Understand
[edit]Västergötland has fertile farmlands, and has been densely populated since time immemorial. Around 1000 AD, some of Sweden's first town, including Skara, were founded here. Over the 11th to 14th centuries, the Swedish kingdom was consolidated, with Västergötland as one of its most important provinces.
The Västgöta School was an intellectual movement which claimed that Västergötland was the cradle of the Swedish kingdom, rather than Uppland (see Uppland history tour). 21th century scholarship recognizes the institutional development of western Sweden, but rejects the claim that Sweden was founded here, as there was no centralized Swedish kingdom before the 14th century.
Map of Skaraborg history tour
Destinations
[edit]- 1 Flyhov. A rock carving (hällristning) from the Bronze Age, around 1,000 BC.
- 2 Skara cathedral (Skara domkyrka) (Skara). A medieval cathedral, among the oldest in Scandinavia.
- 3 Västergötlands museum (Skara). A museum with several exhibitions, including one on medieval Skara.
- 4 Högarna. A burial site.
- 5 Sigrid Storråda. A replica of a Viking ship.
- 6 Götene church (Götene). Contains a relic of Helena of Skövde.
- 7 Falkängen. Worker quarters from the 19th century.
- 8 Varnhem monastery.
- 9 Husaby kyrka. Has one of the oldest and most remarkable churches in Sweden, built about 1090-1130. Near the church is a spring where the king was baptized in year 1008, the breakthrough of the christianization of Sweden.
- 10 Skälvums kyrka.
- 11 Vänermuseet (Lidköping). A museum on lake Vänern.
- 12 Källby runestones.
- 13 Skälvum Church.
- 14 Tredingstenarna.
- 15 Råbäck Stonemasonry.
- 16 Aranäs.
- 17 Forshem church.
- 18 Äventyrslandet Kinnekulle. The remains of a medieval-themed amusement park, in business from 2008 to 2011.
Go next
[edit]- Uppland history tour, the cradle of Svealand, the other founding kingdom of Sweden