Borgholm
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| Borgholm | |
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  Borgholm
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | Sweden |
| Municipality | Borgholm Municipality |
| County | Kalmar County |
| Province | Öland |
| Area [1] | |
| - Total | 2.56 km² (1 sq mi) |
| Population (2005-12-31)[1] | |
| - Total | 3,093 |
| - Density | 1,207/km² (3,126.1/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
Borgholm is a city in Kalmar County, south-eastern Sweden, located on the island of Öland in the Baltic Sea. It is the seat of Borgholm Municipality and has a population of 3,093 (2005).
Borgholm is one of Sweden's historical towns with a former city status (stad). The city is best known for its once-magnificent fortress which is now ruined. Borgholm is, despite its small population, for historical reasons normally still referred to as a city. Statistics Sweden, however, only counts localities with more than 10,000 inhabitants as cities.
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[edit] Name
"Borgholm" means "fortress helmet", a reference to its position at the top of the island of Őland.
[edit] Geography
The city is situated some 20 km north of the Öland bridge which connects the island with the city of Kalmar on the mainland.
[edit] History
Borgholm is the main city of Öland, but remains one of the smallest cities in Sweden. The city received its charter in 1816 and emerged as a spa-town in the shadow of the ruins of the once mighty Borgholm Castle, which burned down in 1806. So important and magnificent was this castle, that it has become the city arms, and the ruins are the best known attraction in the municipality, perhaps on the entire island of Öland. Slightly further south is Halltorps Estate, a historic royal estate linked to Borgholm Castle.
The city serves as centre of northern Öland, and is one of the most popular summer resorts in Sweden.
Borgholm Castle has its modern counterpart outside Borgholm. The Swedish Royal Family has its official summer residence at Solliden Palace a couple of kilometres outside the city centre. The Crown Princess Victoria's birthday is annually celebrated on July 14 at the Borgholm Sports Field.
[edit] Environs
There are small reaches of the Stora Alvaret geological formation in the environs of Borgholm, which level exposures of limestone host a variety of rare species of butterflies and wildflowers, some of which are endemic to Öland.
[edit] Gallery
 Borgholm Castle in 1691, in Suecia antiqua et hodierna |
 Part of the ruins of today |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km2 2000 och 2005 (xls) (Swedish). Statistics Sweden. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
[edit] External links
- Borgholm Municipality - Official site
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Borgholm is one of 134 towns with the historical City status in Sweden. |
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