Best Western Hotel Linkoping

Svenska!

by Marpessa

When I travel abroad and go to a foreign country that doesn't speak English as a first language I usually try to learn some words to help me get by (although since I am staying here so long I have just started language classes). So I'll list some Swedish words here that might help. Don't worry if you can't remember them, just remember the first one, as almost everyone in Linköping speaks some English (most that I have met so far speak it quite fluently).

Do you speak English?: Talar du engelska?
Hej: hello
My name is...: Jag heter...
Yes/No: Ja/Nej
Please/Thank you: Tack (pronounced like 'Tuhk')
How are you?: Hur är det?
Good thanks, and you?: Bra tack, och du?
Entrance/Exit: Ingång/Utgång
Skål!: Cheers!

I don't understand: Jag förstår inte (förstår = furr-stoar)

For further words or help with Swedish, there is a link below to a good online Swedish-English/English-Swedish dictionary.

Bjärka-Säby

by Sjalen

There is nothing special here apart from Bjärka-Säby mansion. Just some houses scattered around a commuter railway station. I just happen to find the countryside here soooo lovely. Just catch the train, hop off and walk around the juniper and oak hills around the mansion...I could live here.

Linköping Castle and Diocese Museum

by Sjalen

Linköping Castle has today been turned into a museum showing the history of the city which is quite dramatic. The castle itself is not one of those romantic ones but is still a lot older than it seems. In fact, it is the oldest non ecclesiastic building in Sweden! Its oldest parts are from the 12th century and from late 13th century onwards, this was the bishops' residence in what was then the second most important diocese in Sweden. During this time, the city of Linköping got the Folkunga family's lion as its coat of arms since the bishop Bengt Birgersson's father was none less than the Folkunga ancestor Birger Jarl - founder of Stockholm. You can still see the lion in city symbols - not least its ice hockey team.

The mansion was extended throughout the centuries and became a renaissance castle during the 16th century thanks to king Johan III and duke Karl and if you have been to Nyköping which was one of Karl's favourite cities, you will see similarities in castle architecture even if a lot is lost to us there. It is thought that the famous Linköping Blood bath executions (see my intro) took place here and not in one of the city's squares as thought earlier. At least the noble men were imprisoned here before their executions. After these dramatic events, the castle fell into a bit of disrepair but since 1785, it has been used as residence to the County chief of Östergötland where Linköping is the capital. In 2000, the museum was opened in the northern wing.

The museum shows the castle and cathedral history and how the city grew thanks to these. You get to see parts of the castle such as the turret where there is an exhibition on a dramatic meeting between Bishop Brask and king Gustav Vasa debating the reformation. Then there is the treasury with exhibits from the rich history of the cathedral. Finally, you can look at the permanent exhibition which includes stories of the foreign stonemasons who came here to build the cathedral and how this was done. The medieval atmosphere is also kept by a couple of mummified black rats...Apart from this there are temporary exhibitions on different times in the history of the castle such as the royal tours through Östergötland and various handicraft. I have not yet been here since time only allowed the more child friendly museums this time and I know I would have wanted to stay and read so much more but I would definately recommend it for the history buff.

Stora Torget (Grand Square)

by Diana75

If you expect to see a huge impressive square in the center of the city, it is not the case in Linkoping.

Stora Torget (Grand Square) is just a normal square surrounded by relatively low buildings, some of them part of international hotel chains.

In 1960 the area around Stora Torget (Grand Square) was reorganized and many old houses have been dismantled and some of them moved to Gamla Linkoping outside the central part of the town.

Linköping

by Psife

Link?ping is the largest town in ?sterg?tland and the capital of the county ?sterg?tland. It's Sweden's 5th largest city with 135.000 inhabitants.

Link?ping has a world-class expertise in high-tech technologies with several succesful companies in aviation, software, electronics and telecom.

The university in Link?ping is one of the most highly regarded in Sweden with several high profile former students and ground breaking new education programs in computer science and economics. Link?ping University with it's Institute of Technology is one of the 20 largest in Europe, with over 26,500 students, 3,500 employes and 300 professors.

"Old Linköping"

In Linköping an outdoor cultural museum consisting of several blocks of 19th century buildings and scenary is preserved. Old craftmanshiphouses, museums and genuine residential houses, farm houses and gardens has been moved here.

"Aviation"

Link?ping has been a centre for Swedish aviation for nearly a century. The first flight school for pilots was set up in Link?ping by the first Swedish aviator as early as 1912.

In 1937 SAAB started construction of military aircrafts, some of these have been The Flying Barrel, the Draken and the Viggen. The latest fighter is Gripen, the first operational 4th generation figther. You can see and hear it beeing test flown from Saab's airfield on the outskirt of Link?ping.