Västergötland

See also: Gothie

Västergötland (in French " the Western Gothie " or Westrogothie , of the Latin , Westrogothia (Gothia occidentalis) ), in the south-west of the Sweden, between the big lakes of Vänern and Vättern is one of the 25 historical provinces of Sweden. A small band of the province is intercalated between Bohuslän and the close Halland, to join the Cattégat, at the place where the town of Gothenburg is. Västergötland, with 1.198.806 inhabitants, is the second province of Sweden as a population after the Uppland. Even if the Swedish provinces do not have any more any administrative office (those are filled since the 17th century by the counties), they remain important cultural entities to which readily the Swedes are identified. Except two communes (Habo and Mullsjö) in the south-eastern part of the province, Västergötland belongs, with the provinces of Bohuslän and Dalsland, with the Comté of Västra Götaland.

Geography and landscapes

The southern part and the east part are dominated by the forests of conifers of the southernmost highlands of Sweden (in Swedish Sydsvenska Höglandet ). To the north of the highlands, on the other hand, one extends from the most fertile areas of the country: the plain of Västergötland (in Swedish Västgötaslätten ). The small band located at the edge of the Cattégat, richer in hills, resembles Bohuslän topographically and has, like this province, of the archipelagoes of rock islands (the Archipel of Gothenburg). The annual Précipitation rises with 900 mm in the highlands of south-west, but reaches only 600 mm in plain and in the archipelagoes. The average Température is of -1 °C in January and 15 °C in July.

The lake Hornborgasjön, close to Falköping, is a very important place of stopover for the migratory cranes on their road towards the north of the Scandinavia and the Russia. Each year, in March and in April, this locality gathers tens of thousands of the cranes.

  • Culminating point: Galtåsen 362 m

  • National park: Tiveden, Djurö

Cities of Västergötland

More the big city of Västergötland is Gothenburg, of which a minor part is however located in the province of Bohuslän.

The historical capital of the province is located however rather at Skara, one of the more old cities of Sweden and sits of évêché oldest of the country.

History

Västergötland is an area very rich in prehistoric sites. Thus the commune of Falköping is it one of the areas of the world richest in Dolmen S.

Västergötland is also one of the most important areas of the oldest history of the Kingdom of Sweden. It forms with the Östergötland, close province, the center of the great historical area of the Götaland, country of the Götar , Germanic people whose name indicates a possible relationship with the Goths. One does not know the date where the integration of Västergötland and Östergötland in the Kingdom of Sweden was carried out. But towards the end of the 10th century, it seems that the king Erik Segersäll was also recognized in these two provinces, which makes of him the first Swedish king of which it believes that he has reign at the same time on the Svealand and the Götaland.

About the year the 1000 son of Eric, the king Olof would have been babtisé in the source of Husaby, with the foot of the mountain of Kinnekulle, close to the lake of the Vänern, which made of him the first Christian king of Sweden. Indeed, Västergötland was christianized before the provinces of the Svealand where paganism persisted longer (see on this subject Gamla Uppsala). The first diocese of Sweden was founded in Husaby as of the 11th century to be then moved towards the town of Skara, in 1150.

The old law of Västergötland, the Äldre västgötalagen , written at the 13th century, is oldest of the provincial Swedish laws and one of the oldest texts written in Swedish.

Culture

Dialect

The Dialecte S of Västergötland belong to the dialects called the Götamål , i.e. the dialects of Götaland. The dialect of the town of Gothenburg is distinguished clearly from the dialects of the remainder of the province.

Monuments

Principal monuments (except those of the town of Gothenburg)

  • the castle of Läckö

  • the Castle of Torpa
  • the Extremely of Karlsborg
  • the Cathedral of Skara
  • the church of Husaby
  • the church of Varnhem

See too

External bonds

  • Västergötland - Tourist site

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