Get in
Get around
A nice way to get around in Norrköping is with the yellow trams. Tickets or cards are bought onboard.
Everything listed here that's located in the city is within walking distance of the other listings, as the actual town centre isn't that big.
See
Buy
Eat
Drink
You can pick up the free Nollelva magazine in various stores to read more about Norrköping's nightlife. It is only available in Swedish though.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Grand Hotel
Get out
Norrköping is a city in Östergötland in mid-east Sweden, situated at . It has 90,000 inhabitants (2006), and is the seat of Norrköping Municipality with 125,463 inhabitants (2006), making it Sweden's tenth largest city. It has two nicknames: "Sweden's Manchester" and "Peking".
The city is situated where the river Motala ström drains into Bråviken, a gulf of the Baltic Sea. Water power from the Motala and the good harbour (Arkösund)were the foundation of this once industrial city, known for its textile industry.
History
The city has medieval foundations by settlers around the Norrköping twin city with Linköping Motala stream estuary, who used the falls and rapids to power their mills. The stream was also full of fish such as salmon. Exact dates are uncertain, but there are mentions of a church in the 12th century. It was dedicated to Saint Olaf, Norway's patron.
The first trace of the city's name is from 1283, when Sofia of Denmark - wife of Valdemar I of Sweden - donated her rights of salmon fishing to the Skänninge monastery. The town is estimated to have received city status in the early 14th century, although no written documents exist prior to a document from 1384. This document, signed by Albrekt of Sweden is stored in the city archive today.
The city was the location of several battles in the ensuing centuries. As a consequence, nothing of the medieval Norrköping remains today. During the Northern Seven Years' War (1563-1570), the entire southern part of Norrköping was burnt. It was rebuilt by John III of Sweden and John, Duke of Östergötland (1589-1618), who designed the current street pattern. An impressive castle fortress called Johannisberg was in 1614 begun by the Duke John, although not completed until 1639.
In 1618, a weapon industry was established by supervision of Gustavus Adolphus. The harbour also attracted ships due to its proximity to the industries of Finspång. In addition to the weapon industry, a large scale industry of textile was also initiated. An important benefactor was the industrial man Louis De Geer (1587-1652). At De Geer's death, Norrköpings had 6,000 inhabitants and was Sweden's second largest city.
The city again burnt in 1655, and again in 1719 during the Great Northern War when the Russians burnt it to the ground. Stones from the Johannisborg castle were used to build new houses, and today only a few stones remains.
During the 18th century it was rebuilt and several industries soon got a stronghold: In the 1740s, Norrköping boosted three sugar refineries; in the 1750s the large scale influential snuff industry was established. From this time stems the city churches of Saint Olof and Saint Hedvig, and several other old houses.
Norrköping's importance again flourished. In 1769 the Swedish Riksdag assembled there. In 1800 the king Gustav IV of Sweden was crowned in the Church of Saint Olof.
The city again suffered fires in 1822 and 1826. Thereafter wooden houses were banned. In 1841 a ship industry was initiated as a branch of Motala Verkstad in Motala. In 1850 the industry had over 600 employees making it Sweden's largest ship industry at the time. During the remaining 19th century, the industries kept expanding. Motala Strömm was further cultivated for refining of cotton; a paper mill was constructed in 1854, specializing in newspaper, and is still today exporting to around the world.
The textile industry kept expanding. In 1950 a total of 54 factories had 6,600 employees in town. By 1956, however, 18 of them had been closed due to competition from countries abroad with lower wages, such as Italy and Japan. In 1970 only 10 factories and 1,200 employees remained. In that year, the renowned Holmen paper mill, with its 350 years long history, announced closure, and another 900 people were let go. To counter the effects, several governmental work places were situated in Norrköping. But see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braviken_Paper_Mill
As of 2002, Norrköping is now seeing a revival, as a center of culture and education. The Norrköping symbol represents the "new" Norrköping.
Sights
a campus of Linköping University, its own symphonic orchestra, a small airport called Kungsängen, and a high-tech industry park called Pronova. Petroglyphs from the Nordic Bronze Age.
Image:Stadsbiblioteket Norrköping april 2005.jpg|The renowned public library, so called modern architecture
Image:Strykjärnet Motala ström Norrköping april 2005.jpg|The characteristic Museum of Labour (Arbetets museum) in the midst of Motala ström.
Image:Spårvagn 61 Hospitalsgatan Norrköping april 2005.jpg|Norrköping one of three Swedish cities with a public streetcar (tram) system
Image:St Olai kyrka i Norrköping april 2005.jpg|The Church of Saint Olof, built circa 1750
Notable natives
Sports
Twin cities
External links
