Gothenburg, Sweden Attractions

Post code: S-40... and S-41...

Telephone code: 031

Göteborg (in English traditionally Gothenburg), situated in southwestern Sweden on the shores of the Kattegat, on both banks of the Götaälv, is Sweden's second largest city and the leading port and commercial center.

The chief town of the county of Göteborg and Bohus, it has a university and a college of technology and is the see of a Lutheran bishop. Cultural life in Göteborg is found through the art museum, annual film festival, amusement park Liseberg and free theatres. Its economy is largely dependent on a number of major industries including motor vehicles (Volvo), the manufacture of ball bearings and the chemical industry. There are ferry services to Kiel in Germany and Frederikshavn in Denmark.

History

Göteborg is a relatively young town, having received its municipal charter from Gustavus Adolphus only in 1621. There had been four earlier settlements in the area, but all had been destroyed either by war or by fire. The early development of the town was much influenced by the Dutch settlers who had been brought in: the first town council consisted of 10 Dutchmen, seven Swedes and one Scot.The town quickly grew into Sweden's largest port, engaged particularly in the shipment of timber and iron. During Napoleon's continental blockade (1806) it was the focal point for British trade with northern Europe. This period saw the rise of the commercial aristocracy (East India Company founded 1731) from whose munificence the city frequently benefited.

Göteborg's heyday as an international port began in the early 20th century with the development of transatlantic traffic, and it is now the base of about a quarter of the Swedish merchant fleet. With over 20km/12.5miles of quays, the port - which is rarely ice-bound - is the largest in northern Europe, and can accommodate tankers of up to 225,000 tons. The people of Göteborg are open-minded and liberally disposed, and have always looked towards the West: in their eyes Stockholm is in Siberia. A favorite Swedish joke declares that when it rains in London the people of Göteborg put up their umbrellas.
Some of the main sites of interest in Göteborg are the Kungsportsavenyn, main boulevard; Gothenburg Museum of Art, Göteborg Botanical Garden, Natural History Museum and the most popular destination - Southern Gothenburg Archipelago, only accessible by boat.

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	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	Closed	12:00	12:00	12:00	12:00	11:00	11:00
Close		20:00	17:00	17:00	17:00	17:00	17:00

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Fishing Harbor

Near the Göteborg Shipping Museum is the fishing harbor (interesting auctions on weekdays from 7am). It is also well worth visiting the Fish Auction Hall (Feskekörka) on the Rosenlundskanal.

Farther west is the 933m/1,010yd long Älvborg Bridge (1966), which leads to the Hisingen peninsula.

German Church

Behind Göteborg's Town Hall, in Norra Hamngatan, stands the Kristine Kyrka or German Church (rebuilt in 1748-53 after a fire), with the burial vault of Field Marshal Rutger von Ascheberg (1693), governor of Skåne, Halland, Göteborg and Bohuslän.

Gothenburg Cathedral

Along Västra Hamngatan, at the intersection with Kungsgatan (on left), is Göteborg's Cathedral (Domkyrka), built in 1815 on the site of two earlier churches which had been destroyed by fire. It is a three-aisle church with a tower at the west end.

Gothenburg Exchange

On the north side of Gustav Adolfs square is the Exchange (Börsen; 1849), which also houses the city's Council Chamber and a museum devoted to the Czech composer Smetana, who lived in Göteborg from 1856 to 1861.

Göteborg - East India House (Museums)

Along Norra Hamngatan (No. 12) is Göteborg's East India House, once the offices of the East India Company (1750), now housing a number of museums: the Historical Museum, with material of historical and ethnographic interest, particularly from western Sweden and the Göteborg area; the Archaeological Museum (prehistoric material); and the Ethnographic Museum, which has a special section on Lapland.

Address

Göteborg City Museum
Norra Hamngatan 12
S-41114 Göteborg
Sweden

http://www.stadsmuseum.goteborg.se

Hours

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	Closed	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00
Close		17:00	17:00	17:00	17:00	17:00	20:00

Cost

Adult	kr 40.00
Youth 25 & under	FREE

All values are in Sweden Kronor

Göteborg - Gustav Adolfs Torg

On the north side of the Stora Hamnkanal is Gustav Adolfs Torg, a large square which was called simply Stora Torget until 1854, when the statue of Gustavus Adolphus (by B. E. Fogelberg) was erected. It is the second version of the statue: the first, cast in Munich, was acquired by Bremen after the ship carrying it ran aground and the citizens of Göteborg refused to pay the salvage money demanded by the men of Heligoland.

Göteborg - Götaplats

At the southeast end of the Avenue lies Götaplats, Göteborg's cultural hub, with the striking Poseidon Fountain by Carl Milles (1931).

Göteborg - Lilla Torget

Across the Stora Hamnkanal from Göteborg's Historical Museum, to the right, is the Lilla Torg, with a statue (by Börjesson, 1904) of the textile manufacturer Jonas Alströmer (1685-1761). Farther to the right, at the end of Södra Hamngata, stands the 17th century Governor's Residence (altered and enlarged about 1850). In Skeppsbroplatsen is the town's oldest stone pier (1845), with the Carl Milles Monument.

