Sea, the diversely cultivated landscape turns into an archipelago with islands that are an oasis of tranquillity and beauty.
For more information, see the Norrköping website (in Swedish).

Östergötland

Linköping and Norrköping are situated in the county of Östergötland, the third largest county in Sweden in terms of arable land. It is also known for its highly mechanised agriculture. It is one of Sweden’s most interesting counties from an historical point of view, with its ancient fortresses, rune stones and many prehistoric rock carvings. Some of the towns and villages have retained evidence of their medieval origins. Churches, castles and manors from the Middle Ages and later periods have also been well preserved.

Several internationally well known companies, such as Saab, Ericsson, Siemens, Holmen Paper, BT Industries and Electrolux are based here. Linköping and Norrköping are the two largest cities and in the process of developing into one integrated urban region - Sweden's fourth metropolitan area or the Twin Cities Region.

The variety and beauty of the countryside always pleasantly surprise visitors to Östergötland. To the south is a major lake system. Göta kanal, a canal linking the eastern and western coasts of Sweden, is now one of the country's most popular tourist attractions. The canal traverses 38 locks in Östergötland, with an 88-metre difference in height between the Baltic Sea and Lake Vättern.

For tourist information, see the website of Östgötaporten »