Växjö

Växjö ([ˈvɛkːˈɧøː]) is a city and the seat of Växjö Municipality, Kronoberg County, Sweden with 64 200 inhabitants in 2010.^[1] It is the administrative, cultural and industrial centre of Kronoberg County. Furthermore it is the episcopal see of the Diocese of Växjö. It has a population of about 64 200, out of a municipal total of 83,000 inhabitants. The town is home to Linnaeus University.

Etymology

The city's name is believed to be constructed from the words "väg" (road) and "sjö" (lake), meaning the road over the frozen Växjö Lake that farmers took in the winter to get to the marketplace that later became the city.

History

In contrast to what was believed a century ago,^[3] there is no evidence of a special pre-Christian significance of the site. The pagan cultic center of Värend may have been located at Hov, a village nearby.^[4][5]

Even though the city has been an Episcopal see since the 12th century, it did not get its city charter until 1342, issued by Magnus Eriksson. During the Middle Ages Växjö did not have many pious institutions. A Franciscan monastery was established in 1485. There was a hospital of the Holy Ghost, first mentioned in 1318. In the 14th century Växjö got its first school, Växjö katedralskola, that was much visited. By 1643 it received gymnasium status.

At the beginning of Gustav Eriksson's war of liberation, the peasantry joined forces under the guidance of the union-hostile bishop Ingemar Pedersson, the mountain men and the peasantry of Dalarna, Hälsingland and Gästrikland, who urged fidelity to the their leader Gustav Eriksson.

During the Dacke War, a peasant uprising, the city was in the hands of Nils Dacke and his supporters from the summer of 1542 until after New Year 1543. The city residents and the clergy seem to have adopted a cautious neutrality, even though common sympathies rested with Dacke.

Several times during the Northern Wars, Scanian Wars and thereafter, the city has been plagued by fire (in 1277, 1516, 1570, 1612, 1658, 1690, 1749, 1753, 1799, 1838 and 1843). After the last fire in 1843, when 1140 citizens were rendered homeless, Växjö got its current street plan.^[6]

The Barbarella nightclub was prominent in southeastern Sweden in the 1970s, attracting a number of major international bands.

Demography

^[7]

Notable locations

Linnaeus University has 15,000 students (2008).

Industries include Alstom and Aerotech Telub. Växjö houses Sweden's National Glass Museum ^[8] and claims to be the capital of the "Kingdom of Crystal" ^[9] as well as of the "Kingdom of Furniture".^[10]

The Swedish Emigrant Institute ^[11] was established in 1965 and resides in the House of Emigrants near the Växjö lake in the heart of the city. It contains archives, library, museum, and a research center relating to the emigration period between 1846 and 1930, when 1.3 million (or 20%) of the Swedish population emigrated, mainly to the USA. Archives, dating to the 17th century, of birth and death records as well as household records are available on microfiche.

Immediately north of Växjö is Kronoberg Castle, a ruined fortress constructed in the 15th century. This castle was used as base by rebel Nils Dacke during the Dacke War. The fortress has thick walls and an interesting array of artillery portals that face out onto the lake Helgasjön to the north. The city also holds another castle, Teleborg Castle built in 1900 and situated near the University.

Climate

Notable natives

• Joachim Björklund, footballer
• Jonas Björkman, tennis player with 50 doubles titles including Grand Slams
• Karl-Birger Blomdahl, 20th century music composer
• Bjorn Englen, bass player of Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force
• Knute Heldner, 20th century Swedish American artist
• Owe Jonsson, track and field athlete and European champion
• Martin Kellerman, comic strip creator
• Carolina Klüft, track and field athlete and Olympic gold medalist at Athens 2004
• Pär Lagerkvist, author and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, 1951
• Otto Lindblad, 19th century music composer
• Carolus Linnaeus, botanist, physician and zoologist
• Christina Nilsson, 19th century soprano celebrity
• Thomas Ravelli, football goalkeeper
• Peder Sjögren, 20th century author and playwright
• Jonas Swensson, President of the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church
• Håkan Syrén, a military General and Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces
• Mats Wilander, tennis player with seven Grand Slam victories 1982–1988
• Björn Wirdheim, racing driver
• The Ark, rock band
• Melody Club, rock band
• Silencer, depressive black metal band

Sports clubs

The following sports clubs are located in Växjö:

• Östers IF - football
• Hovshaga AIF - football, bandy and tennis
• Växjö Lakers - ice hockey

References

External links

• Växjö Municipality – Official site
• (Swedish)Växjö article in Nordisk familjebok