Göteborg - Majorna

Between Slottskogen and the Götaälv lies the Majorna district, originally a working-class housing scheme built about 1875, with the "governor's houses" (landshövdingehus) characteristic of Göteborg (so called because they were built in accordance with a decree issued by the governor, the landshövding). Since timber-built houses were not allowed to have more than two stories the ground floor was built of stone.

Göteborg - Maritima Centrum

Nils Ericssonsgata runs north in Göteborg to the Götaälv. Moored at the Gullbergskaj are the four-masted barque "Viking" (1907; now a school of seamanship), the lightship "Fladen" (1915) and the "Valborg II " (1902), which used to sail on Lake Vänern. To the right is the Götaälv Bridge (view of harbor and old shipyards), leading to the Hisingen peninsula. The peninsula can also be reached through the Tingstad Tunnel (which carries the E 6, Göteborg-Oslo), 1km/0.75mile upstream.

Address

Goteborgs Maritima Centrum
Packuhuskajen 8 1/2
S-41113 Göteborg
Sweden

http://www.goteborgsmaritimacentrum.com

Hours

April 1 to April 30

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	Closed	Closed	Closed	Closed	10:00	10:00	10:00
Close					18:00	18:00	18:00

May 1 to September 30

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00
Close	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00

October 1 to October 31

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	Closed	Closed	Closed	Closed	10:00	10:00	10:00
Close					16:00	16:00	16:00

Cost

Family	kr 180.00
Adult	kr 75.00
Child 15 & under	kr 30.00
Child 7 & under	FREE

All values are in Sweden Kronor

Tips

Guided tours available by appointment.

Facilities

Gift shop
Restaurant or food service

Göteborg - Östra Nordstan

Between Gustav Adolfs Torg and Drottningtorg (to the east along Norra Hamngata) is Göteborg's Östra Nordstan district, in which the old houses have given place to modern functional buildings. From the shopping center there is an underground passage to the Central Station in Drottningtorg.

Göteborg Municipal Museum

To the north of East India House, in Kronhusgatan, is the Kronhus (1643-53), Göteborg's oldest building, used in the past as a warehouse, an arsenal and a garrison church. In the great hall (Rikssalen) the five-year-old Charles XI was proclaimed king in 1660. Part of the building is now occupied by the Municipal Museum. Adjoining are the Kronhusbodar (1756-59), converted into shops and workshops at the turn of the century.

Address

Göteborgs Stadsmuseum
Norra Hamngatan 12
S-41114 Göteborg
Sweden

http://www.stadsmuseum.goteborg.se

Hours

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	Closed	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00
Close		17:00	17:00	17:00	17:00	17:00	17:00

Cost

Adult	kr 40.00
Youth 25 & under	FREE

All values are in Sweden Kronor

Göteborg University

Along Vasagatan, in the Vasapark, is Göteborg's University. South of this is the Vasa Church (Vasakyrkan, 1909); at the west end of Vasagatan, at the intersection with Haga Kyrkogatan, is the Commercial College; and to the north of this is the Haga Church (Hagakyrkan, 1859).

Address

Göteborg University
Box 100
S-40530 Gothenburg
Sweden

http://www.gu.se

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(Events)

Industrial Museum

To the east of the Scandinavium we come to the Industrial Museum (models illustrating Göteborg's industrial history; motor cars). Nearby is Orgryte Old Church (Gamla Kyrka; 13th C., with later enlargement).

Iron Square

To the north of Göteborg's Military Museum, at the west end of Södra Allégatan, is Järntorget (Iron Square), with a fountain by Tore Strindberg (1927); on the outside of the basin are various old iron stamps.

From here Första Långgatan runs west to St John's Church (1866). On a plateau to the south of the church stands the Masthugg Church (Masthuggskyrkan, 1914), from which there is a fine view of the city and the harbor.

Landvetter Airport

Landvetter, Göteborg's airport, is 18km/11mi east of the city center on the road to Borås (No. 40).

Address

Landvetter Airport
S-43880 Göteborg
Sweden

http://www.lfv.se

Military Museum

On a hill southwest of Göteborg's Haga Church can be seen a remnant of the old fortifications, Skansen Kronan (Kronen Redoubt), from the top of which there are fine views. The stout tower (1697) now houses a Military Museum, with a collection of weapons and Swedish uniforms from the 17th century to the present day. Around the hill is a working-class housing estate built about 1850.

Address

Göteborgs Maritima Centrum
Packuhuskajen 8 1/2
S-41113 Göteborg
Sweden

Old Town

On the Dutch pattern, the main traffic arteries of Göteborg were originally canals, most of which have now been filled in and converted into streets, such as Östra and Västra Hamngatan. Only the central canal, the Stora Hamnkanal, and the old defensive moat which bounds the Old Town on the south have been preserved.

Opera House

The Gothenburg Opera House opened in 1994. Each season offers opera, ballet and musicals.

