 Major Cities in SmålandJönköping
Photo: Copyright © Smålands Turism Jönköping is located on the south coastline of the lake Vättern. There are 118 500 inhabitants. It was granted a town charter from Magnus Ladulås 1284. It is the province's oldest preserved brief of a granted town charter.Today, Jönköping is the centre of agriculture and forest-administration in Sweden, as well as the National Courts Administration. The former military base, Royal Smålands Artillery Regiment, A6, was located in Jönköping but is nowadays a large shopping centre. Jönköping is famous as "tändsticksstaden" (thecity of matches). Sweden's first match factory was started here 1844-45 by the brothers Johan and Carl Lundström. The production has closed down but today you can find the matchmuseum in the largest factory. In the county museum there is a great collection of John Bauer's paintings (1882-1918). His illustrations of the Christmas book, "Bland tomtaroch troll" - among Brownies and Trolls, are quite famous. In the museum you will find exhibition about the inhabitants of Småland ironworks, ceramics from prehistoric times until today. The nature reserve, Rosenlundsbankarna, offers beautiful nature and in the Rosenlund area you will find one of Europe's largest adventure bathhouses, a new concert house and the exhibition area, Elmia. Jönköping is also known in Sweden for its hockey team "HV71".Jönköping has an international airport, with daily connections to stockholm, Copenhagen and Riga. The most beautiful part of European Highway E4 passes through Jönköping along the Lake Vättern. Hotels in Jönköping Kalmar
Photo: Copyright © Smålands Turism Kalmar is a city in south-eastern Småland with 60 000 inhabitants. Kalmar is one of the oldest towns in the province with an interesting historical background. The Castle of Kalmar was built in the time of Magnus Ladulås (in the late 13th century). In the year 1397, the Union of Kalmar was founded.It was an union of the three scandinavians states; Denmark, Norway and Sweden. In the 18th century the castle was the county's prisonand the Crown's distillery. Domkyrkan, the cathedral in the centre of the town is also a reminder of by gone days of greatness. It was built in the italic baroque style, designed by Nicodemus Tessin. In the county museum there is a great exhibition of regalskeppet (ship of the line) Kronan, which sank in 1676. In the year 1685 the three provinces Skåne, Halland and Blekinge came under the supremacy of Sweden. Kalmar lost its importance as beeing a border district. During the 18th century it became an important shipyard and trade & shipping city. Today Kalmar is an educational and industrial town. A University is located here. From Kalmar's new watertower you have a magnificent viewover the city and you can see the bridge which connects the mainland with the island Öland, the longest bridge in Europe (6070m). Kalmar is ringed by a necklace of sea beaches, from Blå Jungrun Island in the north to Bröms in the south. The guest harbour, located in the middle of the city, is much used and widely known. The medievalcore of Kalmar, which is today known as Gamla stan (the old town), is right beside the castle. There are still imposing houses dating from the 17th and 18th centuries and the old town offers interesting cultural and historical walks. Shopping is an undiluted pleasure in Kalmar. Hotels in Kalmar Växjö
Photo: Copyright © Smålands Turism Växjö, the central town of the province of Småland, was founded in 1342. Växjö, with its 75 000 inhabitants, is of historical interest. The city has long been an important commercial centre and a focal point for education and culture in the region. Växjö became a church centre when the English missionary Saint Sigfrid built the first church here in the 12th century. Växjö Domkyrka, the cathedral, with its two towers has beautiful glass paintings by Erik Höglundand arts of other famous artists. Beside the cathedral is the beautiful Caroline high school where Linné, Per Henrik Ling (the Swedish gymnastic father) and Peter Wieselgren, later on Bishop, went to school and where Esaias Tegnér (Bishop and author) held his famous speeches. Although the city has been hit by many fires (1838 and 1843), it has managed to retain much of its original charm. The University of Växjö has around 6 000 students. It offers a wide range of courses, mostly administrative, economic and social studies but also in the technical field, all with alarge exchange of foreign students. The Emigrant institute in Växjö is a perfect starting point for visitors from other countries trying to trace their roots in Sweden. Among the million Swedes who emigrated to North America between 1850-1925, almost a fifth came from Småland. Apart from Europe's largest archive and library on emigration, the Institute has a permanent exhibition "The Dream of America". Vilhelm Moberg's books about the emigrants Karl-Oskar and Kristina who went to America are believed to be the most widely read novels in Swedish literature. In Moberg's home region, the eastern part of Kronoberg county, you can still experience the atmosphere of the emigration era. Beside the Emigrant Institute, Northern Europe's largest glass museum is being built. You can visit the castle of Kronoberg where Dacke and his men revolted against King Gustav Vasa. In 1991 Växjö concert hall was opened. It can be useful to know that Växjö has an international airport. Flying time from Växjö airport is 45 min to either Stockholm or Copenhagen. By train it takes 4.5 hours to Stockholm, 2 hours to Malmö and 3 hours to Göteborg. Hotels in Växjö Other districts and municipalities with homepages of their own
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