Linkping

Linkping ˈˈlɪnʃːpɪŋ is a City in southern Sweden, in the stergtland County and the Ostrogothia Province. With its surroundings it makes up the fifth largest Municipality in Sweden, Linkpings kommun, with 136,190 inhabitants (SCB statistics of November 1, 2003). Of these, 94,298 live in the city itself (SCB statistics of December 31, 2000). The municipality borders in the west to Motala, and clockwise to Finspng, Norrkping, tvidaberg, Kinda, and Mjlby. Linkping is the center of an old cultural region and celebrated its 700th anniversary in 1987. Dominating the city's skyline from a far distance is the tower of the cathedral. The city is situated south of lake Roxen (which is part of the historically important water paths Motala strm and Gta kanal) where the main road from Stockholm to Helsingborg crosses the river Stngn (and Kinda kanal). This road was part of the Eriksgata route that the newly elected king had to travel according to medieval Swedish Law. In the 20th century road system, it was first called Riksettan (national highway no 1). It is currently called E4 and has been redirected to pass outside the city on the north side. Further contributing to Linkping's excellent communications is its situation on the main southern railway line connecting Stockholm with Malm and Danish capital Copenhagen. There is also a minor airport. Palo Alto, California is a twin town to Linkping.

History

Historically, Linkping is famed for being an early diocese, second in Sweden (within its pre-1658 boundaries) only to Skara. The monastery of Vreta Kloster near Roxen north of Linkping was established in 1128, and the oldest parts of the cathedral are also from the 12th century (although it has been changed many times since then, the eye-catching tower being a 19th century product). At several occasions, attempts to achieve a separate Swedish archdiocese were based in Linkping, though when they finally were successful in 1164, Uppsala was chosen in stead. Religious centers tend to become educational centers, and Linkping was no exception. The cathedral school is known from 1266, possibly the first in Sweden. Also, Linkping was the site for the final settlement of the dispute between King Sigismund and his uncle Duke Charles, the latter prevailing in the battle of Stngebro (today a sports field near central Linkping) on September 25, 1598. This ultimately led to the rise to the throne of Charles (de facto at the Riksdag at Linkping in 1600 and formally four years later) and the end of the short-lived Swedish-Polish personal union, as well as the execution of five of Charles's political opponents on the main square of Linkping on March 20, 1600. Linkping was a small town until 1937, when the Saab aircraft industry was formed, starting a period of rapid expansion. Linkping University was established in the 1960s. Today the city is a center of high-technology and software industry.

Politics

Although not renamed a city district (stad), like other major urban municipalities in Sweden have been, the municipality of Linkping does style the speaker of its council Mayor (borgmstare), one of very few contemporary uses of that title in Swedish society. The present Mayor, reflecting the social democratic domination in the council, is Eva Joelsson. Linkping is also the site of residence for the Governor of stergtland County.

Culture

Linkping is the home of the multi-purpose stergtland County Museum and of the Linkping Symphony Orchestra. The city is one of the sites of the Ostrogothia Music Days each summer, and the host of the Student Orchestra Festival in May every other year. When the area around the main square was re-planned in the 1960s and many old houses were destructed, some of them were moved to Gamla Linkping just outside the central parts of the city, now a very living museal environment and a popular site for both residents and tourists to visit.

Sports

Teams from Linkping are prominent in Volleyball (Team Valla/LiU) and Ice hockey (Linkpings HC).

Notable natives

See also

External links

 

<< PreviousWord BrowserNext >>
adamsville, pennsylvania
athens township, crawford county, pennsylvania
atlantic, pennsylvania
beaver township, crawford county, pennsylvania
bloomfield township, crawford county, pennsylvania
blooming valley, pennsylvania
cambridge township, pennsylvania
cambridge springs, pennsylvania
canadohta lake, pennsylvania
centerville, crawford county, pennsylvania
cochranton, pennsylvania
conneaut township, crawford county, pennsylvania
conneaut lake, pennsylvania
conneaut lakeshore, pennsylvania
conneautville, pennsylvania
cussewago township, pennsylvania
east fairfield township, pennsylvania
east fallowfield township, crawford county, pennsylvania
east mead township, pennsylvania
fairfield township, crawford county, pennsylvania
fredericksburg, crawford county, pennsylvania
geneva, pennsylvania
stergtland county
boxholm municipality
finspng municipality
kinda municipality
mjlby municipality
norrkping municipality
sderkping municipality
vadstena municipality
valdemarsvik municipality
ydre municipality
tvidaberg municipality
deshg municipality
greenwood township, crawford county, pennsylvania
guys mills, pennsylvania
harmonsburg, pennsylvania
hartstown, pennsylvania
hayfield township, pennsylvania
hydetown, pennsylvania
lincolnville, pennsylvania
linesville, pennsylvania
meadville, pennsylvania
north shenango township, pennsylvania
Copyright 2005-2009 OnPedia.com. All Rights Reserved