Address

Gothenburg Opera House
Christina Nilssons Gatan
S-41104 Göteborg
Sweden

http://www.opera.se

Shipping Museum

Stigbergsgatan and Stigbergsplatsen, with the well preserved Gathenhielmska Hus (1710), leads to Göteborg's Shipping Museum (Sjöfartsmuseet), which illustrates the development of shipping, fishing and shipbuilding from the Viking period to the present day; there is also an aquarium.

Adjoining the museum is the Seaman's Tower, 49m/160ft high, topped by Ivar Johnsson's sculpture "Woman by the Sea"; the tower was built to commemorate the seamen who lost their lives in the First World War (good views).

Address

Sjöfartsmuseet
Karl Johansgatan 1-3
S-41459 Göteborg
Sweden

http://www.sjofartsmuseum.goteborg.se

Hours

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	Closed	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00
Close		17:00	20:00	17:00	17:00	17:00	17:00

Always closed on:

New Year's Day (January 1)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
New Year's Eve (December 31)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)

Cost

Adult	kr 40.00
Youth 25 & under	FREE

All values are in Sweden Kronor

Tips

Open holidays: 10-17. Closed 05/13. Guided tours in English are offered at an additonal cost on Saturdays and Sundays. Call (31) 612906 / 908.

Disabled

Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.

Guides

Guided tour available as optional extra.

Facilities

Child or day care
Gift shop

Transit

Tram 3, 9 or 11. Stop: Stigbergstorget

Town Hall

On the west side of Gustav Adolfs square is the Göteborg Town Hall (Rådhus; 1672), designed by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder, with a beautiful inner courtyard. The north wing was built by Erik Gunnar Asplund in 1935-37. The relief of the "Winds" was the work of Erik Grates.

Vitlycke Museum

The purpose of the Vitlycke Museum is to reflect upon rock carvings from long ago and it does so in a contemporary way. A Bronze Age farm is set up on-site to offer a glimpse into the living quarters of the rockcarvers.

Address

Vitlycke Museum
Tanumshede
Sweden

http://www.vitlyckemuseum.se

Hours

April 1 to April 30

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	Closed	Closed	Closed	Closed	Closed	11:00	11:00
Close						16:00	16:00

May 1 to August 31

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00
Close	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00	18:00

September 1 to September 30

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	Closed	11:00	11:00	11:00	11:00	11:00	11:00
Close		16:00	16:00	16:00	16:00	16:00	16:00

October 1 to October 31

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	Closed	Closed	Closed	Closed	Closed	11:00	11:00
Close						16:00	16:00

Guides

Guided tour available as optional extra.

Facilities

Gift shop

Gothenburg Surroundings

Göteborg - Kållered

7km/4.5mi south of Mölndal is Kållered, which has a church dating in part from the 13th century with a beautiful painted timber ceiling.

Tips

Guided tours are available during the summer months.

Långedrag

9km/6mi southwest of Nya Elfsborg, on the estuary of the Götaälv, is the former fishing village of Långedrag, now a popular seaside resort (summer restaurant) and an attractive residential suburb.

Facilities

Restaurant or food service

Molndal, Sweden

7km/4.5mi south of Göteborg on E 20 is the industrial town of Mölndal (pop. 51,000), now joined up with Göteborg. It was originally known as the "Valley of Mills". 2km/1.25mi east is Gunnebo Castle (1796), in an English-style park. To the west is Åby racecourse.

Address

Molndal Tourist Office
Göteborgsvägen 11-17
S-43182 Mölndal
Sweden

http://www.molndal.se

Nya Elfsborg

From Lilla Bommen it is a half-hour trip by motorboat to the fortress of Elfsborg (1670; renovated 1971), on an island off the mouth of the river.

There are also attractive trips to the skerries. Particularly popular with bathers is the island of Styrsö.

Hours

May 1 to September 7

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	9:30	9:30	9:30	9:30	9:30	9:30	9:30
Close	15:00	15:00	15:00	15:00	15:00	15:00	15:00

Cost

Family	kr 195.00
Adult	kr 75.00
Child	kr 50.00

All values are in Sweden Kronor

Tips

195SEK ($22) for a family of four. All admission prices include boat ride.

Guides

Guided tour included with admission.

Älvängen - Museum of Rope Making

Watch the old belt-driver machines work, feel the fibers and yarn, the rope, hawsers, and other cordage. Smell the tar and natural fibers - these are what make this a unique living museum. Ropes are always being made when the museum is open.

Address

The Museum of Rope Making
Tågvirkesgränd
S-44637 Älvängen
Sweden

http://www.repslagarbanan.se

Hours

June 15 to August 15

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00	10:00
Close	16:00	16:00	16:00	16:00	16:00	16:00	16:00

August 16 to June 14

	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
Open	Closed	Closed	12:00	12:00	12:00	12:00	12:00
Close			15:00	15:00	15:00	15:00	15:00

Cost

Adult	kr 40.00
Youth 20 & under	FREE

All values are in Sweden Kronor

Disabled

Full facilities for persons with disabilities.

Facilities

Gift shop
Restaurant or food service

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